The American Indycar Series (AIS) was an American open wheel racing series founded in 1988 by racing driver, owner, and businessperson Bill Tempero. The series utilized year-old (and older) chassis and engines from the CART series and later the Indy Racing League. CART and IRL drivers including Buddy Lazier, Jaques Lazier, Robby Unser, and Johnny Unser found early career success in the AIS. In the mid-1980s, the once-popular Can-Am series was withering, and most teams had already defected to CART or IMSA. The last holdouts formed "CAT" (Can-Am Teams) in 1986 to take over sanctioning of the series as part of the SCCA. Two plans emerged, one keeping the Formula 5000-based cars, and others, led by Bill Tempero who favored using old CART Indy car machines. During 1986 and 1987, the CAT races were run essentially as two-class races, with the familiar full-bodied Formula 5000 cars racing alongside ex-CART Indy cars. CAT folded after the 1987 season. Tempero then broke off and started his Indy car-based series in 1988. With an emphasis on cost savings, ex-CART Indy car chassis were powered by 5.9 L normally aspirated, stock block Chevrolet V-8 engines. Buddy Lazier was the first season champion. Tempero himself won one race that year, and placed third in the final season points standings. As the series slowly began to gain competitors, the teams were allowed to run a choice of multiple powerplants. The aforementioned stock block Chevy, or the Buick V-6 in turbocharged or normally aspirated configuration. Some entries even showed up with the turbocharged Cosworth DFX, once a mainstay of the CART Indy car circuit. An equivalency formula was created to provide for competitive balance among the different engine combinations. The chassis utilized were the March, Lola, Reynard, Eagle, and Penske from CART competition. In later years, G-Force and Dallara chassis from IRL competition saw use as well. Over the years, the AIS series had a predominantly western-based schedule, but early on did have races in New York and in the South. International races were held in both Canada and Mexico. AIS raced on mostly short ovals and road courses, occasionally splitting a bill with Weekly racing series, Late models, and other short track series. A few street circuits and "roval" races were also held. The original Tempero-era American Indycar Series ceased at the end of the 2000 season. The AIS was sold to a group led by Barry Brooke and Bobby Brooks. However, the series subsequently folded permanently after only two race meets had been held in 2002. A new management team formed the United States Speedway Series (USSS), which started racing in 2001. The USSS ran for five years under mostly the same format, featuring older chassis from CART and the first generation of IRL (G-Force and Dallara); with a variety of normally aspirated and turbocharged engines. The final season of the USSS was in 2005.

1988 American Indycar Series season

The 1988 Valvoline-Machinists Union American Indycar Series was the inaugural season of the American Indycar Series. After running mixed-class races with ex-Indy car chassis alongside the full-bodied Formula 5000-based machines in the Can-Am series in 1986–1987, this represented the first full season for Bill Tempero's Indy car series. The cars were powered by stock block Chevrolet engines, ranging from 275 to 400 cubic inch displacement. The chassis were mostly used Marches and Lolas from CART competition in 1985–1986. The season consisted of eight races beginning at Willow Springs in California. Three of the events were to be hosted as twin-race weekends, with the season finale consisting of twin races at Willow Springs. Three of the races were held on 1/2 mile ovals, and rest were held on road courses. Buddy Lazier won the first season championship, with six wins out of the eight contested races. Kevin Whitesides placed second in points, posting three runner-up finishes, and was declared the rookie of the year. Oval Road course

Race summaries

Final points standings (Top five)

1989 American Indycar Series season

The 1989 Machinists Union American Indycar Series was the second season of the AIS. The season consisted of eight doubleheader weekends, for a total of sixteen races. Robby Unser won 12 of the 16 races, and won the season championship. Buddy Lazier only ran a part-time schedule, splitting time with his CART commitments. Lazier won three races, and finished 7th in points. Richard Griffin won one race and was declared the rookie of the year. For 1989, most entries continued to utilize the normally aspirated, stock block Chevrolet V-8 engines. However, some reportedly fielded the Cosworth DFX. The race meet at Shangri-La was originally scheduled for August 5, but was postponed to September due to rain. Oval Road course

Race summaries

Final points standings (Top five)

1990 American Indycar Series season

The 1990 Machinist Union American Indycar Series was the third season of the AIS. The season consisted of eight races, but one event was rained out. Doubleheader weekends were eliminated, and the series conducted its first race on a street circuit. Bill Tempero, founder of the series, won four of the seven rounds, and won the championship for the first time. Johnny Unser won two races, finished second in points, and was named the rookie of the year. Robby Unser, the 1989 champion, only drove a part-time schedule for 1990, and managed to win one race, the 14th of his AIS career. The season finale was held on a street course in Halifax, Nova Scotia on Canadian Thanksgiving. Johnny Unser was leading the 25-lap Moosehead Grand Prix on the final lap when he crashed just short of the finish line. Bill Tempero sped by to take the checkered flag, and in doing so, clinched the points championship in dramatic fashion.

Final points standings (Top three)

1991 American Indycar Series season

The 1991 American Indycar Series was the fourth season of the AIS. Bill Tempero won five of the nine races, and won his second consecutive AIS championship. Jimmy Santos, winner of one race, was declared the rookie of the year. A race on a temporary circuit at the Indiana State Fairgrounds was planned, but failed to materialize. A replacement race at Indianapolis Raceway Park was tentatively slated for October 13, but it too was cancelled. Instead, the series raced at Benton County Speedway in Chase, Indiana. It was the first Indy car race in the state of Indiana (outside of the Indianapolis 500) since the 1970 Hoosier Hundred. For the first time, the AIS traveled to Mexico, with two separate events.

Final points standings (Top five)

1992-2003

1992 American Indycar Series season

An eleven-race schedule was announced in May 1992, but multiple revisions were made. The final schedule consisted of five races, with Rod Bennett the season champion. Races at Blackhawk Farms, Biggs Army Airfield, Birmingham, Colorado, Utah, San Juan, Garza García, and Guadalajara were all either cancelled or failed to materialize.

1993 American Indycar Series season

The 1993 AIS season schedule consisted of 8 to 10 races. Rick Sutherland was the season champion. Races at ARCO Arena, I-70 Speedway (rained out), Sears Point, and possibly other venues were either cancelled or failed to materialize. The season finale was a doubleheader at Willow Springs.

1994 American Indycar Series season

Bill Tempero was the 1994 season chammpion.

1995 American Indycar Series season

1996 American Indycar Series season

1997 American Indycar Series season

1998 American Indycar Series season

In May 1998, the original founder Bill Tempero sold the series to Pan American Motorsports Inc. The original ten-race schedule was reduced to five rounds.

1999 American Indycar Series season

2000 American Indycar Series season

2002 American Indycar Series season

The original Bill Tempero-created series ceased after the 2000 season. A continuation of the original AIS was attempted by a group led by Barry Brooke and Bobby Brooks. Five races were scheduled for 2002, but only two weekend meets (three races) are known to have been held. A tentative schedule for 2003 was announced, but the series folded before any were held.

2003 Tentative schedule

United States Speedway Series

2001 season

2002 season

2003 season

2004 season

2005 season

Champions