The 2002 Indy Racing League (IRL) was one of transition, with two reigning CART championship teams, Team Penske and Target Chip Ganassi Racing, joining the series with full time entries. The Oldsmobile engine was rebranded as a Chevrolet, and both Honda and Toyota announced their participation in the series starting in 2003 while Infiniti announced its withdrawal.
Sam Hornish Jr. won 5 races on his way to his second straight championship ahead of Penske juggernaut Hélio Castroneves, winner of two races including a second straight Indy 500, on his way to second in the championship.
Confirmed entries
Season Summary
Schedule
Race results
BOLD indicates a Superspeedway. Note: All races running on Oval/Speedway.
Race summaries
Grand Prix of Miami
This race was held on March 2 at Homestead-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
4- Sam Hornish Jr. 6- Gil de Ferran 3- Hélio Castroneves 9- Jeff Ward 11- Eliseo Salazar 52- Tomas Scheckter 21- Felipe Giaffone 44- Alex Barron 99- Anthony Lazzaro 14- Airton Daré
Bombardier ATV 200
This race was held on March 17 at Phoenix International Raceway. Hélio Castroneves won the pole.
Top ten results
3- Hélio Castroneves
6- Gil de Ferran
4- Sam Hornish Jr. 11- Eliseo Salazar 7- Al Unser Jr. 2- Jaques Lazier 91- Buddy Lazier 98- Billy Boat 55- Rick Treadway 20- Hideki Noda
Inaugural Yamaha Indy 400
This race was held on March 24 at California Speedway. Eddie Cheever won the pole.
Top ten results
4- Sam Hornish Jr. 2- Jaques Lazier 34- Laurent Rédon 6- Gil de Ferran 3- Hélio Castroneves 21- Felipe Giaffone 91- Buddy Lazier 8- Scott Sharp 19- Jimmy Vasser 9- Jeff Ward
Inaugural Firestone Indy 225
This race was held on April 21 at Nazareth Speedway. Gil de Ferran won the pole.
Top ten results
8- Scott Sharp
21- Felipe Giaffone
6- Gil de Ferran
24- Sarah Fisher
3- Hélio Castroneves
44- Alex Barron
51- Eddie Cheever
98- Billy Boat
99- Anthony Lazzaro
12- Shigeaki Hattori
86th Indianapolis 500
The Indy 500 was held on May 26 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Bruno Junqueira sat on pole. The race end was one of the most controversial in history as Paul Tracy passed Hélio Castroneves just 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
3- Hélio Castroneves
26- Paul Tracy
21- Felipe Giaffone
44- Alex Barron
51- Eddie Cheever
20- Richie Hearn
39- Michael Andretti
31- Robby Gordon
9- Jeff Ward
6- Gil de Ferran
Boomtown 500
This race was held on June 8 at Texas Motor Speedway. Tomas Scheckter won the pole.
Top ten results
9- Jeff Ward
7- Al Unser Jr. 14- Airton Daré 3- Hélio Castroneves 21- Felipe Giaffone 12- Shigeaki Hattori 98- Billy Boat 91- Buddy Lazier 99- Richie Hearn 44- Alex Barron
Radisson Indy 225
This race was held on June 16 at Pikes Peak International Raceway. Gil de Ferran won the pole.
Top ten results
6- Gil de Ferran
3- Hélio Castroneves
4- Sam Hornish Jr. 21- Felipe Giaffone 8- Scott Sharp 7- Al Unser Jr. 34- Laurent Rédon 51- Eddie Cheever 14- Airton Daré 44- Alex Barron
SunTrust Indy Challenge
This race was held on June 29 at Richmond International Raceway. Gil de Ferran won the pole.
Top ten results
4- Sam Hornish Jr. 6- Gil de Ferran 21- Felipe Giaffone 52- Tomas Scheckter 7- Al Unser Jr. 14- Airton Daré 20- Richie Hearn 9- Jeff Ward 54- Robby McGehee 44- Alex Barron
Ameristar Casino Indy 200
This race was held on July 7 at Kansas Speedway. Tomas Scheckter won the pole.
Top ten results
14- Airton Daré
4- Sam Hornish Jr. 3- Hélio Castroneves 21- Felipe Giaffone 6- Gil de Ferran 8- Scott Sharp 91- Buddy Lazier 44-Alex Barron 98- Billy Boat 20- Richie Hearn