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Last updated on February 1, 2009
IRL IndyCar Series Champions
The Indy Racing Leauge (IRL) split from the open-wheel CART series in
1994. Led by Indianapolis Motor Speedway President Tony George, the
league’s inaugural three-race series began in January 1996 and ended with
the league’s keystone event—the Indianapolis 500. Past series’ sponsors
include Pep Boys (1998-99) and Northern Light Technology, Inc., an
Internet search engine (2000-01).
Multiple winner: Sam Hornish Jr. (3).
|
Year
|
Driver
|
Car
|
Team
|
Sts
|
Wins
|
Poles
|
Earnings
|
| 1996 |
Buzz Calkins
|
Reynard Ford |
A.J. Foyt Enterprises |
3 |
1 |
0 |
$345,553 |
| |
Scott Sharp
|
Lola Ford |
A.J. Foyt Enterprises |
3 |
0 |
0 |
330,303 |
| 1997 |
Tony Stewart
|
Dallara Oldsmobile |
Team Menard |
10 |
1 |
4 |
1,142,450 |
| 1998 |
Kenny Brack
|
Dallara Oldsmobile |
A.J. Foyt Enterprises |
11 |
3 |
0 |
2,106,700 |
| 1999 |
Greg Ray
|
Dallara Oldsmobile |
Team Menard |
10 |
3 |
4 |
2,061,800 |
| 2000 |
Buddy Lazier
|
Dallara Oldsmobile |
Hemelgarn Racing |
9 |
2 |
1 |
2,176,200 |
| 2001 |
Sam Hornish Jr.
|
Dallara Oldsmobile |
Panther Racing |
13 |
3 |
0 |
2,477,025 |
| 2002 |
Sam Hornish Jr.
|
Dallara Oldsmobile |
Panther Racing |
15 |
5 |
2 |
1,435,615 |
| 2003 |
Scott Dixon
|
G-Force Toyota |
Target Chip Ganassi |
16 |
3 |
5 |
1,481,265 |
| 2004 |
Tony Kanaan
|
Dallara Honda |
Andretti Green Racing |
16 |
3 |
2 |
2,931,990 |
| 2005 |
Dan Wheldon
|
Dallara Honda |
Andretti Green Racing |
17 |
6 |
0 |
3,721,005 |
| 2006 |
Sam Hornish, Jr.
|
Dallara Honda |
Penske Racing |
14 |
4 |
4 |
3,835,205 |
| 2007 |
Dario Franchitti
|
Dallara Honda |
Andretti Green Racing |
17 |
4 |
4 |
4,017,583 |
Note: In 1996, Calkins and Sharp were named
co-champions after finishing the series tied in drivers' points
(246).
Information Please® Database, © 2007 Pearson Education,
Inc. All rights reserved.
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