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

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

Bombardier ATV 200

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

Inaugural Yamaha Indy 400

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

Inaugural Firestone Indy 225

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

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

Boomtown 500

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

Radisson Indy 225

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

SunTrust Indy Challenge

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

Ameristar Casino Indy 200

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

Firestone Indy 200

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

Inaugural Michigan Indy 400

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

Belterra Casino Indy 300

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

Gateway Indy 250

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

Delphi Indy 300

This race was held on September 8 at Chicagoland Speedway. Sam Hornish Jr. won the pole. Top ten results Gil de Ferran was injured during a crash in this race and would miss the season finale at Texas.

Chevy 500

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

Footnotes