2002 Indy Racing League season

2002 American Championship Car season
Series  : Indy Racing League
Champion : Sam Hornish, Jr.
Previous: 2001	Next: 2003 (ICS)

The 2002 Indy Racing League (IRL) season was one of transition, with many CART teams participating in a partial IRL schedule while retaining "lame duck" status in their original series with their CART engine suppliers Toyota and Honda. On the IRL front, the Infiniti engine was in its "lame duck" year and the General Motors engine was now branded as a Chevrolet rather than an Oldsmobile as that marque was being phased out. Sam Hornish, Jr. won 5 races on his way to his second straight championship ahead of Penske Racing juggernaut Hélio Castroneves who won three races, including a second straight Indy 500, on his way to second in the championship.

2002 Indy Racing League schedule

All races running on Oval/Speedway.

Rnd	Date	Race Name	Track	Location	Pole position	Fastest lap	Most Laps Led	Winner
1	March 2	Grand Prix of Miami	Homestead-Miami Speedway	Homestead, Florida	Sam Hornish, Jr.	Jeff Ward	Sam Hornish, Jr.	Sam Hornish, Jr.
2	March 17	Bombardier ATV 200	Phoenix International Raceway	Phoenix, Arizona	Hélio Castroneves	Robbie Buhl	Sam Hornish, Jr.	Hélio Castroneves
3	March 24	Yamaha Indy 400	California Speedway	Fontana, California	Eddie Cheever	Tomas Scheckter	Sam Hornish, Jr.	Sam Hornish, Jr.
4	April 21	Firestone Indy 225	Nazareth Speedway	Nazareth, Pennsylvania	Gil de Ferran	Tomas Scheckter	Gil de Ferran	Scott Sharp
5	May 26	86th Indianapolis 500	Indianapolis Motor Speedway	Speedway, Indiana	Bruno Junqueira	Tomas Scheckter	Tomas Scheckter	Hélio Castroneves
6	June 8	Boomtown 500	Texas Motor Speedway	Fort Worth, Texas	Tomas Scheckter	Eddie Cheever	Tomas Scheckter	Jeff Ward
7	June 16	Radisson Indy 225	Pikes Peak International Raceway	Fountain, Colorado	Gil de Ferran	Felipe Giaffone	Gil de Ferran	Gil de Ferran
8	June 29	SunTrust Indy Challenge	Richmond International Raceway	Richmond, Virginia	Gil de Ferran	Buddy Lazier	Gil de Ferran	Sam Hornish, Jr.
9	July 7	Ameristar Casino Indy 200	Kansas Speedway	Kansas City, Kansas	Tomas Scheckter	Tomas Scheckter	Tomas Scheckter	Airton Daré
10	July 20	Firestone Indy 200	Nashville Superspeedway	Lebanon, Tennessee	Billy Boat	Tomas Scheckter	Sam Hornish, Jr.	Alex Barron
11	July 28	Michigan Indy 400	Michigan International Speedway	Brooklyn, Michigan	Tomas Scheckter	Tomas Scheckter	Tomas Scheckter	Tomas Scheckter
12	August 11	Belterra Casino Indy 300	Kentucky Speedway	Sparta, Kentucky	Sarah Fisher	Tomas Scheckter	Felipe Giaffone	Felipe Giaffone
13	August 25	Gateway Indy 250	Gateway International Raceway	Madison, Illinois	Gil de Ferran	Sam Hornish, Jr.	Hélio Castroneves	Gil de Ferran
14	September 8	Delphi Indy 300	Chicagoland Speedway	Joliet, Illinois	Sam Hornish, Jr.	Buddy Rice	Sam Hornish, Jr.	Sam Hornish, Jr.
15	September 15	Chevy 500	Texas Motor Speedway	Fort Worth, Texas	Vitor Meira	Buddy Rice	Hélio Castroneves	Sam Hornish, Jr.

BOLD indicates a Superspeedways.

Team and Driver Chart

Team	Chassis	Engine	No	Drivers	Sponsor(s)	Notes
Ganassi Racing	G-Force	Chevrolet	9	Jeff Ward	Target
			22	Kenny Bräck	Target	Indy 500 only.
			33	Bruno Junqueira	Target	Indy 500 only.
Panther Racing	Dallara	Chevrolet	4	Sam Hornish, Jr.	Pennzoil	Did not use the #1 team was entitled to using, choosing instead to keep minority partner Jim Harbaugh's number in the NFL, #4.
			15	Dan Wheldon	Pennzoil	Joliet and Texas 2 only.
Penske Racing	Dallara	Chevrolet	3	Helio Castroneves	Marlboro
			6	Gil de Ferran	Marlboro	Injured at Joliet.
				Max Papis	Marlboro	Replacing de Ferran at Texas 2.
Team Green	Dallara	Chevrolet	26	Paul Tracy	7-Eleven	Indy 500 only.
			27	Dario Franchitti	7-Eleven	Indy 500 only.
			39	Michael Andretti	Archipelago/Motorola	Indy 500 only.
Kelley Racing	Dallara	Chevrolet	7	Al Unser, Jr.	Corteco/Bryant
				Tony Renna	Kruse Special	Replaced Unser at Nashvile and Michigan
			8	Scott Sharp	Delphi
			78	Tony Renna	Kruse Special	Replaced Unser at Nashvile and Michigan with car #7.
A. J. Foyt Enterprises	Dallara	Chevrolet	11	Richie Hearn	A. J. Foyt Racing
				Eliseo Salazar	Banco de Chile	Nine Races
			14	Airton Daré	Harrah's
			41	Greg Ray	Harrah's
Dreyer & Reinbold Racing	G-Force	Nissan	22	Robbie Buhl	Team Purex/Aventis
			23	Sarah Fisher	Team Purex/Aventis/Allegra/Smart Blade	Missed Miami, Phoenix, Fontana, Texas, Pikes Peak.
			24	Memo Gidley	Team Purex/Aventis	Fontana only.
Team Rahal	Dallara	Chevrolet	19	Jimmy Vasser	Miller Lite	Fontana and Indy 500 only.
Mo Nunn Racing	G-Force	Chevrolet	17	Tony Kanaan	Hollywood cigarettes	Indy 500 only.
			21	Felipe Giaffone	Hollywood cigarettes
Team Cheever	Dallara	Nissan	51	Eddie Cheever	Red Bull
			52	Tomas Scheckter	Red Bull
			53	Max Papis	Red Bull	Indy 500 only.
310 Racing	G-Force	Chevrolet	30	George Mack	310 Racing
Blair Racing	Dallara	Chevrolet	44	Alex Barron	Rayovac
Hemelgarn Racing	Dallara	Chevrolet	91	Buddy Lazier	Coors Light
Conquest Racing	Dallara	Nissan	34	Laurent Redon	Mi-Jack

Race summaries

Grand Prix of Miami

This race was held on March 2 at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Sam Hornish, Jr. won the pole.

Top ten results

1. 4- Sam Hornish, Jr.
2. 6- Gil de Ferran
3. 3- Hélio Castroneves
4. 9- Jeff Ward
5. 11- Eliseo Salazar
6. 52- Tomas Scheckter
7. 21- Felipe Giaffone
8. 44- Alex Barron
9. 99- Anthony Lazzaro
10. 14- Airton Daré

Bombardier ATV 200

This race was held on March 17 at Phoenix International Raceway. Hélio Castroneves won the pole.

Top ten results

1. 3- Hélio Castroneves
2. 6- Gil de Ferran
3. 4- Sam Hornish, Jr.
4. 11- Eliseo Salazar
5. 7- Al Unser, Jr.
6. 2- Jaques Lazier
7. 91- Buddy Lazier
8. 98- Billy Boat
9. 55- Rick Treadway
10. 20- Hideki Noda

Yamaha Indy 400

This race was held on March 24 at California Speedway. Eddie Cheever won the pole.

Top ten results

1. 4- Sam Hornish, Jr.
2. 2- Jaques Lazier
3. 34- Laurent Rédon
4. 6- Gil de Ferran
5. 3- Hélio Castroneves
6. 21- Felipe Giaffone
7. 91- Buddy Lazier
8. 8- Scott Sharp
9. 19- Jimmy Vasser
10. 9- Jeff Ward

Firestone Indy 225

This race was held on April 21 at Nazareth Speedway. Gil de Ferran won the pole.

Top ten results

1. 8- Scott Sharp
2. 21- Felipe Giaffone
3. 6- Gil de Ferran
4. 24- Sarah Fisher
5. 3- Hélio Castroneves
6. 44- Alex Barron
7. 51- Eddie Cheever
8. 98- Billy Boat
9. 99- Anthony Lazzaro
10. 12- Shigeaki Hattori

86th Indianapolis 500

The Indy 500 was held on May 26 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Bruno Junqueira sat on pole. The race end was one of the most controversial in history as Paul Tracy passed Hélio Castroneves just as the yellow was coming out for a crash. Race officials ruled that the pass occurred after the yellow.

Top ten results

1. 3- Hélio Castroneves
2. 26- Paul Tracy
3. 21- Felipe Giaffone
4. 44- Alex Barron
5. 51- Eddie Cheever
6. 20- Richie Hearn
7. 39- Michael Andretti
8. 31- Robby Gordon
9. 9- Jeff Ward
10. 6- Gil de Ferran

Boomtown 500

This race was held on June 8 at Texas Motor Speedway. Tomas Scheckter won the pole.

Top ten results

1. 9- Jeff Ward
2. 7- Al Unser, Jr.
3. 14- Airton Daré
4. 3- Hélio Castroneves
5. 21- Felipe Giaffone
6. 12- Shigeaki Hattori
7. 98- Billy Boat
8. 91- Buddy Lazier
9. 99- Richie Hearn
10. 44- Alex Barron

Radisson Indy 225

This race was held on June 16 at Pikes Peak International Raceway. Gil de Ferran won the pole.

Top ten results

1. 6- Gil de Ferran
2. 3- Hélio Castroneves
3. 4- Sam Hornish, Jr.
4. 21- Felipe Giaffone
5. 8- Scott Sharp
6. 7- Al Unser, Jr.
7. 34- Laurent Rédon
8. 51- Eddie Cheever
9. 14- Airton Daré
10. 44- Alex Barron

SunTrust Indy Challenge

This race was held on June 29 at Richmond International Raceway. Gil de Ferran won the pole.

Top ten results

1. 4- Sam Hornish, Jr.
2. 6- Gil de Ferran
3. 21- Felipe Giaffone
4. 52- Tomas Scheckter
5. 7- Al Unser, Jr.
6. 14- Airton Daré
7. 20- Richie Hearn
8. 9- Jeff Ward
9. 54- Robby McGehee
10. 44- Alex Barron

Ameristar Casino Indy 200

This race was held on July 7 at Kansas Speedway. Tomas Scheckter won the pole.

Top ten results

1. 14- Airton Daré
2. 4- Sam Hornish, Jr.
3. 3- Hélio Castroneves
4. 21- Felipe Giaffone
5. 6- Gil de Ferran
6. 8- Scott Sharp
7. 91- Buddy Lazier
8. 44-Alex Barron
9. 98- Billy Boat
10. 20- Richie Hearn

Firestone Indy 200

This race was held on July 20 at Nashville Superspeedway. Billy Boat won the pole.

Top ten results

1. 44- Alex Barron
2. 6- Gil de Ferran
3. 4- Sam Hornish, Jr.
4. 20- Richie Hearn
5. 12- Raul Boesel
6. 51- Eddie Cheever
7. 21- Felipe Giaffone
8. 8- Scott Sharp
9. 3- Hélio Castroneves
10. 7- Tony Renna

Michigan Indy 400

This race was held on July 28 at Michigan International Speedway. Tomas Scheckter won the pole.

Top ten results

1. 52- Tomas Scheckter
2. 53- Buddy Rice
3. 21- Felipe Giaffone
4. 7- Tony Renna
5. 6- Gil de Ferran
6. 3- Hélio Castroneves
7. 4- Sam Hornish, Jr.
8. 23- Sarah Fisher
9. 8- Scott Sharp
10. 20- Richie Hearn

Belterra Casino Indy 300

This race was held on August 11 at Kentucky Speedway. Sarah Fisher won the pole, the first by a female driver in a major open wheel series.

Top ten results

1. 21- Felipe Giaffone
2. 4- Sam Hornish, Jr.
3. 91- Buddy Lazier
4. 8- Scott Sharp
5. 3- Hélio Castroneves
6. 7- Al Unser, Jr.
7. 78- Tony Renna
8. 23- Sarah Fisher
9. 44- Alex Barron
10. 24- Robbie Buhl

Gateway Indy 250

This race was held on August 25 at Gateway International Raceway. Gil de Ferran won the pole.

Top ten results

1. 6- Gil de Ferran
2. 3- Hélio Castroneves
3. 44- Alex Barron
4. 52- Buddy Rice
5. 4- Sam Hornish, Jr.
6. 24- Robbie Buhl
7. 7- Al Unser, Jr.
8. 12- Raul Boesel
9. 2- Vitor Meira
10. 51- Eddie Cheever

Delphi Indy 300

This race was held on September 8 at Chicagoland Speedway. Sam Hornish, Jr. won the pole.

Top ten results

1. 4- Sam Hornish, Jr.
2. 7- Al Unser, Jr.
3. 91- Buddy Lazier
4. 3- Hélio Castroneves
5. 51- Eddie Cheever
6. 21- Felipe Giaffone
7. 8- Scott Sharp
8. 2- Vitor Meira
9. 52- Buddy Rice
10. 15- Dan Wheldon

Chevy 500

This race was held on September 15 at Texas Motor Speedway. Vitor Meira won the pole.

Top ten results

1. 4- Sam Hornish, Jr.
2. 3- Hélio Castroneves
3. 2- Vitor Meira
4. 8- Scott Sharp
5. 44- Alex Barron
6. 52- Buddy Rice
7. 91- Buddy Lazier
8. 51- Eddie Cheever
9. 78- Tony Renna
10. 34- Laurent Rédon

Final points standings

Pos Driver HOM PHX CAL NAZ INDY TXS PIK RIR KAN NSH MIS KTY GAT CHI TXS Pts 1 Sam Hornish, Jr. 1* 3* 1* 17 25 18 3 1 2 3* 7 2 5 1* 1 531 2 Hélio Castroneves 3 1 5 5 1 4 2 17 3 9 6 5 2* 4 2* 511 3 Gil de Ferran 2 2 4 3* 10 16 1* 2* 5 2 5 21 1 23 443 4 Felipe Giaffone 7 19 6 2 3 5 4 3 4 7 3 1* 21 6 17 432 5 Alex Barron 8 23 12 6 4 10 10 10 8 1 12 9 3 12 5 366 6 Scott Sharp 20 16 8 1 27 14 5 21 6 8 9 4 18 7 4 332 7 Al Unser, Jr. 19 5 11 12 12 2 6 5 17 6 7 2 20 311 8 Buddy Lazier 22 7 7 23 15 8 15 18 7 12 13 3 15 3 7 305 9 Airton Daré 10 12 13 11 13 3 9 6 1 17 23 23 11 16 12 304 10 Eddie Cheever 25 15 20 7 5 19 8 14 16 6 22 11 10 5 8 280 11 Jeff Ward 4 18 10 19 9 1 20 8 12 11 25 16 13 21 25 268 12 Laurent Redon 15 14 3 15 22 15 7 15 22 16 11 20 22 25 10 229 13 Billy Boat 16 8 18 8 18 7 14 22 9 14 14 19 23 19 24 225 14 Tomas Scheckter 6 24 24 21 26* 17* 16 4 15* 13 1* 22 Wth 210 15 Richie Hearn 14 14 6 9 12 7 10 4 10 24 204 16 George Mack 13 20 16 18 17 21 13 20 18 15 20 17 16 14 28 184 17 Robbie Buhl 12 13 DNS 16 20 23 13 21 21 24 10 6 20 18 177 18 Sarah Fisher 4 24 16 14 22 8 8 20 22 11 161 19 Raul Boesel 21 13 11 5 15 13 8 11 22 158 20 Eliseo Salazar 5 4 15 19 19 14 14 18 16 157 21 Robby McGehee 14 21 17 13 DNQ 17 9 13 12 13 142 22 Buddy Rice 2 12 4 9 6 140 23 Greg Ray 33 12 18 12 19 20 17 25 19 17 14 128 24 Tony Renna 10 4 7 24 15 9 121 25 Vitor Meira 15 9 8 3 96 26 Jaques Lazier 18 6 2 20 90 27 Shigeaki Hattori 25 26 10 20 6 19 78 28 Rick Treadway 24 9 22 16 29 23 23 19 76 29 Mark Dismore 32 11 11 20 18 18 73 30 Anthony Lazzaro 9 17 9 DNQ 22 DNS 70 31 Jon Herb DNS 11 19 22 DNQ 22 21 19 70 32 Hideki Noda 23 10 25 17 24 25 54 33 John de Vries 17 22 23 Wth DNQ 11 53 34 Paul Tracy 2 40 35 Will Langhorne 18 13 23 36 36 [[Image:Template:Country flag alias GB 22x20px}}|Template:Country alias GB]] Dan Wheldon 10 15 35 37 Arie Luyendyk 14 16 30 38 Michael Andretti 7 26 39 Robby Gordon 8 24 40 Jimmy Vasser 9 30 23 41 Tyce Carlson 11 DNS 23 42 Kenny Bräck 11 19 43 Max Papis 23 21 16 44 [[Image:Template:Country flag alias GB 22x20px}}|Template:Country alias GB]] Dario Franchitti 19 11 45 Billy Roe 21 DNQ 9 46 Memo Gidley 21 DNQ 9 47 Scott Harrington DNQ 21 9 48 Cory Kruseman DNP 26 4 49 Jeret Schroeder 27 3 50 Tony Kanaan 28 2 51 Bruno Junqueira 31 1 - Donnie Beechler DNS DNQ 0 - [[Image:Template:Country flag alias GB 22x20px}}|Template:Country alias GB]] Johnny Herbert DNQ 0 - Davy Jones DNQ 0 - P. J. Jones DNQ 0 - Jimmy Kite DNQ 0 - Oriol Servià DNQ 0 - Scott Mayer DNQ 0 Pos Driver HOM PHX CAL NAZ INDY TXS PIK RIR KAN NSH MIS KTY GAT CHI TXS Pts

Color Result Gold Winner Silver 2nd place Bronze 3rd place Green 4th & 5th place Light Blue 6th-10th place Dark Blue Finished (Outside Top 10) Purple Did not finish (Ret) Red Did not qualify (DNQ) Brown Withdrawn (Wth) Black Disqualified (DSQ) White Did not start (DNS) Blank Did not participate (DNP) Not competing In-line notation Bold Pole position Italics Ran fastest race lap * Led most race laps (2 points) DNS Any driver who qualifies but does not start (DNS), earns all the points had they taken part. Rookie of the Year Rookie

In every race, points are awarded to drivers on the following basis:

Position	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20	21	22	23	24	25	26	27	28	29	30	31	32	33
Points	50	40	35	32	30	28	26	24	22	20	19	18	17	16	15	14	13	12	11	10	9	8	7	6	5	4	3	2	1	1	1	1	1

• Ties in points broken by number of wins, followed by number of 2nds, 3rds, etc., and then by number of pole positions, followed by number of times qualified 2nd, etc.

See also

• 2002 Indianapolis 500
• 2002 Infiniti Pro Series season
• 2002 CART season
• 2002 Toyota Atlantic Championship season
• http://www.champcarstats.com/year/2002i.htm
• http://media.indycar.com/pdf/2011/IICS_2011_Historical_Record_Book_INT6.pdf (p.119-121)

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