1998 Indy Racing League
Sports season / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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.
1998 Indy Racing League season | |
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Pep Boys Indy Racing League | |
![]() 1998 Indy Racing League | |
Season | |
Races | 11 |
Start date | January 24 |
End date | October 11 |
Awards | |
Drivers' champion | ![]() |
Manufacturers' Cup | ![]() |
Rookie of the Year | ![]() |
Indianapolis 500 winner | ![]() |
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.