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2002 Indy Racing League

(Redirected from2002 in IRL)

The2002 Indy Racing League (IRL)was one of transition, with two reigningCARTchampionship teams,Team PenskeandTarget Chip Ganassi Racing,joining the series with full time entries. TheOldsmobileengine was rebranded as aChevrolet,and bothHondaandToyotaannounced their participation in the series starting in 2003 whileInfinitiannounced its withdrawal.

2002 Indy Racing League season
Indy Racing League
2002 Indy Racing League
Season
Races15
Start dateMarch 2
End dateSeptember 15
Awards
Drivers' championUnited StatesSam Hornish Jr.
Manufacturers' CupUnited StatesChevrolet
Rookie of the YearFranceLaurent Rédon
Indianapolis 500winnerBrazilHélio Castroneves
←2001
2003(ICS) →
Sam Hornish Jr.(left) won his second Drivers' Championship (second straight title) whileHélio Castroneves(right) finished second in the championship.

Sam Hornish Jr.won 5 races on his way to his second straight championship ahead of Penske juggernautHélio Castroneves,winner of two races including a second straight Indy 500, on his way to second in the championship. The season was also notable for seeing six drivers win their first career Indycar races.

Confirmed entries

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Team Chassis Engine # Drivers Rounds
Team Menard Dallara Chevrolet 2 Jaques Lazier 1–4
P. J. Jones[N 1] 5
Raul Boesel 5–6
Mark Dismore 7–11
Vítor MeiraR 12–15
31 Robby Gordon 5
Marlboro Team Penske Dallara Chevrolet 3 Hélio Castroneves All
6 Gil de Ferran 1–14
Max Papis 15
Panther Racing Dallara Chevrolet 4 Sam Hornish Jr. All
15 Dan WheldonR 14–15
Treadway Racing G-Force
Dallara[N 2] 		Chevrolet 5 Rick TreadwayR 5
55 1–4, 6, 9
Arie Luyendyk 5, 11
Anthony LazzaroR 7
Will LanghorneR 12, 14–15
Robby McGehee 13
Kelley Racing Dallara Chevrolet 7 Al Unser Jr. 1–9, 12–15
Tony RennaR 10–11
78 12–15
8 Scott Sharp All
Target Chip Ganassi Racing G-Force Chevrolet 9 Jeff Ward All
22 Kenny Bräck 5
33 Bruno Junqueira 5
Cahill Racing Dallara Chevrolet 10 Robby McGehee 1–5
A. J. Foyt Enterprises Dallara Chevrolet 11 Eliseo Salazar 1–3, 10–15
Richie Hearn 4
Greg Ray 5–9
14 Airton Daré All
Donnie Beechler[N 3] 1
41 5
Greg Ray 10–13
Bradley Motorsports Dallara Infiniti 12 Shigeaki Hattori 2–7
Raul Boesel 9–15
67 Rick TreadwayR 15
Walker Racing Dallara Chevrolet 15 Oriol Servià 5
Racing Professionals G-Force
Dallara[N 4] 		Chevrolet 16 Jon Herb 1–8
Mo Nunn Racing G-Force Chevrolet 17 Tony Kanaan 5
21 Felipe Giaffone All
PDM Racing Dallara Chevrolet 18 Tyce Carlson 1–2
Jeret Schroeder 3
John de VriesR 6
Scott MayerR 14
Cory KrusemanR 15
99 Anthony LazzaroR[N 5] 5
Jimmy Kite 5
Team Rahal Dallara Chevrolet 19 Jimmy Vasser 3, 5
Convergent Racing G-Force Chevrolet 20 Hideki NodaR 1–3
Sam Schmidt Motorsports Dallara Chevrolet 20 Richie Hearn 5, 7–12
Greg Ray 14–15
Anthony LazzaroR 13
99 1–2, 4
Richie Hearn 3, 6
Mark Dismore 5
Dreyer & Reinbold Racing G-Force Infiniti 24 Robbie Buhl 1–3, 5–15
Memo Gidley 3
Sarah Fisher 4
23 5, 8–15
Team Green Dallara Chevrolet 26 Paul Tracy 5
27 Dario Franchitti 5
39 Michael Andretti 5
Indy Regency Racing G-Force Chevrolet 28 Hideki NodaR 13–15
310 Racing G-Force Chevrolet 31 George MackR All
Duesenberg Brothers Racing
CURB/Agajanian/Beck Motorsports 		Dallara Chevrolet 32 Johnny Herbert[N 6] 5
Memo Gidley 5
54 Robby McGehee 7–9
Conquest Racing Dallara Infiniti 34 Laurent RedonR All
Brayton Racing Dallara Chevrolet 37 John de VriesR[N 7] 1–5
Scott Harrington 5, 11
Blair Racing Dallara Chevrolet 44 Alex Barron All
Red Bull Cheever Racing Dallara Infiniti 51 Eddie Cheever All
52 Tomas ScheckterR 1–12
Buddy RiceR 13–15
53 11–12
Max Papis 5
Robby McGehee 15
Zali Racing G-Force Chevrolet 81 Billy Roe 1, 5
Hemelgarn Racing Dallara Chevrolet 91 Buddy Lazier All
CURB/Agajanian/Boat Indy Racing Dallara Chevrolet
Infiniti[N 8] 		98 Billy Boat All

Season Summary

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Schedule

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Rnd Date Race Name Track City
1 March 2 Grand Prix of Miami Homestead-Miami Speedway Homestead, Florida
2 March 17 Bombardier ATV 200 Phoenix International Raceway Phoenix, Arizona
3 March 24 Yamaha Indy 400 California Speedway Fontana, California
4 April 21 Firestone Indy 225 Nazareth Speedway Nazareth, Pennsylvania
5 May 26 86th Indianapolis 500 Indianapolis Motor Speedway Speedway, Indiana
6 June 8 Boomtown 500 Texas Motor Speedway Fort Worth, Texas
7 June 16 Radisson Indy 225 Pikes Peak International Raceway Fountain, Colorado
8 June 29 SunTrust Indy Challenge Richmond International Raceway Richmond, Virginia
9 July 7 Ameristar Casino Indy 200 Kansas Speedway Kansas City, Kansas
10 July 20 Firestone Indy 200 Nashville Superspeedway Lebanon, Tennessee
11 July 28 Michigan Indy 400 Michigan International Speedway Brooklyn, Michigan
12 August 11 Belterra Casino Indy 300 Kentucky Speedway Sparta, Kentucky
13 August 25 Gateway Indy 250 Gateway International Raceway Madison, Illinois
14 September 8 Delphi Indy 300 Chicagoland Speedway Joliet, Illinois
15 September 15 Chevy 500 Texas Motor Speedway Fort Worth, Texas
Sources:[1][2]

Race results

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Rnd Race Pole position Fastest lap Most Laps Led Winner
1 Homestead Sam Hornish Jr. Jeff Ward Sam Hornish Jr. Sam Hornish Jr.
2 Phoenix Hélio Castroneves Robbie Buhl Sam Hornish Jr. Hélio Castroneves
3 Fontana Eddie Cheever Tomas Scheckter Sam Hornish Jr. Sam Hornish Jr.
4 Nazareth Gil de Ferran Tomas Scheckter Gil de Ferran Scott Sharp
5 Indianapolis Bruno Junqueira Tomas Scheckter Tomas Scheckter Hélio Castroneves
6 Texas 1 Tomas Scheckter Eddie Cheever Tomas Scheckter Jeff Ward
7 Pikes Peak Gil de Ferran Felipe Giaffone Gil de Ferran Gil de Ferran
8 Richmond Gil de Ferran Buddy Lazier Gil de Ferran Sam Hornish Jr.
9 Kansas Tomas Scheckter Tomas Scheckter Tomas Scheckter Airton Daré
10 Nashville Billy Boat Tomas Scheckter Sam Hornish Jr. Alex Barron
11 Michigan Tomas Scheckter Tomas Scheckter Tomas Scheckter Tomas Scheckter
12 Kentucky Sarah Fisher Tomas Scheckter Felipe Giaffone Felipe Giaffone
13 Gateway Gil de Ferran Sam Hornish Jr. Hélio Castroneves Gil de Ferran
14 Chicagoland Sam Hornish Jr. Buddy Rice Sam Hornish Jr. Sam Hornish Jr.
15 Texas 2 Vítor Meira Buddy Rice Hélio Castroneves Sam Hornish Jr.

BOLDindicates a Superspeedway. Note: All races running on Oval/Speedway.

Race summaries

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Grand Prix of Miami

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This race was held on March 2 atHomestead-Miami Speedway.Sam Hornish Jr.won the pole. The race was dominated by Sam Hornish Jr. who at one point had a lap on the entire field. On lap 193 of 200, while Hornish was leading by more than 20 seconds, fourth placed Robbie Buhl's engine expired, bringing out the yellow and packing up the field. The green came back out on Lap 197, but Airton Dare crashed immediately in turn 2 on the restart. The race finished under yellow, with Hornish on the top step of the podium. Gil de Ferran and Helio Castroneves were second and third respectively, for Team Penske in their first race of their first full season in the IRL.

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

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This race was held on March 17 atPhoenix International Raceway.Hélio Castroneveswon 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

Inaugural Yamaha Indy 400

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This race was held on March 24 atCalifornia Speedway.Eddie Cheeverwon 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

Inaugural Firestone Indy 225

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This race was held on April 21 atNazareth Speedway.Gil de Ferranwon 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

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The Indy 500 was held on May 26 atIndianapolis Motor Speedway.Bruno Junqueirasat on pole. The race end was one of the most controversial in history asPaul TracypassedHélio Castronevesjust as the yellow was coming out for a crash. Race officials ruled that the pass occurred after the yellow and declared Castroneves the winner.

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

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This race was held on June 8 atTexas Motor Speedway.Tomas Scheckterwon 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

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This race was held on June 16 atPikes Peak International Raceway.Gil de Ferranwon 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

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This race was held on June 29 atRichmond International Raceway.Gil de Ferranwon 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

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This race was held on July 7 atKansas Speedway.Tomas Scheckterwon 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

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This race was held on July 20 atNashville Superspeedway.Billy Boatwon 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

Inaugural Michigan Indy 400

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This race was held on July 28 atMichigan International Speedway.Tomas Scheckterwon 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

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This race was held on August 11 atKentucky Speedway.Sarah Fisherwon 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

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This race was held on August 25 atGateway International Raceway.Gil de Ferranwon 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-Vítor Meira
  10. 51-Eddie Cheever

Delphi Indy 300

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Main article:2002 Delphi Indy 300

This race was held on September 8 atChicagoland 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-Vítor Meira
  9. 52-Buddy Rice
  10. 15-Dan Wheldon

Gil de Ferranwas injured during a crash in this race and would miss the season finale at Texas.

Chevy 500

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This race was held on September 15 atTexas Motor Speedway.Vítor Meirawon the pole.

Top ten results

  1. 4-Sam Hornish Jr.**
  2. 3-Hélio Castroneves
  3. 2-Vítor 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

Max Papisfilled in for the injuredGil de Ferranat Penske; however, he finished 21st due to a blown engine.

By winning the race,Sam Hornish Jr.won his second championship in a row.

Final points standings

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Further information:List of American Championship car racing point scoring systems
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 RedonRY 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 ScheckterR 6 24 24 21 26* 17* 16 4 15* 13 1* 22 210
15 Richie Hearn 14 14 6 9 12 7 10 4 10 24 204
16 George MackR 13 20 16 18 17 21 13 20 18 15 20 17 16 14 28 184
17 Robbie Buhl 12 13 Wth 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 RiceR 2 12 4 9 6 140
23 Greg Ray 33 12 18 12 19 20 17 25 19 17 14 128
24 Tony RennaR 10 4 7 24 15 9 121
25 Vítor MeiraR 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 TreadwayR 24 9 22 16 29 23 23 19 76
29 Mark Dismore 32 11 11 20 18 18 73
30 Anthony LazzaroR 9 17 9 Wth 22 DNS 70
31 Jon Herb DNS 11 19 22 DNQ 22 21 19 70
32 Hideki NodaR 23 10 25 17 24 27 54
33 John de VriesR 17 22 23 DNS Wth 11 53
34 Paul Tracy 2 40
35 Will LanghorneR 18 13 23 36
36 Dan WheldonR 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 Wth 23
42 Kenny Bräck 11 19
43 Max Papis 23 21 16
44 Dario Franchitti 19 11
45 Billy Roe 21 DNQ 9
46 Memo Gidley 21 DNQ 9
47 Scott Harrington DNQ 21 9
48 Cory KrusemanR 26 4
49 Jeret Schroeder 27 3
50 Tony Kanaan 28 2
51 Bruno Junqueira 31 1
– Donnie Beechler Wth DNQ 0
– Jimmy Kite DNQ 0
– Oriol Servià DNQ 0
– Scott MayerR DNS 0
– Johnny Herbert Wth 0
– P. J. Jones Wth 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
(2 points)
Italics Ran fastest race lap
* Led most race laps
(1 point)
DNS Any driver who qualifies
but does not start (DNS),
earns all the points
had they taken part.
RY Rookie of the Year
R 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.

See also

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Footnotes

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  1. ^Injured during a practice crash at Indianapolis.
  2. ^Used byAnthony Lazzaroat Pikes Peak; entry run in cooperation with Sam Schmidt Motorsports.
  3. ^Injured during a practice crash at Homestead.
  4. ^Raced from Texas onwards; both chassis were used during the Indy 500 month.
  5. ^Replaced during the second week of Indy 500 practice.
  6. ^Withdrew during Bump Day due to a racing conflict.
  7. ^Replaced at Indianapolis ahead of Bump Day.
  8. ^Used from Kansas onwards.

References

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  1. ^"NTT IndyCar Series Calendar 2002".Motorsport Stats.RetrievedNovember 17,2023.
  2. ^"Final Indy Racing League Leaders".Fort Worth Star-Telegram.September 26, 2002. p. 14D.RetrievedNovember 17,2023– viaNewspapers.com.
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