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.
Confirmed entries
Season Summary
Schedule
Race results
All races running on Oval/Speedway.
Race summaries
TransWorld Diversified Services Indy 200
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
51- Eddie Cheever
4- Scott Goodyear
35- Jeff Ward
8- Scott Sharp
30- Raul Boesel
28- Mark Dismore
18- Steve Knapp
9- Davey Hamilton
11- Billy Boat
91- Buddy Lazier
Failed to qualify: 6-Eliseo Salazar
MCI WorldCom 200
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
4- Scott Goodyear
21- Jeff Ward
44- Robbie Buhl
11- Billy Boat
66- Scott Harrington
33- Roberto Moreno
28- Mark Dismore
8- Scott Sharp
99- Sam Schmidt
7- Stéphan Grégoire
Goodyear's first IndyCar win since the 1994 Marlboro 500 at Michigan International Speedway and his first in IRL competition. Prior to this race, Ward left ISM Racing to drive for Pagan Racing.
VisionAire 500K
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: 2- Greg Ray
4- Scott Goodyear
51- Eddie Cheever
99- Sam Schmidt
98- Donnie Beechler
8- Scott Sharp
91- Buddy Lazier
28- Mark Dismore
55- Robby McGehee
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. 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.