1998 Indy Racing League
| 1998 Indy Racing League season | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Pep Boys Indy Racing League | |
| Season | |
| Races | 11 |
| Start date | January 24 |
| End date | October 11 |
| Awards | |
| Drivers' champion |  Kenny Bräck |
| Indianapolis 500 winner |  Eddie Cheever |
| Chronology | |
| Previous season | Next season |
| 1996–97 | 1999 |
The 1998 Pep Boys Indy Racing League was one of relative stability compared to the previous two seasons. For the first time the season consisted of a single and complete spring, summer, and fall like all other forms of motorsport. 15 drivers completed the entire 11 race schedule, twice as many as the previous season. It was also the first complete season for the new Riley & Scott chassis, though it proved unpopular due to its late introduction. A. J. Foyt Enterprises drivers captured 4 wins, the Indy 500 pole, and the championship, arguably the most successful year in the team's history.
Race summaries
Indy 200
This race was held January 24 at Walt Disney World Speedway. Tony Stewart won the pole.
Top ten results
- 1- Tony Stewart
- 35- Jeff Ward
- 6- Davey Hamilton
- 77- Stephan Gregoire
- 28- Mark Dismore
- 8- Scott Sharp
- 10- Mike Groff
- 5- Arie Luyendyk
- 99- Sam Schmidt
- 18- John Paul, Jr.
Dura-Lube 200
This race was held March 22 at Phoenix International Raceway. Jeff Ward won the pole.
Top ten results
- 8- Scott Sharp
- 1- Tony Stewart
- 11- Billy Boat
- 77- Stephan Gregoire
- 35- Jeff Ward
- 4- Scott Goodyear
- 99- Sam Schmidt
- 30- Raul Boesel
- 12- Buzz Calkins
- 51- Eddie Cheever
82nd Indianapolis 500
The Indy 500 was held May 24 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Billy Boat won the pole.
Top ten results
- 51- Eddie Cheever
- 91- Buddy Lazier
- 55- Steve Knapp
- 6- Davey Hamilton
- 52- Robby Unser
- 14- Kenny Bräck
- 81- John Paul, Jr.
- 17- Andy Michner
- 44- J. J. Yeley
- 12- Buzz Calkins
True Value 500
This race was held June 6 at Texas Motor Speedway. Tony Stewart won the pole.
Top ten results
- 11- Billy Boat
- 97- Greg Ray
- 14- Kenny Bräck
- 4- Scott Goodyear
- 8- Scott Sharp
- 3- Robbie Buhl
- 6- Davey Hamilton
- 16- Marco Greco
- 52- Robby Unser
- 19- Stan Wattles
New England 200
This race was held June 28 at New Hampshire International Speedway. Billy Boat won the pole.
Top ten results
- 1- Tony Stewart
- 4- Scott Goodyear
- 8- Scott Sharp
- 6- Davey Hamilton
- 5- Arie Luyendyk
- 15- Eliseo Salazar
- 91- Buddy Lazier
- 28- Mark Dismore
- 51- Eddie Cheever
- 3- Robbie Buhl
Pep Boys 400K
Pep Boys 400K was held July 19 at Dover International Speedway. Tony Stewart won the pole.
Top ten results
- 8- Scott Sharp
- 91- Buddy Lazier
- 16- Marco Greco
- 6- Davey Hamilton
- 77- Stephan Gregoire
- 4- Scott Goodyear
- 23- Jim Guthrie
- 1- Tony Stewart
- 5- Arie Luyendyk
- 14- Kenny Bräck
Visionaire 500K
This race was held July 25 at Lowe's Motor Speedway. Tony Stewart won the pole.
Top ten results
- 14- Kenny Bräck
- 35- Jeff Ward
- 4- Scott Goodyear
- 5- Arie Luyendyk
- 16- Marco Greco
- 10- John Paul, Jr.
- 6- Davey Hamilton
- 77- Stephan Gregoire
- 40- Jack Miller
- 21- Stevie Reeves
Radisson 200
This race was held August 16 at Pikes Peak International Raceway. Billy Boat won the pole.
Top ten results
- 14- Kenny Bräck
- 3- Robbie Buhl
- 1- Tony Stewart
- 77- Stephan Gregoire
- 6- Davey Hamilton
- 16- Marco Greco
- 91- Buddy Lazier
- 51- Eddie Cheever
- 11- Billy Boat
- 98- Donnie Beechler
Atlanta 500 Classic
This race was held August 29 at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Billy Boat won the pole.
Top ten results
- 14- Kenny Bräck
- 6- Davey Hamilton
- 51- Eddie Cheever
- 4- Scott Goodyear
- 1- Tony Stewart
- 35- Jeff Ward
- 28- Mark Dismore
- 5- Arie Luyendyk
- 15- Andy Michner
- 30- Raul Boesel
Lone Star 500
This race was held September 20 at Texas Motor Speedway. Billy Boat won the pole.
Top ten results
- 10- John Paul, Jr.
- 52- Robby Unser
- 35- Jeff Ward
- 23- Roberto Guerrero
- 14- Kenny Bräck
- 91- Buddy Lazier
- 3- Robbie Buhl
- 19- Stan Wattles
- 6- Davey Hamilton
- 28- Mark Dismore
Las Vegas 500K
This race was held October 11 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Billy Boat won the pole.
Top ten results
- 5- Arie Luyendyk
- 99- Sam Schmidt
- 91- Buddy Lazier
- 10- John Paul, Jr.
- 51- Eddie Cheever
- 81- Brian Tyler
- 3- Robbie Buhl
- 16- Marco Greco
- 18- Steve Knapp
- 14- Kenny Bräck
Schedule
| Rnd | Date | Race Name | Track | City | TV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | January 24 | Indy 200 | Walt Disney World Speedway | Bay Lake, Florida | ABC |
| 2 | March 22 | Dura Lube 200 | Phoenix International Raceway | Avondale, Arizona | ABC |
| 3 | May 24 | Indianapolis 500 | Indianapolis Motor Speedway | Speedway, Indiana | ABC |
| 4 | June 6 | True Value 500 | Texas Motor Speedway | Fort Worth, Texas | TNN |
| 5 | June 28 | New England 200 | New Hampshire International Speedway | Loudon, New Hampshire | CBS |
| 6 | July 19 | Pep Boys 400K | Dover International Speedway | Dover, Delaware | CBS |
| 7 | July 25 | VisionAire 500K | Charlotte Motor Speedway | Concord, North Carolina | TNN |
| 8 | August 16 | Radisson 200 | Pikes Peak International Raceway | Fountain, Colorado | ABC |
| 9 | August 29 | Atlanta 500 Classic | Atlanta Motor Speedway | Hampton, Georgia | TNN |
| 10 | September 20 | Lone Star 500 | Texas Motor Speedway | Fort Worth, Texas | ABC |
| 11 | October 11 | Las Vegas 500K | Las Vegas Motor Speedway | Las Vegas, Nevada | TNN |
Season Summary
Race results
Note: All races running on Oval/Speedway.
Final points standings
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- 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.
Additional points were awarded to the pole winner (3 points), the second best qualifier (2 points), the third best qualifier (1 point) and to the driver leading the most laps (2 point).
Note:
WDW: No additional points for the qualifying were awarded due to rain, starting grid were determined by 1996-97 entrant points for the first 20 positions and the remaining eight went to top practice times from Thursday.
PHX: Scott Sharp had 7 points deduction, because his car failed the post race fuel capacity inspection.
PIK: Tony Stewart and Robbie Buhl had 15 points deduction each, because the rear wings of both Team Menard cars were found to be in violation of technical specifications.
See also
- 1998 Indianapolis 500
- 1998 Indy Lights season
- 1998 CART season
- 1998 Toyota Atlantic Championship season
- http://champcarstats.com/year/1998i.htm
- http://media.indycar.com/pdf/2011/IICS_2011_Historical_Record_Book_INT6.pdf (p. 140-141)