1998 Indy Racing League Explained

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.

Luyendyk's final IndyCar win. It would also be his final season as a full-time driver, as he would choose to go into semi-retirement in 1999.

Of the championship contenders, Tony Stewart started 2nd, but spun on lap seven and finished 14th (30 laps down), Davey Hamilton was involved in a crash with Roberto Guerrero on lap 130, finishing 19th. Bräck cruised the rest of the way to finish 10th, six laps down, enough to win the championship.

Confirmed entries

TeamChassisEngineTiresDriver(s)Round(s)
A. J. Foyt EnterprisesDallaraOldsmobile11 Billy Boat1–5, 8–11
Greg Ray6–7
14 Kenny BräckAll
Beck MotorsportsDallaraInfiniti54 Hideshi Matsuda3
Blueprint RacingDallaraOldsmobile27 Robbie Groff1–2
Claude Bourbonnais3
Billy Roe4
Bradley MotorsportsG-Force
Dallara
Oldsmobile12 Buzz Calkins1–6, 8–11
Byrd-Cunningham RacingG-ForceOldsmobile10 Mike Groff1–3
John Paul Jr.4–11
Cahill Auto RacingG-Force
Dallara
Oldsmobile983–5, 7–11
CBR Cobb RacingG-ForceOldsmobile23 Paul Durant2–4
Jim Guthrie6–7
Infiniti Roberto Guerrero8–11
Chastain MotorsportsG-Force
Dallara
Oldsmobile77 Stéphan GrégoireAll
Chitwood MotorsportsDallaraOldsmobile171–2
3
D. B. Mann MotorsportsDallaraOldsmobile24 Billy Roe1
3
Hemelgarn RacingDallaraOldsmobile9 Johnny Unser3
91 Buddy LazierAll
Immke RacingDallaraOldsmobile20 Tyce Carlson1–3
ISM RacingG-ForceOldsmobile35 Jeff WardAll
53 Jim Guthrie1–3
553
Kelley RacingDallaraOldsmobile8 Scott SharpAll
28 Mark DismoreAll
Knapp MotorsportsDallaraOldsmobile97 Greg Ray1–4, 9–11
Liberty RacingG-ForceOldsmobile293–4
LP RacingDallaraOldsmobile663
99 Sam SchmidtAll
Lyn St. James RacingG-ForceInfiniti90 Lyn St. James3
McCormack MotorsportsG-ForceOldsmobile30 Raul BoeselAll
Metro Racing SystemsRiley & ScottOldsmobile19 Stan Wattles1–5, 7–11
Nienhouse MotorsportsG-Force
Dallara
Oldsmobile6 Davey HamiltonAll
Pagan RacingDallaraOldsmobile21 Roberto Guerrero1–4
7
Panther RacingG-ForceOldsmobile4 Scott GoodyearAll
4310–11
PDM RacingG-ForceOldsmobile18 John Paul Jr.1–2
3–5
6, 8–11
Tyce Carlson7
Phoenix RacingG-ForceOldsmobile16 Marco GrecoAll
Riley & Scott CarsRiley & ScottOldsmobile15 Eliseo Salazar1–5
6
7–10
Jim Guthrie11
RSM MarkoDallaraOldsmobile222
Sinden Racing ServicesDallaraInfiniti
Oldsmobile
40 Dr. Jack MillerAll
442–5, 9
Jimmy Kite7
Team CheeverDallara
G-Force
Oldsmobile51 Eddie CheeverAll
523–6, 8–11
Team Coulson RacingG-ForceOldsmobile41 Affonso Giaffone1
Team MenardDallara
G-Force
Oldsmobile1 Tony StewartAll
3 Robbie Buhl1–5, 8–11
Team PelfreyDallaraOldsmobile81 John Paul Jr.3
Tyce Carlson4
5–11
Team ScandiaDallaraOldsmobile7 Jimmy Kite1–4
33 Billy Roe3
Treadway RacingG-ForceOldsmobile
5 Arie LuyendykAll

Season summary

Schedule

RndDateRace NameTrackCity
1January 24Indy 200 at Walt Disney WorldWalt Disney World SpeedwayBay Lake, Florida
2March 22Dura Lube 200Phoenix International RacewayAvondale, Arizona
3May 2482nd Indianapolis 500Indianapolis Motor SpeedwaySpeedway, Indiana
4June 6True Value 500Texas Motor SpeedwayFort Worth, Texas
5June 28New England 200New Hampshire International SpeedwayLoudon, New Hampshire
6July 19Pep Boys 400KDover International SpeedwayDover, Delaware
7July 25VisionAire 500KCharlotte Motor SpeedwayConcord, North Carolina
8August 16Radisson 200Pikes Peak International RacewayFountain, Colorado
9August 29Atlanta 500 ClassicAtlanta Motor SpeedwayHampton, Georgia
10September 20Lone Star 500Texas Motor SpeedwayFort Worth, Texas
11October 11Las Vegas 500KLas Vegas Motor SpeedwayLas Vegas, Nevada
Source:[1]

All races running on Oval/Speedway.

The eight races that were held in calendar year 1997 returned in 1998, with the addition of three new races. As part of their effort to venture in traditional stock-car markets, the IRL held the second Indy-car race ever, the first since 1969, at Dover International Speedway, and also competed at the reconfigured Atlanta Motor Speedway, which had been raced eight times by Indy-cars in its former shape between 1965 and 1983. A second race at Texas Motor Speedway in the fall completed the calendar.

Race results

RoundRacePole positionFastest lapMost laps ledRace WinnerReport
DriverTeam
1Walt Disney World Tony Stewart Kenny Bräck Tony Stewart Tony StewartTeam MenardReport
2Phoenix Jeff Ward Tony Stewart Tony Stewart Scott SharpKelley RacingReport
3Indianapolis Billy Boat Tony Stewart Eddie Cheever Eddie CheeverTeam CheeverReport
4Texas 1 Tony Stewart Tony Stewart Billy Boat Billy BoatA. J. Foyt EnterprisesReport
5New Hampshire Billy Boat Davey Hamilton Tony Stewart Tony StewartTeam MenardReport
6Dover Tony Stewart Greg Ray Scott Sharp Scott SharpKelley RacingReport
7Charlotte Tony Stewart Kenny Bräck Kenny Bräck Kenny BräckA. J. Foyt EnterprisesReport
8Pikes Peak Billy Boat Jeff Ward Jeff Ward Kenny BräckA. J. Foyt EnterprisesReport
9Atlanta Billy Boat Billy Boat Scott Goodyear Kenny BräckA. J. Foyt EnterprisesReport
10Texas 2 Billy Boat Jeff Ward Tony Stewart John Paul Jr.Byrd-Cunningham RacingReport
11Las Vegas Billy Boat Arie Luyendyk Arie Luyendyk Arie LuyendykTreadway RacingReport

Race summaries

Indy 200

The Indy 200 was held on January 24 at Walt Disney World Speedway. Qualifying was rained out, so Tony Stewart won the pole position due to the race being lined up by 1996–97 entrant standings for the first 20 positions and the remaining eight came from the best practice speeds of the remaining cars.

Top 10 results

  1. 1- Tony Stewart
  2. 35- Jeff Ward
  3. 6- Davey Hamilton
  4. 77- Stéphan Grégoire
  5. 28- Mark Dismore
  6. 8- Scott Sharp
  7. 10- Mike Groff
  8. 5- Arie Luyendyk
  9. 99- Sam Schmidt
  10. 18- John Paul Jr.

Dura-Lube 200

The Dura-Lube 200 was held on March 22 at Phoenix International Raceway. Jeff Ward qualified on the pole position.

Top 10 results

  1. 8- Scott Sharp
  2. 1- Tony Stewart
  3. 11- Billy Boat
  4. 77- Stéphan Grégoire
  5. 35- Jeff Ward
  6. 4- Scott Goodyear
  7. 99- Sam Schmidt
  8. 30- Raul Boesel
  9. 12- Buzz Calkins
  10. 51- Eddie Cheever

Indianapolis 500

The Indianapolis 500 was held on May 24 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Billy Boat qualified on the pole position.

Top ten results

  1. 51- Eddie Cheever
  2. 91- Buddy Lazier
  3. 55- Steve Knapp
  4. 6- Davey Hamilton
  5. 52- Robby Unser
  6. 14- Kenny Bräck
  7. 81- John Paul Jr.
  8. 17- Andy Michner
  9. 44- J. J. Yeley
  10. 12- Buzz Calkins

True Value 500

The True Value 500 was held June 6 at Texas Motor Speedway. Tony Stewart qualified on the pole position.

Top 10 results

  1. 11- Billy Boat
  2. 97- Greg Ray
  3. 14- Kenny Bräck
  4. 4- Scott Goodyear
  5. 8- Scott Sharp
  6. 3- Robbie Buhl
  7. 6- Davey Hamilton
  8. 16- Marco Greco
  9. 52- Robby Unser
  10. 19- Stan Wattles

New England 200

The New England 200 was held on June 28 at New Hampshire International Speedway. Billy Boat qualified on the pole position.

Top ten results

  1. 1- Tony Stewart
  2. 4- Scott Goodyear
  3. 8- Scott Sharp
  4. 6- Davey Hamilton
  5. 5- Arie Luyendyk
  6. 15- Eliseo Salazar
  7. 91- Buddy Lazier
  8. 28- Mark Dismore
  9. 51- Eddie Cheever
  10. 3- Robbie Buhl

Pep Boys 400K

The Pep Boys 400K was held on July 19 at Dover Downs International Speedway. Tony Stewart qualified on the pole position.

Top 10 results

  1. 8- Scott Sharp
  2. 91- Buddy Lazier
  3. 16- Marco Greco
  4. 6- Davey Hamilton
  5. 77- Stephan Gregoire
  6. 4- Scott Goodyear
  7. 23- Jim Guthrie
  8. 1- Tony Stewart
  9. 5- Arie Luyendyk
  10. 14- Kenny Bräck

VisionAire 500K

The VisionAire 500K was held on July 25 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Tony Stewart qualified on the pole position.

Top 10 results

  1. 14- Kenny Bräck
  2. 35- Jeff Ward
  3. 4- Scott Goodyear
  4. 5- Arie Luyendyk
  5. 16- Marco Greco
  6. 10- John Paul Jr.
  7. 6- Davey Hamilton
  8. 77- Stéphan Grégoire
  9. 40- Jack Miller
  10. 21- Stevie Reeves

Radisson 200

The Radisson 200 was held August 16 at Pikes Peak International Raceway. Billy Boat qualified on the pole position.

Top 10 results

  1. 14- Kenny Bräck
  2. 3- Robbie Buhl
  3. 1- Tony Stewart
  4. 77- Stéphan Grégoire
  5. 6- Davey Hamilton
  6. 16- Marco Greco
  7. 91- Buddy Lazier
  8. 51- Eddie Cheever
  9. 11- Billy Boat
  10. 98- Donnie Beechler

Atlanta 500 Classic

The Atlanta 500 Classic was held on August 29 at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Billy Boat qualified on the pole position.

Top 10 results

  1. 14- Kenny Bräck
  2. 6- Davey Hamilton
  3. 51- Eddie Cheever
  4. 4- Scott Goodyear
  5. 1- Tony Stewart
  6. 35- Jeff Ward
  7. 28- Mark Dismore
  8. 5- Arie Luyendyk
  9. 15- Andy Michner
  10. 30- Raul Boesel

Lone Star 500

The Lone Star 500 was held on September 20 at Texas Motor Speedway. Billy Boat qualified on the pole position.

Top 10 results

  1. 10- John Paul Jr.
  2. 52- Robby Unser
  3. 35- Jeff Ward
  4. 23- Roberto Guerrero
  5. 14- Kenny Bräck
  6. 91- Buddy Lazier
  7. 3- Robbie Buhl
  8. 19- Stan Wattles
  9. 6- Davey Hamilton
  10. 28- Mark Dismore

Las Vegas 500K

The Las Vegas 500K was held on October 11 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Billy Boat qualified on the pole position.

Top 10 results

  1. 5- Arie Luyendyk
  2. 99- Sam Schmidt
  3. 91- Buddy Lazier
  4. 10- John Paul Jr.
  5. 51- Eddie Cheever
  6. 81- Brian Tyler
  7. 3- Robbie Buhl
  8. 16- Marco Greco
  9. 18- Steve Knapp
  10. 14- Kenny Bräck

Driver standings

PosDriverWDW
PHX
INDY
TXS
NHS
DOV
CLT
PPIR
ATL
TXS
LSV
Pts
1 Kenny Bräck13146318101*11510332
2 Davey Hamilton3264744752919292
3 Tony Stewart1*2*33141*8213520*14289
4 Scott Sharp6116531*1811182312272
5 Buddy Lazier1528211721371763262
6 Jeff Ward2513172219220*6321252
7 Scott Goodyear176244263184*2222244
8 Arie Luyendyk8242013594228281*227
9 Eddie Cheever24101*269162083255222
10 Marco Greco27201481335613168219
11 John Paul Jr.101971626216152314216
12 Stéphan Grégoire44172524584202617201
13 Billy Boat213231*219121426194
14 Sam Schmidt9726181217141315272186
15 Mark Dismore5162721818151971015180
165911111216216176
17 Robbie Buhl20123161021177174
181917DNQ1412161621136140
19 Buzz Calkins149101515Wth24281111134
20 Raul Boesel188192819142425101718132
21 Greg Ray25111821517242125128
223131414189118
23 Dr. Jack Miller23DNQ21221620923271228100
248121791592
25 Stan Wattles22DNQ281017Wth2681388
26 Roberto Guerrero26272224211942083
27 Tyce Carlson1113DNQ121173
28322720191022192371
29 Eliseo Salazar1223DNQ236Wth60
30 Mike Groff7151556
31 Jimmy Kite1618112352
3225919232550
33 Jim GuthrieDNQDNQ297222441
34122523
351020
3622242717
37 Billy RoeDNQ302011
38 Paul Durant21DNQ9
39DNQ228
40 Johnny Unser255
41 Robbie Groff28DNQ2
Affonso GiaffoneDNQ0
Claude BourbonnaisDNQ0
DNQ0
DNQ0
Hideshi MatsudaDNQ0
Lyn St. JamesDNQ0
Danny OngaisWth0
PosDriverWDW
PHX
INDY
TXS
NHS
DOV
CLT
PPIR
ATL
TXS
LSV
Pts
ColorResult
GoldWinner
Silver2nd place
Bronze3rd place
Green4th & 5th place
Light Blue6th–10th place
Dark BlueFinished
(Outside Top 10)
PurpleDid not finish
(Ret)
RedDid not qualify
(DNQ)
BrownWithdrawn
(Wth)
BlackDisqualified
(DSQ)
WhiteDid not start
(DNS)
BlankDid not
participate
(DNP)
Not competing
align=center colspan=2In-line notation
BoldPole position
(2 points)
ItalicsRan fastest race lap
*| align=center|Led most race laps
(1 point)|-| align=center|DNS| align=center|Any driver who qualifies
but does not start (DNS),
earns all the points
had they taken part.|-|style="text-align:center"| |align=center|Rookie of the Year|-|style="text-align:center"| |align=center|Rookie|}|}|}
  • 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).

Notes:
Orlando: 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.
Phoenix: Scott Sharp had 7 points deduction, because his car failed the post-race fuel capacity inspection.
Pikes Peak: 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

References

]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: NTT IndyCar Series Calendar 1998. Motorsport Stats. November 17, 2023.