1999 Indy Racing League

The1999 Pep Boys Indy Racing Leaguewas highly competitive and parity was the order of the year.Team Menardhad a very good season with their driverGreg Raycapturing 3 race wins and the series championship. This was the last year beforeCARTteams began to break ranks and jump to the IRL.

1999 Indy Racing League season
Pep BoysIndy Racing League
1999 Indy Racing League
Season
Races	11
Start date	January 24
End date	October 17
Awards
Drivers' champion	Greg Ray
Manufacturers' Cup	Oldsmobile
Rookie of the Year	Scott Harrington
Indianapolis 500winner	Kenny Bräck

Greg Raywon his first and only Drivers' Championship whileKenny Bräck(pictured) finished second in the championship.

Confirmed entries

Team	Chassis	Engine	Tires	No.	Drivers	Round(s)
Team Menard	Dallara	Oldsmobile	F	2	Greg Ray	All
				32	Robby Gordon	4
Brant Motorsports	Riley & Scott	Oldsmobile	G	3	Andy Michner	1–3
					Raul Boesel	4–7
Panther Racing	G-Force	Oldsmobile	G	4	Scott Goodyear	All
				43	Dave Steele	4
Treadway Racing	G-Force	Oldsmobile	F	5	Jason LefflerR	1
					Arie Luyendyk	4
				99	Sam Schmidt	All
Nienhouse Racing	G-Force	Oldsmobile	F/G	6	Eliseo Salazar	All
Dick Simon Racing	G-Force	Oldsmobile	F	7	Stéphan Grégoire	All
Kelley Racing	Dallara	Oldsmobile	G	8	Scott Sharp	All
				28	Mark Dismore	All
Galles Racing	G-Force Dallara	Oldsmobile	G	9	Davey Hamilton	1, 4–11
Byrd-Cunningham Racing	G-Force	Oldsmobile	F	10	John Paul Jr.	1–3
					Andy Michner	4
A. J. Foyt Enterprises	Dallara	Oldsmobile	G	11	Billy Boat	All
				14	Kenny Bräck	All
				41	Marco Greco	4
				84	Robbie Buhl	4
Bradley Motorsports	Dallara G-Force	Oldsmobile	F	12	Buzz Calkins	All
DR/Lazier Racing	G-Force	Infiniti	G	15	Jaques LazierR	2, 4
Phoenix Racing	G-Force	Oldsmobile	F	16	Marco Greco	2
Tri-Star Motorsports	Dallara	Oldsmobile	G	17	Dr. Jack Miller	4, 7
					Ronnie JohncoxR	10–11
				22		5, 7–9
					Gualter Salles	1
					Tony Stewart	4
					Robbie Buhl	10–11
PDM Racing	G-Force	Oldsmobile	G	18	Steve Knapp	1
					Mike BorkowskiR	3–4
Metro Racing	Dallara	Oldsmobile	G	19	Stan Wattles	1, 3–5
Blueprint-Immke Racing	Dallara	Oldsmobile	F	20	Tyce Carlson	All
	G-Force			27	Niclas Jönsson	10–11
Pagan Racing	Dallara	Oldsmobile	G	21	Jeff Ward	2–11
Barnhart Motorsports	Dallara	Oldsmobile	G	25	Davey Hamilton	2–3
Truscelli Team Racing	G-Force	Oldsmobile	G	26	Bobby RegesterR	9
				33	Brian Tyler	1
					Roberto Moreno	2–4
					Jaques LazierR	5–11
McCormack Motorsports	G-Force	Oldsmobile	F	30	Raul Boesel	1–3
					Jimmy Kite	4–9
					Willy T. Ribbs	10
					John Paul Jr.	11
				31	Nick Firestone	4
Coulson Racing	G-Force	Oldsmobile	F	34	Jim Guthrie	4
ISM Racing	G-Force	Oldsmobile	G	35	Jeff Ward	1
					Steve Knapp	2–7
				36	Brian Tyler	4
Team Xtreme	Dallara	Oldsmobile	F/G	42	John Hollansworth Jr.R	All
		Infiniti		46	Mike Groff	4
Mid America Motorsports	Dallara	Oldsmobile	F	43	Doug Didero	11
Sinden Racing	Dallara	Infiniti	F	44	Robbie Buhl	1–3
Team Pelfrey	Dallara	Oldsmobile	F	48	Sarah FisherR	11
				81	Robby Unser	All
				90	Lyn St. James	4
Cobb Racing	G-Force	Infiniti	F	50	Roberto Guerrero	1–2, 4–5
				96	Jeret Schroeder	4
Team Cheever	Dallara	Oldsmobile Infiniti	G	51	Eddie Cheever	All
				52	Wim EyckmansR	4
Beck Motorsports	Dallara	Oldsmobile	F	54	Hideshi Matsuda	4
Conti Racing	Dallara	Oldsmobile	F	55	Robby McGeheeR	3–11
Harrington Motorsports	Dallara	Infiniti Oldsmobile	F	66	Scott HarringtonR	All
Hemelgarn Racing	Dallara	Oldsmobile	G	91	Buddy Lazier	All
				92	Johnny Unser	3–7, 10–11
Cahill Racing	Dallara G-Force	Oldsmobile	F	98	Donnie Beechler	All

Season Summary

Schedule

Rnd	Date	Race Name	Track	City
1	January 24	TransWorld Diversified Services Indy 200	Walt Disney World Speedway	Bay Lake, Florida
2	March 28	MCI WorldCom 200	Phoenix International Raceway	Avondale, Arizona
3	May 1	VisionAire 500K	Lowe's Motor Speedway	Concord, North Carolina
4	May 30	Indianapolis 500	Indianapolis Motor Speedway	Speedway, Indiana
5	June 12	Longhorn 500	Texas Motor Speedway	Fort Worth, Texas
6	June 27	Radisson 200	Pikes Peak International Raceway	Fountain, Colorado
7	July 17	Kobalt Mechanics Tools 500	Atlanta Motor Speedway	Hampton, Georgia
8	August 1	MBNA Mid-Atlantic 200	Dover International Speedway	Dover, Delaware
9	August 29	Colorado Indy 200	Pikes Peak International Raceway	Fountain, Colorado
10	September 26	Vegas 500	Las Vegas Motor Speedway	Las Vegas, Nevada
11	October 17	Mall 500	Texas Motor Speedway	Fort Worth, Texas
Sources:

Race results

All races running on Oval/Speedway.

Rd	Race	Pole Position	Fastest Lap	Most Laps Led	Race Winner
					Driver	Team
1	Walt Disney World	Scott Sharp	Scott Sharp	Scott Sharp	Eddie Cheever	Team Cheever
2	Phoenix	Greg Ray	Scott Goodyear	Scott Goodyear	Scott Goodyear	Pennzoil Panther Racing
3	Charlotte	Greg Ray	Race cancelled after 79 laps due to the deaths of three spectators
4	Indianapolis	Arie Luyendyk	Greg Ray	Kenny Bräck	Kenny Bräck	A. J. Foyt Enterprises
5	Texas 1	Mark Dismore	Sam Schmidt	Greg Ray	Scott Goodyear	Pennzoil Panther Racing
6	Pikes Peak 1	Greg Ray	Mark Dismore	Greg Ray	Greg Ray	Team Menard
7	Atlanta	Billy Boat	Jaques Lazier	Scott Goodyear	Scott Sharp	Kelley Racing
8	Dover	Mark Dismore	Mark Dismore	Mark Dismore	Greg Ray	Team Menard
9	Pikes Peak 2	Greg Ray	Buddy Lazier	Greg Ray	Greg Ray	Team Menard
10	Las Vegas	Sam Schmidt	Tyce Carlson	Kenny Bräck	Sam Schmidt	Treadway Racing
11	Texas 2	Greg Ray	Scott Goodyear	Scott Goodyear	Mark Dismore	Kelley Racing

Race summaries

TransWorld Diversified Services Indy 200

TheTransWorld Diversified Services Indy 200was held on January 24 atWalt Disney World Speedway.Scott Sharpqualified on the pole position. The race was broadcast onABC.

Top 10 results

1. 51-Eddie Cheever
2. 4-Scott Goodyear
3. 35-Jeff Ward
4. 8-Scott Sharp
5. 30-Raul Boesel
6. 28-Mark Dismore
7. 18-Steve Knapp
8. 9-Davey Hamilton
9. 11-Billy Boat
10. 91-Buddy Lazier

• Failed to qualify: 6-Eliseo Salazar

MCI WorldCom 200

TheMCI WorldCom 200was held on March 28 atPhoenix International Raceway.Greg Rayqualified on the pole position. The race was broadcast onFox Sports Net.

Top ten results

1. 4-Scott Goodyear
2. 21-Jeff Ward
3. 44-Robbie Buhl
4. 11-Billy Boat
5. 66-Scott Harrington
6. 33-Roberto Moreno
7. 28-Mark Dismore
8. 8-Scott Sharp
9. 99-Sam Schmidt
10. 7-Stéphan Grégoire

• Goodyear's first IndyCar win since the1994Marlboro 500atMichigan International Speedwayand his first in IRL competition.
• Prior to this race, Ward leftISM Racingto drive forPagan Racing.

VisionAire 500K

TheVisionAire 500Kwas on held May 1 atLowe's Motor Speedway.Greg Rayqualified on the pole position. The race was broadcast onSpeedvision.

Top 10 on lap 79:

1. 2-Greg Ray
2. 4-Scott Goodyear
3. 51-Eddie Cheever
4. 99-Sam Schmidt
5. 98-Donnie Beechler
6. 8-Scott Sharp
7. 91-Buddy Lazier
8. 28-Mark Dismore
9. 55-Robby McGehee
10. 14-Kenny Bräck

• Failed to qualify: 35-Steve Knapp
• On lap 62,Stan Wattlescrashed after suffering a suspension failure.John Paul Jr.made contact with, sending Wattles' right rear wheel and tire assembly into the seating area.Scott Harringtonalso spun in the incident.
• The race continued under caution with Lazier initially leading until he had to make a pit stop to replace a punctured tire, giving Ray the lead. On lap 79, the race was stopped so medical helicopters could land.
• The race was stopped permanently by track general managerHumpy Wheelerwhen it was announced that three spectators were killed. As a result, fans and participants were offered refunds.
• The race was scratched from the record books due to the fact it did not reach the official race distance of 105 laps (the halfway point plus one lap, unlike theFIACode, which is simply making it to the start of the fourth lap).
• Due to this race and a similar incident (where three people were killed) at theCART1998U.S. 500atMichigan International Speedway,wheel tethers were added to open wheel cars.
• This would be the final IndyCar race at Charlotte.

Indianapolis 500

TheIndianapolis 500was held on May 30 atIndianapolis Motor Speedway.Arie Luyendykqualified on the pole position.

Top 10 results

1. 14-Kenny Bräck
2. 21-Jeff Ward
3. 11-Billy Boat
4. 32-Robby Gordon
5. 55-Robby McGehee
6. 84-Robbie Buhl
7. 91-Buddy Lazier
8. 81-Robby Unser
9. 22-Tony Stewart
10. 54-Hideshi Matsuda

• Failed to qualify: 7-Stéphan Grégoire,10-John Paul Jr.,10-Andy Michner,15-Jaques Lazier,15-Troy Reiger,18-Mike Borkowski,18-Ronnie Johncox,19-Stan Wattles,31, 34-Nick Firestone,34-Jim Guthrie,36-Brian Tyler,36-Vincenzo Sospiri,43-Dave Steele,46-Mike Groff,66-Scott Harringtonand 90-Lyn St. James
• Until2006,this race had the latest pass for the lead in Indianapolis 500 history when Gordon pitted on lap 199 and Bräck took the lead in turn 4.
• Combined,Arie LuyendykandGreg Rayled 95 laps. Luyendyk crashed while attempting to lapTyce Carlsonon lap 118 and during the ensuing caution, Ray was hit byMark Dismorewhile exiting his pit stall.
• The day before the race, theMotorola 300atGateway International Racewayfor theFedEx CART Championship Serieswas held. Gordon andRoberto Morenocompeted in the race (Gordon competed full-time in CART and did Indianapolis as a one-off forTeam Menard,dueMenardsbeing his sponsor in the series, and Moreno was hired as an injury replacement atPacWest RacingforMark Blundellwhile concurrently driving forTruscelli Racingin the IRL). Moreno finished 4th and Gordon 27th due to a crash.
• Stewart, who moved to theNASCARWinston Cup Series,didDouble Dutyby competing at Indianapolis and theCoca-Cola 600atLowe's Motor Speedway.He finished 9th at Indianapolis, four laps down, and 4th at Charlotte on the lead lap, despite being moved to the rear of the field due to missing a drivers’ meeting.
• Rookie of the YearMcGehee had an incident during a pit stop where a pit crew member hit the ground, but survived.
• This race was planned on being Luyendyk's final race. However, he returned to race part-time from2001to2003.
• Four drivers named either Robby or Robbie finished in the top 10.

Longhorn 500

TheLonghorn 500was held on June 12 atTexas Motor Speedway.Mark Dismorequalified on the pole position. The race was broadcast onFox Sports Net.

Top 10 results

1. 4-Scott Goodyear
2. 2-Greg Ray
3. 99-Sam Schmidt
4. 7-Stéphan Grégoire
5. 6-Eliseo Salazar
6. 81-Robby Unser
7. 9-Davey Hamilton
8. 28-Mark Dismore
9. 12-Buzz Calkins
10. 8-Scott Sharp

• Failed to qualify: 19-Stan Wattlesand 50-Roberto Guerrero
• Ray entered the race 20th in points and left 8th.

Radisson 200

TheRadisson 200was held on June 27 atPikes Peak International Raceway.Greg Rayqualified on the pole position. The race was broadcast onFox Sports Net.

Top 10 results

1. 2-Greg Ray
2. 99-Sam Schmidt
3. 9-Davey Hamilton
4. 51-Eddie Cheever
5. 91-Buddy Lazier
6. 81-Robby Unser
7. 14-Kenny Bräck
8. 8-Scott Sharp
9. 21-Jeff Ward
10. 33-Jaques Lazier

• Ray's first IndyCar win.
• Ray led 109 of 200 laps on his way to victory. Schmidt led the other 91 laps.

Kobalt Mechanics Tools 500

TheKobalt Mechanics Tools 500was held on July 17 atAtlanta Motor Speedway.Billy Boatqualified on the pole position. The race was broadcast onFox Sports Net.

Top 10 results

1. 8-Scott Sharp
2. 81-Robby Unser
3. 14-Kenny Bräck
4. 6-Eliseo Salazar
5. 12-Buzz Calkins
6. 51-Eddie Cheever
7. 9-Davey Hamilton
8. 98-Donnie Beechler
9. 30-Jimmy Kite
10. 11-Billy Boat

• Unser's best IndyCar finish.

MBNA Mid-Atlantic 200

TheMBNA Mid-Atlantic 200was held on August 1 atDover Downs International Speedway.Mark Dismorequalified on the pole position. The race was broadcast onFox.

Top 10 results

1. 2-Greg Ray
2. 91-Buddy Lazier
3. 14-Kenny Bräck
4. 11-Billy Boat
5. 99-Sam Schmidt
6. 66-Scott Harrington
7. 33-Jaques Lazier
8. 12-Buzz Calkins
9. 55-Robby McGehee
10. 98-Donnie Beechler

Colorado Indy 200

TheColorado Indy 200was held on August 29 atPikes Peak International Raceway.Greg Rayqualified on the pole position. The race was broadcast onFox Sports Net.

Top 10 results

1. 2-Greg Ray
2. 9-Davey Hamilton
3. 28-Mark Dismore
4. 91-Buddy Lazier
5. 99-Sam Schmidt
6. 66-Scott Harrington
7. 55-Robby McGehee
8. 30-Jimmy Kite
9. 81-Robby Unser
10. 14-Kenny Bräck

• This would be the final race aired on Fox. After this race,ESPN/ABCpurchased the rights for the remaining two races.

Vegas 500

TheVegas 500was held on September 26 atLas Vegas Motor Speedway.Sam Schmidtqualified on the pole position. The race was broadcast onESPN.

Top 10 results

1. 99-Sam Schmidt
2. 14-Kenny Bräck
3. 22-Robbie Buhl
4. 8-Scott Sharp
5. 12-Buzz Calkins
6. 55-Robby McGehee
7. 33-Jaques Lazier
8. 7-Stephan Gregoire
9. 20-Tyce Carlson
10. 21-Jeff Ward

• Entering the season-finale,Greg Rayled Bräck by 15 points, Schmidt by 30 points, Sharp by 46 points andScott Goodyearby 48 points.
• Schmidt's only IndyCar win.

Mall 500

TheMall 500was held on October 17 atTexas Motor Speedway.Greg Rayqualified on the pole position. The race was broadcast onABC.

Top 10 results

1. 28-Mark Dismore
2. 9-Davey Hamilton
3. 2-Greg Ray
4. 51-Eddie Cheever
5. 42-John Hollansworth Jr.
6. 66-Scott Harrington
7. 33-Jaques Lazier
8. 12-Buzz Calkins
9. 11-Billy Boat
10. 91-Buddy Lazier

• Failed to qualify: 27-Niclas Jönssonand 92-Johnny Unser
• Points leader Ray was the only championship eligible driver to finish in the top 5 and top 10, finishing 3rd.Scott Goodyearfinished 23rd due to a crash.Scott Sharpfinished 19th due to engine failure.Sam Schmidtfinished 22nd due to a separate crash.Kenny Bräckfinished 16th, 22 laps down.
• There were several changes in the top 10 in points following this race due to 3rd being separated from 10th by 31 points. Race winner Dismore moved up from 11th to 3rd,Jeff Ward(at one time the points leader) dropped from 7th to 11th, Sharp dropped from 4th to 8th, Goodyear dropped from 5th to 9th and Hamilton moved up from 7th to 4th.
• Dismore's only IndyCar win.
• Schmidt's final IndyCar race. His career would end due to a testing crash atWalt Disney World Speedwayin January 2000 that left him paralyzed.
• Sarah Fishermade her IndyCar debut in this race, becoming the first woman sinceLyn St. Jamesat the1997Indianapolis 500to start an IndyCar race. She started 17th, but finished 25th due to a broken timing chain.

Final points standings

Further information:List of American Championship car racing point scoring systems

Pos Driver WDW PHX CLT INDY TXS PIK ATL DOV PIK LSV TXS Pts 1 Greg Ray 21 21 C1 21 2* 1* 23 1 1* 21 3 293 2 Kenny Bräck 22 24 C1 1* 13 7 3 3 10 2* 16 256 3 Mark Dismore 6 7 C1 16 8 21 17 15* 3 20 1 240 4 Davey Hamilton 8 27 C1 11 7 3 7 23 2 13 2 237 5 Sam Schmidt 27 9 C1 30 3 2 22 5 5 1 22 233 6 Buddy Lazier 10 18 C1 7 14 5 21 2 4 11 10 224 7 Eddie Cheever 1 17 C1 18 16 4 6 21 11 17 4 222 8 Scott Sharp 4* 8 C1 28 10 8 1 22 22 4 19 220 9 Scott Goodyear 2 1* C1 27 1 12 16* 17 21 25 23* 217 10 Robby Unser 15 26 C1 8 6 6 2 12 9 16 14 209 11 Jeff Ward 3 2 C1 2 18 9 26 13 23 10 21 206 12 Billy Boat 9 4 C1 3 24 24 10 4 13 22 9 204 13 Buzz Calkins 17 14 C1 19 9 14 5 8 15 5 8 201 14 Scott HarringtonRY 25 5 C1 DNQ DNS 19 15 6 6 14 6 165 15 Stéphan Grégoire 16 10 C1 DNQ 4 11 24 14 14 8 15 162 16 Robby McGeheeR C1 5 19 Wth 14 9 7 6 12 156 17 John Hollansworth Jr.R 19 15 C1 13 20 16 19 19 16 19 5 146 18 Jaques LazierR DNS DNQ 22 10 12 7 12 7 7 144 19 Tyce Carlson 12 23 C1 14 21 23 20 11 17 9 13 139 20 Eliseo Salazar DNQ 20 C1 33 5 20 4 18 19 12 17 137 21 Donnie Beechler 26 11 C1 29 17 22 8 10 20 18 11 130 22 Robbie Buhl 20 3 C1 6 3 24 114 23 Raul Boesel 5 19 C1 12 23 18 11 98 24 Jimmy Kite 24 25 15 9 16 8 86 25 Steve Knapp 7 25 26 12 17 27 69 26 Ronnie JohncoxR 11 25 20 24 15 26 59 27 Johnny Unser C1 32 15 13 13 23 57 28 John Paul Jr. 11 22 C1 Wth 18 39 29 Roberto Moreno 6 C1 20 38 30 Roberto Guerrero 13 16 25 36 31 Robby Gordon 4 32 32 Andy Michner 18 13 C1 DNQ 29 33 Tony Stewart 9 22 34 Hideshi Matsuda 10 20 35 Stan Wattles 24 C1 17 19 36 Marco Greco 12 DNQ 18 37 Brian Tyler 14 DNQ 16 38 Jeret SchroederR 15 15 39 Dr. Jack Miller 31 18 13 40 Bobby RegesterR 18 12 41 Arie Luyendyk 22 11 42 Doug DideroR 20 10 43 Niclas JönssonR 24 DNS 9 44 Gualter Salles 23 7 45 Wim EyckmansR 23 7 46 Sarah FisherR 25 5 47 Willy T. Ribbs 26 4 48 Jason LefflerR 28 2 – Mike Borkowski C1 DNQ 0 – Nick Firestone DNQ 0 – Mike Groff DNQ 0 – Jim Guthrie DNQ 0 – Lyn St. James DNQ 0 – Dave Steele Wth 0 Pos Driver WDW PHX CLT INDY TXS PIK ATL DOV PIK LSV 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

¹The 1999VisionAire 500KatCharlottewas cancelled after 79 laps due to spectator fatalities.

• 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).

See also

• 1999 Indianapolis 500
• 1999 Indy Lights season
• 1999 CART season
• 1999 Toyota Atlantic Championship season
• http://champcarstats /year/1999i.htm
• http://media.indycar /pdf/2011/IICS_2011_Historical_Record_Book_INT6.pdfArchived2016-03-04 at theWayback Machine(p. 135–136)