1999 Indy Racing League

(Redirected from 1999 in IRL)

The 1999 Pep Boys Indy Racing League was highly competitive and parity was the order of the year. Team Menard had a very good season with their driver Greg Ray capturing 3 race wins and the series championship. This was the last year before CART teams began to break ranks and jump to the IRL.

1999 Indy Racing League season
Pep Boys Indy Racing League
1999 Indy Racing League
Season
Races11
Start dateJanuary 24
End dateOctober 17
Awards
Drivers' championUnited States Greg Ray
Manufacturers' CupUnited States Oldsmobile
Rookie of the YearUnited States Scott Harrington
Indianapolis 500 winnerSweden Kenny Bräck
← 1998
2000 →
Greg Ray won his first and only Drivers' Championship while Kenny Bräck (pictured) finished second in the championship.

Confirmed entries

edit
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 Leffler  R  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 Lazier  R  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 Johncox  R  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 Borkowski  R  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 Regester  R  9
33   Brian Tyler 1
  Roberto Moreno 2–4
  Jaques Lazier  R  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 Fisher  R  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 Eyckmans  R  4
  Beck Motorsports Dallara Oldsmobile F 54   Hideshi Matsuda 4
  Conti Racing Dallara Oldsmobile F 55   Robby McGehee  R  3–11
  Harrington Motorsports Dallara Infiniti
Oldsmobile
F 66   Scott Harrington  R  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

edit

Schedule

edit
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.com 500 Las Vegas Motor Speedway Las Vegas, Nevada
11 October 17 Mall.com 500 Texas Motor Speedway Fort Worth, Texas
Sources:[1][2]

Race results

edit

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

edit

TransWorld Diversified Services Indy 200

edit

The TransWorld Diversified Services Indy 200 was held on January 24 at Walt Disney World Speedway. Scott Sharp qualified on the pole position. The race was broadcast on ABC.

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

MCI WorldCom 200

edit

The MCI WorldCom 200 was held on March 28 at Phoenix International Raceway. Greg Ray qualified on the pole position. The race was broadcast on Fox 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

VisionAire 500K

edit

The VisionAire 500K was on held May 1 at Lowe's Motor Speedway. Greg Ray qualified on the pole position. The race was broadcast on Speedvision.

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 Wattles crashed after suffering a suspension failure. John Paul Jr. made contact with, sending Wattles' right rear wheel and tire assembly into the seating area. Scott Harrington also spun in the incident.[3]
  • 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 manager Humpy Wheeler when 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 the FIA Code, 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 the CART 1998 U.S. 500 at Michigan International Speedway, wheel tethers were added to open wheel cars.
  • This would be the final IndyCar race at Charlotte.

Indianapolis 500

edit

The Indianapolis 500 was held on May 30 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Arie Luyendyk qualified 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

Longhorn 500

edit

The Longhorn 500 was held on June 12 at Texas Motor Speedway. Mark Dismore qualified on the pole position. The race was broadcast on Fox 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

Radisson 200

edit

The Radisson 200 was held on June 27 at Pikes Peak International Raceway. Greg Ray qualified on the pole position. The race was broadcast on Fox 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

edit

The Kobalt Mechanics Tools 500 was held on July 17 at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Billy Boat qualified on the pole position. The race was broadcast on Fox 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

edit

The MBNA Mid-Atlantic 200 was held on August 1 at Dover Downs International Speedway. Mark Dismore qualified on the pole position. The race was broadcast on Fox.

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

edit

The Colorado Indy 200 was held on August 29 at Pikes Peak International Raceway. Greg Ray qualified on the pole position. The race was broadcast on Fox 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/ABC purchased the rights for the remaining two races.

Vegas.com 500

edit

The Vegas.com 500 was held on September 26 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Sam Schmidt qualified on the pole position. The race was broadcast on ESPN.

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 Ray led Bräck by 15 points, Schmidt by 30 points, Sharp by 46 points and Scott Goodyear by 48 points.
  • Schmidt's only IndyCar win.

Mall.com 500

edit

The Mall.com 500 was held on October 17 at Texas Motor Speedway. Greg Ray qualified on the pole position. The race was broadcast on ABC.

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 Jönsson and 92-Johnny Unser
  • Points leader Ray was the only championship eligible driver to finish in the top 5 and top 10, finishing 3rd. Scott Goodyear finished 23rd due to a crash. Scott Sharp finished 19th due to engine failure. Sam Schmidt finished 22nd due to a separate crash. Kenny Bräck finished 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 at Walt Disney World Speedway in January 2000 that left him paralyzed.
  • Sarah Fisher made her IndyCar debut in this race, becoming the first woman since Lyn St. James at the 1997 Indianapolis 500 to start an IndyCar race. She started 17th, but finished 25th due to a broken timing chain.

Final points standings

edit
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 Harrington  RY  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 McGehee  R  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 Lazier  R  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 Johncox  R  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 Schroeder  R  15 15
39   Dr. Jack Miller 31 18 13
40   Bobby Regester  R  18 12
41   Arie Luyendyk 22 11
42   Doug Didero  R  20 10
43   Niclas Jönsson  R  24 DNS 9
44   Gualter Salles 23 7
45   Wim Eyckmans  R  23 7
46   Sarah Fisher  R  25 5
47   Willy T. Ribbs 26 4
48   Jason Leffler  R  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
1 The 1999 VisionAire 500K at Charlotte was 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).

References

edit
  1. ^ "NTT IndyCar Series Calendar 1999". Motorsport Stats. Retrieved November 17, 2023.
  2. ^ "Schedule". Indy Racing League. Archived from the original on October 11, 1999. Retrieved November 17, 2023.
  3. ^ Preliminary Charlotte Crash Details Outlined, The Auto Channel, May 15, 1999

See also

edit