1999 Indy Racing League

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
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.

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

Team Chassis Engine Tires No. Drivers Round(s)
United States Team Menard Dallara Oldsmobile F 2 United States Greg Ray All
32 United States Robby Gordon 4
United States Brant Motorsports Riley & Scott Oldsmobile G 3 United States Andy Michner 1–3
Brazil Raul Boesel 4–7
United States Panther Racing G-Force Oldsmobile G 4 Canada Scott Goodyear All
43 United States Dave Steele 4
United States Treadway Racing G-Force Oldsmobile F 5 United States Jason Leffler  R  1
Netherlands Arie Luyendyk 4
99 United States Sam Schmidt All
United States Nienhouse Racing G-Force Oldsmobile F/G 6 Chile Eliseo Salazar All
United States Dick Simon Racing G-Force Oldsmobile F 7 France Stéphan Grégoire All
United States Kelley Racing Dallara Oldsmobile G 8 United States Scott Sharp All
28 United States Mark Dismore All
United States Galles Racing G-Force
Dallara
Oldsmobile G 9 United States Davey Hamilton 1, 4–11
United States Byrd-Cunningham Racing G-Force Oldsmobile F 10 United States John Paul Jr. 1–3
United States Andy Michner 4
United States A. J. Foyt Enterprises Dallara Oldsmobile G 11 United States Billy Boat All
14 Sweden Kenny Bräck All
41 Brazil Marco Greco 4
84 United States Robbie Buhl 4
United States Bradley Motorsports Dallara
G-Force
Oldsmobile F 12 United States Buzz Calkins All
United States DR/Lazier Racing G-Force Infiniti G 15 United States Jaques Lazier  R  2, 4
United States Phoenix Racing G-Force Oldsmobile F 16 Brazil Marco Greco 2
United States Tri-Star Motorsports Dallara Oldsmobile G 17 United States Dr. Jack Miller 4, 7
United States Ronnie Johncox  R  10–11
22 5, 7–9
Brazil Gualter Salles 1
United States Tony Stewart 4
United States Robbie Buhl 10–11
United States PDM Racing G-Force Oldsmobile G 18 United States Steve Knapp 1
United States Mike Borkowski  R  3–4
United States Metro Racing Dallara Oldsmobile G 19 United States Stan Wattles 1, 3–5
United States Blueprint-Immke Racing Dallara Oldsmobile F 20 United States Tyce Carlson All
G-Force 27 Sweden Niclas Jönsson 10–11
United States Pagan Racing Dallara Oldsmobile G 21 United States Jeff Ward 2–11
United States Barnhart Motorsports Dallara Oldsmobile G 25 United States Davey Hamilton 2–3
United States Truscelli Team Racing G-Force Oldsmobile G 26 United States Bobby Regester  R  9
33 United States Brian Tyler 1
Brazil Roberto Moreno 2–4
United States Jaques Lazier  R  5–11
United States McCormack Motorsports G-Force Oldsmobile F 30 Brazil Raul Boesel 1–3
United States Jimmy Kite 4–9
United States Willy T. Ribbs 10
United States John Paul Jr. 11
31 United States Nick Firestone 4
United States Coulson Racing G-Force Oldsmobile F 34 United States Jim Guthrie 4
United States ISM Racing G-Force Oldsmobile G 35 United States Jeff Ward 1
United States Steve Knapp 2–7
36 United States Brian Tyler 4
United States Team Xtreme Dallara Oldsmobile F/G 42 United States John Hollansworth Jr.  R  All
Infiniti 46 United States Mike Groff 4
Canada Mid America Motorsports Dallara Oldsmobile F 43 Canada Doug Didero 11
United States Sinden Racing Dallara Infiniti F 44 United States Robbie Buhl 1–3
United States Team Pelfrey Dallara Oldsmobile F 48 United States Sarah Fisher  R  11
81 United States Robby Unser All
90 United States Lyn St. James 4
United States Cobb Racing G-Force Infiniti F 50 Colombia Roberto Guerrero 1–2, 4–5
96 United States Jeret Schroeder 4
United States Team Cheever Dallara Oldsmobile
Infiniti
G 51 United States Eddie Cheever All
52 Belgium Wim Eyckmans  R  4
United States Beck Motorsports Dallara Oldsmobile F 54 Japan Hideshi Matsuda 4
United States Conti Racing Dallara Oldsmobile F 55 United States Robby McGehee  R  3–11
United States Harrington Motorsports Dallara Infiniti
Oldsmobile
F 66 United States Scott Harrington  R  All
United States Hemelgarn Racing Dallara Oldsmobile G 91 United States Buddy Lazier All
92 United States Johnny Unser 3–7, 10–11
United States Cahill Racing Dallara
G-Force
Oldsmobile F 98 United States Donnie Beechler All

Season Summary

Schedule

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

All races running on Oval/Speedway.

Rd Race Pole Position Fastest Lap Most Laps Led Race Winner
Driver Team
1 Walt Disney World United States Scott Sharp United States Scott Sharp United States Scott Sharp United States Eddie Cheever Team Cheever
2 Phoenix United States Greg Ray Canada Scott Goodyear Canada Scott Goodyear Canada Scott Goodyear Pennzoil Panther Racing
3 Charlotte United States Greg Ray Race cancelled after 79 laps due to the deaths of three spectators
4 Indianapolis Netherlands Arie Luyendyk United States Greg Ray Sweden Kenny Bräck Sweden Kenny Bräck A. J. Foyt Enterprises
5 Texas 1 United States Mark Dismore United States Sam Schmidt United States Greg Ray Canada Scott Goodyear Pennzoil Panther Racing
6 Pikes Peak 1 United States Greg Ray United States Mark Dismore United States Greg Ray United States Greg Ray Team Menard
7 Atlanta United States Billy Boat United States Jaques Lazier Canada Scott Goodyear United States Scott Sharp Kelley Racing
8 Dover United States Mark Dismore United States Mark Dismore United States Mark Dismore United States Greg Ray Team Menard
9 Pikes Peak 2 United States Greg Ray United States Buddy Lazier United States Greg Ray United States Greg Ray Team Menard
10 Las Vegas United States Sam Schmidt United States Tyce Carlson Sweden Kenny Bräck United States Sam Schmidt Treadway Racing
11 Texas 2 United States Greg Ray Canada Scott Goodyear Canada Scott Goodyear United States Mark Dismore Kelley Racing


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

  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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Pos Driver WDW
PHX
CLT
INDY
TXS
PIK
ATL
DOV
PIK
LSV
TXS
Pts
1 United States Greg Ray 21 21 C1 21 2* 1* 23 1 1* 21 3 293
2 Sweden Kenny Bräck 22 24 C1 1* 13 7 3 3 10 2* 16 256
3 United States Mark Dismore 6 7 C1 16 8 21 17 15* 3 20 1 240
4 United States Davey Hamilton 8 27 C1 11 7 3 7 23 2 13 2 237
5 United States Sam Schmidt 27 9 C1 30 3 2 22 5 5 1 22 233
6 United States Buddy Lazier 10 18 C1 7 14 5 21 2 4 11 10 224
7 United States Eddie Cheever 1 17 C1 18 16 4 6 21 11 17 4 222
8 United States Scott Sharp 4* 8 C1 28 10 8 1 22 22 4 19 220
9 Canada Scott Goodyear 2 1* C1 27 1 12 16* 17 21 25 23* 217
10 United States Robby Unser 15 26 C1 8 6 6 2 12 9 16 14 209
11 United States Jeff Ward 3 2 C1 2 18 9 26 13 23 10 21 206
12 United States Billy Boat 9 4 C1 3 24 24 10 4 13 22 9 204
13 United States Buzz Calkins 17 14 C1 19 9 14 5 8 15 5 8 201
14 United States Scott Harrington  RY  25 5 C1 DNQ DNS 19 15 6 6 14 6 165
15 France Stéphan Grégoire 16 10 C1 DNQ 4 11 24 14 14 8 15 162
16 United States Robby McGehee  R  C1 5 19 Wth 14 9 7 6 12 156
17 United States John Hollansworth Jr.  R  19 15 C1 13 20 16 19 19 16 19 5 146
18 United States Jaques Lazier  R  DNS DNQ 22 10 12 7 12 7 7 144
19 United States Tyce Carlson 12 23 C1 14 21 23 20 11 17 9 13 139
20 Chile Eliseo Salazar DNQ 20 C1 33 5 20 4 18 19 12 17 137
21 United States Donnie Beechler 26 11 C1 29 17 22 8 10 20 18 11 130
22 United States Robbie Buhl 20 3 C1 6 3 24 114
23 Brazil Raul Boesel 5 19 C1 12 23 18 11 98
24 United States Jimmy Kite 24 25 15 9 16 8 86
25 United States Steve Knapp 7 25 26 12 17 27 69
26 United States Ronnie Johncox  R  11 25 20 24 15 26 59
27 United States Johnny Unser C1 32 15 13 13 23 57
28 United States John Paul Jr. 11 22 C1 Wth 18 39
29 Brazil Roberto Moreno 6 C1 20 38
30 Colombia Roberto Guerrero 13 16 25 36
31 United States Robby Gordon 4 32
32 United States Andy Michner 18 13 C1 DNQ 29
33 United States Tony Stewart 9 22
34 Japan Hideshi Matsuda 10 20
35 United States Stan Wattles 24 C1 17 19
36 Brazil Marco Greco 12 DNQ 18
37 United States Brian Tyler 14 DNQ 16
38 United States Jeret Schroeder  R  15 15
39 United States Dr. Jack Miller 31 18 13
40 United States Bobby Regester  R  18 12
41 Netherlands Arie Luyendyk 22 11
42 Canada Doug Didero  R  20 10
43 Sweden Niclas Jönsson  R  24 DNS 9
44 Brazil Gualter Salles 23 7
45 Belgium Wim Eyckmans  R  23 7
46 United States Sarah Fisher  R  25 5
47 United States Willy T. Ribbs 26 4
48 United States Jason Leffler  R  28 2
United States Mike Borkowski C1 DNQ 0
United States Nick Firestone DNQ 0
United States Mike Groff DNQ 0
United States Jim Guthrie DNQ 0
United States Lyn St. James DNQ 0
United States 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

  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