1998 in IRL

IRL Seasons
Current = 1998
Previous = 1996-1997
Next = 1999 The 1998 Pep Boys Indy Racing League season was one of relative stability compared to the previous two seasons. For the first time the season consisted of a single and complete spring, summer, and fall like all other forms of motorsport. 15 drivers completed the entire 11 race schedule, twice as many as the previous season. It was also the first complete season for the new Riley & Scott chassis, though it proved unpopular due to its late introduction. A.J. Foyt Enterprises drivers captured 4 wins, the Indy 500 pole, and the championship, arguably the most successful year in the team's history.

Calendar

Race summaries

Indy 200

This race was held January 24 at Walt Disney World Speedway. Tony Stewart won the pole.

Top ten results
# Tony Stewart
# Jeff Ward
# Davey Hamilton
# Stephan Gregoire
# Mark Dismore
# Scott Sharp
# Mike Groff
# Arie Luyendyk
# Sam Schmidt
# John Paul, Jr.

Dura-Lube 200

This race was held March 22 at Phoenix International Raceway. Jeff Ward won the pole.

Top ten results
# Scott Sharp
# Tony Stewart
# Billy Boat
# Stephan Gregoire
# Jeff Ward
# Scott Goodyear
# Sam Schmidt
# Raul Boesel
# Buzz Calkins
# Eddie Cheever

=82nd Indianapolis 500=

The Indy 500 was held May 24 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Billy Boat won the pole.

Top ten results
# Eddie Cheever
# Buddy Lazier
# Steve Knapp
# Davey Hamilton
# Robby Unser
# Kenny Bräck
# John Paul, Jr.
# Andy Michner
# J. J. Yeley
# Buzz Calkins

True Value 500

This race was held June 6 at Texas Motor Speedway. Tony Stewart won the pole.

Top ten results
# Billy Boat
# Greg Ray
# Kenny Bräck
# Scott Goodyear
# Scott Sharp
# Robbie Buhl
# Davey Hamilton
# Marco Greco
# Robby Unser
# Stan Wattles

New England 200

This race was held June 28 at New Hampshire International Speedway. Billy Boat won the pole.

Top ten results
# Tony Stewart
# Scott Goodyear
# Scott Sharp
# Davey Hamilton
# Arie Luyendyk
# Eliseo Salazar
# Buddy Lazier
# Mark Dismore
# Eddie Cheever
# Robbie Buhl

Pep Boys 400K

This race was held July 19 at Dover International Speedway. Tony Stewart won the pole.

Top ten results
# Scott Sharp
# Buddy Lazier
# Marco Greco
# Davey Hamilton
# Stephan Gregoire
# Scott Goodyear
# Jim Guthrie
# Tony Stewart
# Arie Luyendyk
# Kenny Bräck

Visionaire 500K

This race was held July 25 at Lowe's Motor Speedway. Tony Stewart won the pole.

Top ten results
# Kenny Bräck
# Jeff Ward
# Scott Goodyear
# Arie Luyendyk
# Marco Greco
# John Paul, Jr.
# Davey Hamilton
# Stephan Gregoire
# Jack Miller
# Stevie Reeves

Radisson 200

This race was held August 16 at Pikes Peak International Raceway. Billy Boat won the pole.

Top ten results
# Kenny Bräck
# Robbie Buhl
# Tony Stewart
# Stephan Gregoire
# Davey Hamilton
# Marco Greco
# Buddy Lazier
# Eddie Cheever
# Billy Boat
# Donnie Beechler

Atlanta 500 Classic

This race was held August 29 at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Billy Boat won the pole.

Top ten results
# Kenny Bräck
# Davey Hamilton
# Eddie Cheever
# Scott Goodyear
# Tony Stewart
# Jeff Ward
# Mark Dismore
# Arie Luyendyk
# Andy Michner
# Raul Boesel

Lone Star 500

This race was held September 20 at Texas Motor Speedway. Billy Boat won the pole.

Top ten results
# John Paul, Jr.
# Robby Unser
# Jeff Ward
# Roberto Guerrero
# Kenny Bräck
# Buddy Lazier
# Robbie Buhl
# Stan Wattles
# Davey Hamilton
# Mark Dismore

Las Vegas 500K

This race was held October 11 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Billy Boat won the pole.

Top ten results
# Arie Luyendyk
# Sam Schmidt
# Buddy Lazier
# John Paul, Jr.
# Eddie Cheever
# Brian Tyler
# Robbie Buhl
# Marco Greco
# Steve Knapp
# Kenny Bräck

Final points standings

Driver

For every race points were awarded to all starters: 50 points to the winner, 40 for runner up, 35 for third place, 32 for fourth place, 30 for fifth place, 28 for sixth place, 26 seventh place, 24 eighth place, 22 for ninth place, 20 for tenth place, winding down to 1 points for 29th place. Every lower placed driver also was awarded with 1 point. 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).

Note:

Race 1 no additional points for the qualifying were awarded due to rain, starting grid were determined by 1996-97 entrant points for the first 20 positions and the remaining eight went to top practice times from Thursday.

Race 2 Scott Sharp had 7 points deduction, because his car failed the post race fuel capacity inspection.

Race 8 Tony Stewart and Robbie Buhl had 15 points deduction each, because the rear wings of both Team Menard cars were found to be in violation of technical specifications.

No points (did not qualify):

*Affonso Giaffone
*Lyn St. James
*Dan Drinan
*Claude Bourbonnais
*Joe Gosek
*Hideshi Matsuda
*Danny Ongais