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2002 Indy Racing League

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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.

2002 Indy Racing League season
Indy Racing League
2002 Indy Racing League
Season
Races15
Start dateMarch 2
End dateSeptember 15
Awards
Drivers' championUnited States Sam Hornish Jr.
Manufacturers' CupUnited States Chevrolet
Rookie of the YearFrance Laurent Rédon
Indianapolis 500 winnerBrazil Hélio Castroneves
← 2001
2003 (ICS) →
Sam Hornish Jr. (left) won his second Drivers' Championship (second straight title) while Hélio Castroneves (right) finished second in the championship.

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. The season was also notable for seeing six drivers win their first career Indycar races.

Confirmed entries

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Team Chassis Engine # Drivers Rounds
  Team Menard Dallara Chevrolet 2   Jaques Lazier 1–4
  P. J. Jones[N 1] 5
  Raul Boesel 5–6
  Mark Dismore 7–11
  Vítor Meira  R  12–15
31   Robby Gordon 5
  Marlboro Team Penske Dallara Chevrolet 3   Hélio Castroneves All
6   Gil de Ferran 1–14
  Max Papis 15
  Panther Racing Dallara Chevrolet 4   Sam Hornish Jr. All
15   Dan Wheldon  R  14–15
  Treadway Racing G-Force
Dallara[N 2] 		Chevrolet 5   Rick Treadway  R  5
55 1–4, 6, 9
  Arie Luyendyk 5, 11
  Anthony Lazzaro  R  7
  Will Langhorne  R  12, 14–15
  Robby McGehee 13
  Kelley Racing Dallara Chevrolet 7   Al Unser Jr. 1–9, 12–15
  Tony Renna  R  10–11
78 12–15
8   Scott Sharp All
  Target Chip Ganassi Racing G-Force Chevrolet 9   Jeff Ward All
22   Kenny Bräck 5
33   Bruno Junqueira 5
  Cahill Racing Dallara Chevrolet 10   Robby McGehee 1–5
  A. J. Foyt Enterprises Dallara Chevrolet 11   Eliseo Salazar 1–3, 10–15
  Richie Hearn 4
  Greg Ray 5–9
14   Airton Daré All
  Donnie Beechler[N 3] 1
41 5
  Greg Ray 10–13
  Bradley Motorsports Dallara Infiniti 12   Shigeaki Hattori 2–7
  Raul Boesel 9–15
67   Rick Treadway  R  15
  Walker Racing Dallara Chevrolet 15   Oriol Servià 5
  Racing Professionals G-Force
Dallara[N 4] 		Chevrolet 16   Jon Herb 1–8
  Mo Nunn Racing G-Force Chevrolet 17   Tony Kanaan 5
21   Felipe Giaffone All
  PDM Racing Dallara Chevrolet 18   Tyce Carlson 1–2
  Jeret Schroeder 3
  John de Vries  R  6
  Scott Mayer  R  14
  Cory Kruseman  R  15
99   Anthony Lazzaro  R [N 5] 5
  Jimmy Kite 5
  Team Rahal Dallara Chevrolet 19   Jimmy Vasser 3, 5
  Convergent Racing G-Force Chevrolet 20   Hideki Noda  R  1–3
  Sam Schmidt Motorsports Dallara Chevrolet 20   Richie Hearn 5, 7–12
  Greg Ray 14–15
  Anthony Lazzaro  R  13
99 1–2, 4
  Richie Hearn 3, 6
  Mark Dismore 5
  Dreyer & Reinbold Racing G-Force Infiniti 24   Robbie Buhl 1–3, 5–15
  Memo Gidley 3
  Sarah Fisher 4
23 5, 8–15
  Team Green Dallara Chevrolet 26   Paul Tracy 5
27   Dario Franchitti 5
39   Michael Andretti 5
  Indy Regency Racing G-Force Chevrolet 28   Hideki Noda  R  13–15
  310 Racing G-Force Chevrolet 31   George Mack  R  All
  Duesenberg Brothers Racing
  CURB/Agajanian/Beck Motorsports 		Dallara Chevrolet 32   Johnny Herbert[N 6] 5
  Memo Gidley 5
54   Robby McGehee 7–9
  Conquest Racing Dallara Infiniti 34   Laurent Redon  R  All
  Brayton Racing Dallara Chevrolet 37   John de Vries  R [N 7] 1–5
  Scott Harrington 5, 11
  Blair Racing Dallara Chevrolet 44   Alex Barron All
  Red Bull Cheever Racing Dallara Infiniti 51   Eddie Cheever All
52   Tomas Scheckter  R  1–12
  Buddy Rice  R  13–15
53 11–12
  Max Papis 5
  Robby McGehee 15
  Zali Racing G-Force Chevrolet 81   Billy Roe 1, 5
  Hemelgarn Racing Dallara Chevrolet 91   Buddy Lazier All
  CURB/Agajanian/Boat Indy Racing Dallara Chevrolet
Infiniti[N 8] 		98   Billy Boat All

Season Summary

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Schedule

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Rnd Date Race Name Track City
1 March 2 Grand Prix of Miami Homestead-Miami Speedway Homestead, Florida
2 March 17 Bombardier ATV 200 Phoenix International Raceway Phoenix, Arizona
3 March 24 Yamaha Indy 400 California Speedway Fontana, California
4 April 21 Firestone Indy 225 Nazareth Speedway Nazareth, Pennsylvania
5 May 26 86th Indianapolis 500 Indianapolis Motor Speedway Speedway, Indiana
6 June 8 Boomtown 500 Texas Motor Speedway Fort Worth, Texas
7 June 16 Radisson Indy 225 Pikes Peak International Raceway Fountain, Colorado
8 June 29 SunTrust Indy Challenge Richmond International Raceway Richmond, Virginia
9 July 7 Ameristar Casino Indy 200 Kansas Speedway Kansas City, Kansas
10 July 20 Firestone Indy 200 Nashville Superspeedway Lebanon, Tennessee
11 July 28 Michigan Indy 400 Michigan International Speedway Brooklyn, Michigan
12 August 11 Belterra Casino Indy 300 Kentucky Speedway Sparta, Kentucky
13 August 25 Gateway Indy 250 Gateway International Raceway Madison, Illinois
14 September 8 Delphi Indy 300 Chicagoland Speedway Joliet, Illinois
15 September 15 Chevy 500 Texas Motor Speedway Fort Worth, Texas
Sources:[1][2]

Race results

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Rnd Race Pole position Fastest lap Most Laps Led Winner
1 Homestead   Sam Hornish Jr.   Jeff Ward   Sam Hornish Jr.   Sam Hornish Jr.
2 Phoenix   Hélio Castroneves   Robbie Buhl   Sam Hornish Jr.   Hélio Castroneves
3 Fontana   Eddie Cheever   Tomas Scheckter   Sam Hornish Jr.   Sam Hornish Jr.
4 Nazareth   Gil de Ferran   Tomas Scheckter   Gil de Ferran   Scott Sharp
5 Indianapolis   Bruno Junqueira   Tomas Scheckter   Tomas Scheckter   Hélio Castroneves
6 Texas 1   Tomas Scheckter   Eddie Cheever   Tomas Scheckter   Jeff Ward
7 Pikes Peak   Gil de Ferran   Felipe Giaffone   Gil de Ferran   Gil de Ferran
8 Richmond   Gil de Ferran   Buddy Lazier   Gil de Ferran   Sam Hornish Jr.
9 Kansas   Tomas Scheckter   Tomas Scheckter   Tomas Scheckter   Airton Daré
10 Nashville   Billy Boat   Tomas Scheckter   Sam Hornish Jr.   Alex Barron
11 Michigan   Tomas Scheckter   Tomas Scheckter   Tomas Scheckter   Tomas Scheckter
12 Kentucky   Sarah Fisher   Tomas Scheckter   Felipe Giaffone   Felipe Giaffone
13 Gateway   Gil de Ferran   Sam Hornish Jr.   Hélio Castroneves   Gil de Ferran
14 Chicagoland   Sam Hornish Jr.   Buddy Rice   Sam Hornish Jr.   Sam Hornish Jr.
15 Texas 2   Vítor Meira   Buddy Rice   Hélio Castroneves   Sam Hornish Jr.

BOLD indicates a Superspeedway. Note: All races running on Oval/Speedway.

Race summaries

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Grand Prix of Miami

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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

  1. 4- Sam Hornish Jr.
  2. 6- Gil de Ferran
  3. 3- Hélio Castroneves
  4. 9- Jeff Ward
  5. 11- Eliseo Salazar
  6. 52- Tomas Scheckter
  7. 21- Felipe Giaffone
  8. 44- Alex Barron
  9. 99- Anthony Lazzaro
  10. 14- Airton Daré

Bombardier ATV 200

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This race was held on March 17 at Phoenix International Raceway. Hélio Castroneves won the pole.

Top ten results

  1. 3- Hélio Castroneves
  2. 6- Gil de Ferran
  3. 4- Sam Hornish Jr.
  4. 11- Eliseo Salazar
  5. 7- Al Unser Jr.
  6. 2- Jaques Lazier
  7. 91- Buddy Lazier
  8. 98- Billy Boat
  9. 55- Rick Treadway
  10. 20- Hideki Noda

Inaugural Yamaha Indy 400

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This race was held on March 24 at California Speedway. Eddie Cheever won the pole.

Top ten results

  1. 4- Sam Hornish Jr.
  2. 2- Jaques Lazier
  3. 34- Laurent Rédon
  4. 6- Gil de Ferran
  5. 3- Hélio Castroneves
  6. 21- Felipe Giaffone
  7. 91- Buddy Lazier
  8. 8- Scott Sharp
  9. 19- Jimmy Vasser
  10. 9- Jeff Ward

Inaugural Firestone Indy 225

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This race was held on April 21 at Nazareth Speedway. Gil de Ferran won the pole.

Top ten results

  1. 8- Scott Sharp
  2. 21- Felipe Giaffone
  3. 6- Gil de Ferran
  4. 24- Sarah Fisher
  5. 3- Hélio Castroneves
  6. 44- Alex Barron
  7. 51- Eddie Cheever
  8. 98- Billy Boat
  9. 99- Anthony Lazzaro
  10. 12- Shigeaki Hattori

86th Indianapolis 500

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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

  1. 3- Hélio Castroneves
  2. 26- Paul Tracy
  3. 21- Felipe Giaffone
  4. 44- Alex Barron
  5. 51- Eddie Cheever
  6. 20- Richie Hearn
  7. 39- Michael Andretti
  8. 31- Robby Gordon
  9. 9- Jeff Ward
  10. 6- Gil de Ferran

Boomtown 500

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This race was held on June 8 at Texas Motor Speedway. Tomas Scheckter won the pole.

Top ten results

  1. 9- Jeff Ward
  2. 7- Al Unser Jr.
  3. 14- Airton Daré
  4. 3- Hélio Castroneves
  5. 21- Felipe Giaffone
  6. 12- Shigeaki Hattori
  7. 98- Billy Boat
  8. 91- Buddy Lazier
  9. 99- Richie Hearn
  10. 44- Alex Barron

Radisson Indy 225

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This race was held on June 16 at Pikes Peak International Raceway. Gil de Ferran won the pole.

Top ten results

  1. 6- Gil de Ferran
  2. 3- Hélio Castroneves
  3. 4- Sam Hornish Jr.
  4. 21- Felipe Giaffone
  5. 8- Scott Sharp
  6. 7- Al Unser Jr.
  7. 34- Laurent Rédon
  8. 51- Eddie Cheever
  9. 14- Airton Daré
  10. 44- Alex Barron

SunTrust Indy Challenge

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This race was held on June 29 at Richmond International Raceway. Gil de Ferran won the pole.

Top ten results

  1. 4- Sam Hornish Jr.
  2. 6- Gil de Ferran
  3. 21- Felipe Giaffone
  4. 52- Tomas Scheckter
  5. 7- Al Unser Jr.
  6. 14- Airton Daré
  7. 20- Richie Hearn
  8. 9- Jeff Ward
  9. 54- Robby McGehee
  10. 44- Alex Barron

Ameristar Casino Indy 200

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This race was held on July 7 at Kansas Speedway. Tomas Scheckter won the pole.

Top ten results

  1. 14- Airton Daré
  2. 4- Sam Hornish Jr.
  3. 3- Hélio Castroneves
  4. 21- Felipe Giaffone
  5. 6- Gil de Ferran
  6. 8- Scott Sharp
  7. 91- Buddy Lazier
  8. 44-Alex Barron
  9. 98- Billy Boat
  10. 20- Richie Hearn

Firestone Indy 200

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This race was held on July 20 at Nashville Superspeedway. Billy Boat won the pole.

Top ten results

  1. 44- Alex Barron
  2. 6- Gil de Ferran
  3. 4- Sam Hornish Jr.
  4. 20- Richie Hearn
  5. 12- Raul Boesel
  6. 51- Eddie Cheever
  7. 21- Felipe Giaffone
  8. 8- Scott Sharp
  9. 3- Hélio Castroneves
  10. 7- Tony Renna

Inaugural Michigan Indy 400

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This race was held on July 28 at Michigan International Speedway. Tomas Scheckter won the pole.

Top ten results

  1. 52- Tomas Scheckter
  2. 53- Buddy Rice
  3. 21- Felipe Giaffone
  4. 7- Tony Renna
  5. 6- Gil de Ferran
  6. 3- Hélio Castroneves
  7. 4- Sam Hornish Jr.
  8. 23- Sarah Fisher
  9. 8- Scott Sharp
  10. 20- Richie Hearn

Belterra Casino Indy 300

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This race was held on August 11 at Kentucky Speedway. Sarah Fisher won the pole, the first by a female driver in a major open wheel series.

Top ten results

  1. 21- Felipe Giaffone
  2. 4- Sam Hornish Jr.
  3. 91- Buddy Lazier
  4. 8- Scott Sharp
  5. 3- Hélio Castroneves
  6. 7- Al Unser Jr.
  7. 78- Tony Renna
  8. 23- Sarah Fisher
  9. 44- Alex Barron
  10. 24- Robbie Buhl

Gateway Indy 250

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This race was held on August 25 at Gateway International Raceway. Gil de Ferran won the pole.

Top ten results

  1. 6- Gil de Ferran
  2. 3- Hélio Castroneves
  3. 44- Alex Barron
  4. 52- Buddy Rice
  5. 4- Sam Hornish Jr.
  6. 24- Robbie Buhl
  7. 7- Al Unser Jr.
  8. 12- Raul Boesel
  9. 2- Vítor Meira
  10. 51- Eddie Cheever

Delphi Indy 300

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Main article: 2002 Delphi Indy 300

This race was held on September 8 at Chicagoland Speedway. Sam Hornish Jr. won the pole.

Top ten results

  1. 4- Sam Hornish Jr.
  2. 7- Al Unser Jr.
  3. 91- Buddy Lazier
  4. 3- Hélio Castroneves
  5. 51- Eddie Cheever
  6. 21- Felipe Giaffone
  7. 8- Scott Sharp
  8. 2- Vítor Meira
  9. 52- Buddy Rice
  10. 15- Dan Wheldon

Gil de Ferran was injured during a crash in this race and would miss the season finale at Texas.

Chevy 500

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This race was held on September 15 at Texas Motor Speedway. Vítor Meira won the pole.

Top ten results

  1. 4- Sam Hornish Jr.**
  2. 3- Hélio Castroneves
  3. 2- Vítor Meira
  4. 8- Scott Sharp
  5. 44- Alex Barron
  6. 52- Buddy Rice
  7. 91- Buddy Lazier
  8. 51- Eddie Cheever
  9. 78- Tony Renna
  10. 34- Laurent Rédon

Max Papis filled in for the injured Gil de Ferran at Penske; however, he finished 21st due to a blown engine.

By winning the race, Sam Hornish Jr. won his second championship in a row.

Final points standings

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Further information: List of American Championship car racing point scoring systems
Pos Driver HOM
 PHX
 CAL
 NAZ
 INDY
 TXS
 PIK
 RIR
 KAN
 NSH
 MIS
 KTY
 GAT
CHI
 TXS
 Pts
1   Sam Hornish Jr. 1* 3* 1* 17 25 18 3 1 2 3* 7 2 5 1* 1 531
2   Hélio Castroneves 3 1 5 5 1 4 2 17 3 9 6 5 2* 4 2* 511
3   Gil de Ferran 2 2 4 3* 10 16 1* 2* 5 2 5 21 1 23 443
4   Felipe Giaffone 7 19 6 2 3 5 4 3 4 7 3 1* 21 6 17 432
5   Alex Barron 8 23 12 6 4 10 10 10 8 1 12 9 3 12 5 366
6   Scott Sharp 20 16 8 1 27 14 5 21 6 8 9 4 18 7 4 332
7   Al Unser Jr. 19 5 11 12 12 2 6 5 17 6 7 2 20 311
8   Buddy Lazier 22 7 7 23 15 8 15 18 7 12 13 3 15 3 7 305
9   Airton Daré 10 12 13 11 13 3 9 6 1 17 23 23 11 16 12 304
10   Eddie Cheever 25 15 20 7 5 19 8 14 16 6 22 11 10 5 8 280
11   Jeff Ward 4 18 10 19 9 1 20 8 12 11 25 16 13 21 25 268
12   Laurent Redon  RY  15 14 3 15 22 15 7 15 22 16 11 20 22 25 10 229
13   Billy Boat 16 8 18 8 18 7 14 22 9 14 14 19 23 19 24 225
14   Tomas Scheckter  R  6 24 24 21 26* 17* 16 4 15* 13 1* 22 210
15   Richie Hearn 14 14 6 9 12 7 10 4 10 24 204
16   George Mack  R  13 20 16 18 17 21 13 20 18 15 20 17 16 14 28 184
17   Robbie Buhl 12 13 Wth 16 20 23 13 21 21 24 10 6 20 18 177
18   Sarah Fisher 4 24 16 14 22 8 8 20 22 11 161
19   Raul Boesel 21 13 11 5 15 13 8 11 22 158
20   Eliseo Salazar 5 4 15 19 19 14 14 18 16 157
21   Robby McGehee 14 21 17 13 DNQ 17 9 13 12 13 142
22   Buddy Rice  R  2 12 4 9 6 140
23   Greg Ray 33 12 18 12 19 20 17 25 19 17 14 128
24   Tony Renna  R  10 4 7 24 15 9 121
25   Vítor Meira  R  15 9 8 3 96
26   Jaques Lazier 18 6 2 20 90
27   Shigeaki Hattori 25 26 10 20 6 19 78
28   Rick Treadway  R  24 9 22 16 29 23 23 19 76
29   Mark Dismore 32 11 11 20 18 18 73
30   Anthony Lazzaro  R  9 17 9 Wth 22 DNS 70
31   Jon Herb DNS 11 19 22 DNQ 22 21 19 70
32   Hideki Noda  R  23 10 25 17 24 27 54
33   John de Vries  R  17 22 23 DNS Wth 11 53
34   Paul Tracy 2 40
35   Will Langhorne  R  18 13 23 36
36   Dan Wheldon  R  10 15 35
37   Arie Luyendyk 14 16 30
38   Michael Andretti 7 26
39   Robby Gordon 8 24
40   Jimmy Vasser 9 30 23
41   Tyce Carlson 11 Wth 23
42   Kenny Bräck 11 19
43   Max Papis 23 21 16
44   Dario Franchitti 19 11
45   Billy Roe 21 DNQ 9
46   Memo Gidley 21 DNQ 9
47   Scott Harrington DNQ 21 9
48   Cory Kruseman  R  26 4
49   Jeret Schroeder 27 3
50   Tony Kanaan 28 2
51   Bruno Junqueira 31 1
–   Donnie Beechler Wth DNQ 0
–   Jimmy Kite DNQ 0
–   Oriol Servià DNQ 0
–   Scott Mayer  R  DNS 0
–   Johnny Herbert Wth 0
–   P. J. Jones Wth 0
Pos Driver HOM
 PHX
 CAL
 NAZ
 INDY
 TXS
 PIK
 RIR
 KAN
 NSH
 MIS
 KTY
 GAT
CHI
 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
  • 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.

See also

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Footnotes

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  1. ^ Injured during a practice crash at Indianapolis.
  2. ^ Used by Anthony Lazzaro at Pikes Peak; entry run in cooperation with Sam Schmidt Motorsports.
  3. ^ Injured during a practice crash at Homestead.
  4. ^ Raced from Texas onwards; both chassis were used during the Indy 500 month.
  5. ^ Replaced during the second week of Indy 500 practice.
  6. ^ Withdrew during Bump Day due to a racing conflict.
  7. ^ Replaced at Indianapolis ahead of Bump Day.
  8. ^ Used from Kansas onwards.

References

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  1. ^ "NTT IndyCar Series Calendar 2002". Motorsport Stats. Retrieved November 17, 2023.
  2. ^ "Final Indy Racing League Leaders". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. September 26, 2002. p. 14D. Retrieved November 17, 2023 – via Newspapers.com  .
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