1998 Indy Lights season
The 1998 CART PPG/Dayton Indy Lights Championship consisted of 14 races. Future 2002 CART champion and Formula One driver Cristiano da Matta captured four wins on his way to the championship.
Calendar
Race No | Track | State | Date | Laps | Distance | Time | Speed | Winner | Pole Position | Most Leading Laps | Fastest Race Lap |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Homestead | Florida | March 15, 1998 | 67 | 2.41395=161.73465 km | 0'52:35.077 | 184.542 km/h | Shigeaki Hattori | Sérgio Paese | Shigeaki Hattori | Shigeaki Hattori |
2 | Long Beach | California | April 5, 1998 | 47 | 2.533=119.051 km | 0'49:20.748 | 144.755 km/h | Cristiano da Matta | Didier André | Cristiano da Matta | Cristiano da Matta |
3 | Nazareth | Pennsylvania | April 27, 1998 | 100 | 1.5223978=152.23978 km | 0'55:56.268 | 163.295 km/h | Cristiano da Matta | Cristiano da Matta | Cristiano da Matta | Cristiano da Matta |
4 | Madison | Illinois | May 23, 1998 | 79 | 2.011625=158.918375 km | 0'55:21.083 | 172.265 km/h | Shigeaki Hattori | Jorge Goeters | Shigeaki Hattori | Shigeaki Hattori |
5 | Milwaukee | Wisconsin | May 31, 1998 | 97 | 1.6607976=161.0973672 km | 0'51:59.624 | 185.904 km/h | Derek Higgins | Sérgio Paese | Derek Higgins | Derek Higgins |
6 | Detroit | Michigan | June 7, 1998 | 32 | 3.775=120.813 km | 0'50:29.610 | 143.559 km/h | Airton Daré | Airton Daré | Airton Daré | Airton Daré |
7 | Portland | Oregon | June 21, 1998 | 38 | 3.169=120.411 km | 0'56:53.931 | 126.974 km/h | Didier André | Guy Smith | Guy Smith | Didier André |
8 | Cleveland | Ohio | July 12, 1998 | 36 | 3.3891858=122.0106888 km | 0'44:36.384 | 164,116 km/h | Luiz Garcia, Jr. | Luiz Garcia, Jr. | Luiz Garcia, Jr. | Sérgio Paese |
9 | Toronto | Canada | July 19, 1998 | 43 | 2.7696053=119.093028 km | 0'47:59.761 | 148.879 km/h | Guy Smith | Guy Smith | Guy Smith | Luiz Garcia, Jr. |
10 | Brooklyn | Michigan | July 25, 1998 | 50 | 3.2186=160.93 km | 0'45:34.943 | 211.832 km/h | Tony Renna | Tony Renna | Tony Renna | Sérgio Paese |
11 | Trois-Rivières | Canada | August 2, 1998 | 50 | 2.4477453=122.387265 km | 0'58:16.612 | 126.006 km/h | Cristiano da Matta | Cristiano da Matta | Cristiano da Matta | Cristiano da Matta |
12 | Vancouver | Canada | September 6, 1998 | 42 | 2.8999586=121.798261 km | 0'59:26.074 | 122.957 km/h | Cristiano da Matta | Cristiano da Matta | Cristiano da Matta | Cristiano da Matta |
13 | Monterey | California | September 13, 1998 | 34 | 3.6016134=122.454856 km | 0'49:53.011 | 147.289 km/h | Didier André | Didier André | Didier André | Chris Simmons |
14 | Fontana | California | October 31, 1998 | 50 | 3.2186=141.6184 km | 0'39:40.916 | 214.130 km/h | Mark Hotchkis | Tony Renna | Tony Renna | Airton Daré |
Race summaries
Homestead race
- March 15, 1998
- Homestead-Miami Speedway, Miami, Florida
- Pole position: Sérgio Paese, 0:30.098, 179.653 mph (289.123 km/h)
Top Five Finishers | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Fin. Pos | St. Pos | Car No. | Driver | Team | Laps | Time | Laps Led | Points |
1 | 2 | 16 | Shigeaki Hattori | Indy Regency Racing | 67 | 52:35.077 | 64 | 21 |
2 | 4 | 2 | Cristiano da Matta | Tasman Motorsports | 67 | +0.468 | 0 | 16 |
3 | 7 | 6 | Guy Smith | Johansson Motorsports | 67 | +1.420 | 0 | 14 |
4 | 6 | 32 | Oriol Servià | Dorricott Racing | 67 | +5.534 | 0 | 12 |
5 | 9 | 78 | Chris Simmons | Mattco Raceworks | 67 | +6.853 | 0 | 10 |
Race average speed: 114.825 mph (184.793 km/h) | ||||||||
Lead changes: 1 between 2 drivers | ||||||||
Cautions: 3 for 21 laps |
Long Beach race
- April 5, 1998
- Long Beach Grand Prix, Long Beach, California
- Pole position: Didier André, 0:57.108, 99.223 mph (159.684 km/h)
Top Five Finishers | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Fin. Pos | St. Pos | Car No. | Driver | Team | Laps | Time | Laps Led | Points |
1 | 2 | 2 | Cristiano da Matta | Tasman Motorsports | 47 | 49:20.748 | 47 | 21 |
2 | 4 | 14 | Geoff Boss | Lucas Place Motorsports | 47 | +0.459 | 0 | 16 |
3 | 6 | 27 | Naoki Hattori | Team KOOL Green | 47 | +1.083 | 0 | 14 |
4 | 5 | 31 | Philipp Peter | Dorricott Racing | 47 | +3.378 | 0 | 12 |
5 | 1 | 18 | Didier André | PacWest Lights | 47 | +7.317 | 0 | 11 |
Race average speed: 89.951 mph (144.762 km/h) | ||||||||
Lead changes: none | ||||||||
Cautions: 2 for 6 laps |
Nazareth race
- April 27, 1998
- Nazareth Speedway, Nazareth, Pennsylvania
- Pole position: Cristiano da Matta, 0:22.408, 151.981 mph (244.590 km/h)
Top Five Finishers | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Fin. Pos | St. Pos | Car No. | Driver | Team | Laps | Time | Laps Led | Points |
1 | 1 | 2 | Cristiano da Matta | Tasman Motorsports | 100 | 55:56.268 | 100 | 22 |
2 | 9 | 18 | Didier André | PacWest Lights | 100 | +14.174 | 0 | 16 |
3 | 8 | 9 | Casey Mears | Mears Racing Team | 100 | +14.745 | 0 | 14 |
4 | 5 | 15 | Brian Cunningham | Lucas Place Motorsports | 100 | +17.914 | 0 | 12 |
5 | 11 | 1 | Airton Daré | Tasman Motorsports | 100 | +18.725 | 0 | 10 |
Race average speed: 101.470 mph (163.300 km/h) | ||||||||
Lead changes: none | ||||||||
Cautions: 2 for 30 laps |
Gateway race
Held May 23 at Gateway International Raceway. Jorge Goeters won the pole. No qualifying held due to rain. The line up was based on combined practice times.
Top Five Results
Milwaukee race
Held May 31 at The Milwaukee Mile. Sérgio Paese won the pole.
Top Five Results
Detroit race
Held June 7 at Belle Isle Raceway. Airton Daré won the pole.
Top Five Results
Portland race
Held June 21 at Portland International Raceway. Guy Smith won the pole.
Top Five Results
- Guy Smith
- Felipe Giaffone
- Luiz Garcia, Jr.
- Airton Daré
- Brian Cunningham
Cleveland race
Held July 12 at Burke Lakefront Airport. Luiz Garcia, Jr. won the pole.
Top Five Results
Toronto race
Held July 19 at Exhibition Place. Guy Smith won the pole.
Top Five Results
Michigan race
Held July 25 at Michigan International Speedway. Tony Renna won the pole.
Top Five Results
Trois-Rivières race
Held August 2 at the Trois-Rivières, Quebec Street Circuit. Cristiano da Matta won the pole.
Top Five Results
Vancouver race
Held September 6 at Pacific Place. Cristiano da Matta won the pole.
Top Five Results
Laguna Seca race
Held September 13 at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. Didier André won the pole.
Top Five Results
Fontana race
Held October 31 at The California Speedway. Tony Renna won the pole.
Top Five Results
Final points standings
Driver
For every race the points were awarded: 20 points to the winner, 16 for runner-up, 14 for third place, 12 for fourth place, 10 for fifth place, 8 for sixth place, 6 seventh place, winding down to 1 points for 12th place. Additional points were awarded to the pole winner (1 point) and to the driver leading the most laps (1 point).
Place | Name | Country | Team | Total Points | ||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Cristiano da Matta | Brazil | Tasman Motorsports | 154 | 16 | 21 | 22 | 14 | 3 | 16 | - | - | - | 16 | 22 | 22 | - | 2 |
2 | Didier André | France | PacWest Lights | 123 | - | 11 | 16 | 1 | - | 10 | 5 | 14 | 10 | 6 | 10 | 8 | 22 | 10 |
3 | Guy Smith | United Kingdom | Johansson Motorsports | 110 | 14 | 5 | - | 2 | - | 5 | 22 | 12 | 22 | 8 | 12 | 5 | - | 3 |
4 | Felipe Giaffone | Brazil | Conquest Racing | 104 | - | - | 5 | 12 | 16 | 4 | 16 | 5 | 8 | 4 | 8 | 10 | - | 16 |
5 | Derek Higgins | Ireland | Quaker State Team Go | 94 | 6 | - | - | 8 | 21 | 1 | 3 | 16 | - | - | 3 | 16 | 14 | 6 |
6 | Airton Daré | Brazil | Tasman Motorsports | 78 | - | 4 | 10 | 4 | 5 | 22 | 12 | - | 5 | - | - | 14 | 2 | - |
7 | Oriol Servià | Spain | Dorricott Racing | 73 | 12 | - | - | - | - | 8 | - | 8 | 3 | 10 | 16 | - | 16 | - |
8 | Tony Renna | United States | Mattco Raceworks | 68 | - | 1 | 3 | - | 10 | - | 1 | 10 | - | 22 | - | - | 5 | 16 |
9 | Geoff Boss | United States | Lucas Place Motorsports | 67 | 4 | 16 | 1 | - | 12 | 14 | 2 | - | - | - | - | 6 | 12 | - |
10 | Naoki Hattori | Japan | Team KOOL Green | 66 | - | 14 | 6 | 5 | 1 | - | - | - | 16 | - | 14 | - | 10 | - |
11 | Philipp Peter | Austria | Dorricott Racing | 62 | 2 | 12 | - | 16 | 4 | 3 | - | 6 | 12 | - | 2 | 4 | - | 1 |
12 | Luiz Garcia, Jr. | Brazil | Johansson Motorsports | 60 | - | 3 | - | - | ||||||||||
Brian Stewart Racing | 2 | - | 14 | 22 | 2 | - | 1 | - | 8 | 8 | ||||||||
13 | Sérgio Paese | Brazil | Brian Stewart Racing | 53 | 1 | 8 | - | 3 | 15 | - | 8 | - | 4 | 14 | - | - | - | - |
14 | Shigeaki Hattori | Japan | Indy Regency Racing | 52 | 21 | 2 | - | 21 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 4 | 4 |
15 | Mark Hotchkis | United States | Mattco Raceworks | 50 | - | - | 4 | - | 6 | 12 | - | - | - | - | 6 | 2 | - | 20 |
16 | Jorge Goeters | Mexico | Quaker State Team Go | 34 | - | - | 2 | 10 | 8 | - | 4 | 4 | 6 | - | - | - | - | - |
17 | Brian Cunningham | United States | Lucas Place Motorsports | 33 | 1 | - | 12 | - | - | 6 | 10 | 1 | - | - | - | 3 | - | - |
Casey Mears | United States | Penske Racing | 33 | 3 | - | 14 | 6 | - | - | - | 3 | - | 2 | - | - | - | 5 | |
19 | Chris Simmons | United States | Mattco Raceworks | 32 | 10 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 14 | 3 | 5 | - | - | - |
20 | Andy Boss | United States | Conquest Racing | 22 | - | - | 8 | - | - | - | - | 2 | - | 12 | - | - | - | - |
21 | Paul Morris | Australia | PacWest Lights | 18 | 8 | - | - | - | - | - | 6 | - | - | - | 4 | - | - | - |
22 | Mike Borkowski | United States | Team Rahal | 15 | - | - | - | - | - | 2 | - | - | 1 | - | - | 12 | - | - |
23 | Cory Witherill | United States | Genoa Racing | 13 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 1 | 12 |
24 | Clint Mears | United States | Penske Racing | 8 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 5 | - | - | 3 | - |
25 | Mattias Andersson | Sweden | Brian Stewart Racing | 6 | - | 6 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
Mario Domínguez | Mexico | Herdez Competition Team | 6 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 6 | - | |
27 | Rodolfo Lavín, Jr. | Mexico | Indy Regency Racing | 5 | 5 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
28 | Bud Kaeding | United States | Dorricott Racing | 1 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 1 | - | - | - | - |
Wim Eyckmans | Belgium | Brian Stewart Racing | 1 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 1 | - | - |
Note:
Race 4 no additional point for the qualifying were awarded due to rain.
Complete Overview
first column of every race | 10 | = grid position |
second column of every race | 10 | = race result |
R20=retired, but classified NS=did not start NT=no time set in qualifying (3)=place after practice, but grid position not held free
Place | Name | Country | Team | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
1 | Cristiano da Matta | Brazil | Tasman Motorsports | 3 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 10 | 3 | 22 | 10 | 2 | 2 | 2 | R20 | 3 | R22 | 6 | 15 | 15 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 8 | R22 | 6 | 11 |
2 | Didier André | France | PacWest Lights | 11 | R14 | 1 | 5 | 9 | 2 | 7 | 12 | 11 | 15 | 9 | 5 | 3 | 8 | 7 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 10 | 7 | 8 | 5 | 7 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 5 |
3 | Guy Smith | United Kingdom | Johansson Motorsports | 6 | 3 | 11 | 8 | 15 | R21 | 13 | 11 | 9 | R22 | 4 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 10 | 8 | 4 | 15 | 9 | 10 |
4 | Felipe Giaffone | Brazil | Conquest Racing | 10 | R19 | 10 | R24 | 13 | 8 | 6 | 4 | 5 | 2 | 12 | 9 | 7 | 2 | 13 | 8 | 12 | 6 | 20 | 9 | 7 | 6 | 8 | 5 | 18 | R18 | 3 | 2 |
5 | Derek Higgins | Ireland | Quaker State Team Go | 15 | 7 | 12 | R21 | 6 | 15 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 1 | 13 | 12 | 10 | 10 | 8 | 2 | 14 | 17 | 21 | 13 | 10 | 10 | 3 | 2 | 6 | 3 | 12 | 7 |
6 | Airton Daré | Brazil | Tasman Motorsports | 13 | R17 | 8 | 9 | 11 | 5 | 15 | 9 | 15 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 11 | 4 | 20 | 13 | 16 | 8 | 7 | R19 | 17 | R21 | 5 | 3 | 19 | 11 | 17 | 15 |
7 | Oriol Servià | Spain | Dorricott Racing | 5 | 4 | 16 | 19 | 2 | 13 | 17 | 16 | 3 | 14 | 10 | 6 | 4 | R21 | 2 | 6 | 8 | 10 | 13 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 11 | R19 | 3 | 2 | 11 | R25 |
8 | Tony Renna | United States | Mattco Raceworks | (24) | NS | 15 | 12 | 10 | 10 | 14 | R22 | 2 | 5 | 3 | 15 | 20 | 12 | 10 | 5 | 11 | R21 | 1 | 1 | 9 | R20 | - | - | 11 | 8 | 1 | 3 |
9 | Geoff Boss | United States | Lucas Place Motorsports | 17 | 9 | 4 | 2 | 18 | 12 | 20 | 15 | 12 | 4 | 7 | 3 | 5 | 11 | 12 | R20 | 9 | 19 | 8 | 14 | 4 | R19 | 6 | 7 | 9 | 4 | 26 | 18 |
10 | Naoki Hattori | Japan | Team KOOL Green | 9 | R18 | 6 | 3 | 12 | 7 | 11 | 8 | 18 | 12 | 5 | R23 | 8 | 16 | 5 | 17 | 3 | 2 | 18 | 16 | 3 | 3 | 12 | R17 | 13 | 5 | 23 | 17 |
11 | Philipp Peter | Austria | Dorricott Racing | 14 | 11 | 5 | 4 | 3 | R19 | 2 | 2 | 8 | 9 | 8 | 10 | 12 | R22 | 9 | 7 | 4 | 4 | 9 | R23 | 6 | 11 | 2 | 9 | 2 | 16 | 5 | 12 |
12 | Luiz Garcia, Jr. | Brazil | Johansson Motorsports | 21 | R22 | 20 | 10 | - | - | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Brian Stewart Racing | 23 | 20 | 21 | 11 | 18 | R21 | 9 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 15 | 11 | 22 | 15 | 21 | R12 | 15 | 16 | 10 | 6 | 16 | 6 | |||||||||
13 | Sérgio Paese | Brazil | Brian Stewart Racing | 1 | R21 | 3 | 6 | 17 | R20 | 8 | 10 | 1 | 3 | 23 | R22 | 6 | 6 | 4 | 18 | 7 | 9 | 19 | 3 | 20 | R13 | - | - | - | - | 25 | R26 |
14 | Shigeaki Hattori | Japan | Indy Regency Racing | 2 | 1 | 7 | 11 | 22 | 14 | 3 | 1 | 6 | R21 | 16 | R20 | 21 | R18 | 19 | R21 | 18 | 16 | 3 | R20 | 11 | R16 | 20 | 13 | 15 | 9 | 19 | 9 |
15 | Mark Hotchkis | United States | Mattco Raceworks | - | - | - | - | 19 | 9 | 4 | 21 | 17 | 7 | 6 | 4 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 13 | 7 | 17 | 11 | - | - | 2 | 1 |
16 | Jorge Goeters | Mexico | Quaker State Team Go | 16 | R16 | 24 | 15 | 16 | 11 | 1 | 5 | 23 | 6 | 19 | 16 | 18 | 9 | 11 | 9 | 10 | 7 | 17 | R21 | 14 | R15 | - | - | - | - | 22 | 20 |
17 | Brian Cunningham | United States | Lucas Place Motorsports | 4 | 12 | 17 | R22 | 5 | 4 | 12 | R23 | 14 | R20 | 11 | 7 | 15 | 5 | 18 | 12 | 19 | 14 | 12 | R22 | 15 | R18 | 13 | 10 | 7 | R20 | 13 | R24 |
Casey Mears | United States | Penske Racing | 12 | 10 | 21 | 13 | 8 | 3 | 16 | 7 | 24 | 16 | 20 | R19 | - | - | 15 | 10 | - | - | 14 | 11 | - | - | - | - | 20 | R21 | 18 | 8 | |
19 | Chris Simmons | United States | Mattco Raceworks | 8 | 5 | 13 | R23 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 14 | 14 | 14 | 15 | 2 | 3 | 6 | 10 | 12 | 8 | 9 | R18 | 5 | 13 | 4 | 14 |
20 | Andy Boss | United States | Conquest Racing | 19 | 13 | 14 | 16 | 7 | 6 | 18 | 13 | 13 | 17 | 17 | 14 | 13 | R19 | 17 | 11 | 20 | 13 | 5 | 4 | 19 | R14 | 16 | R22 | 17 | 14 | 8 | 13 |
21 | Paul Morris | Australia | PacWest Lights | 18 | 6 | 18 | R20 | 14 | R22 | 21 | 18 | 10 | R24 | 14 | 13 | 17 | 7 | 16 | R19 | 13 | 20 | NT | - | 16 | 9 | 14 | R20 | - | - | - | - |
22 | Mike Borkowski | United States | Team Rahal | 7 | R20 | 23 | R25 | 20 | 16 | 24 | 19 | 20 | 18 | 15 | 11 | 16 | 15 | 21 | 14 | 17 | 12 | 2 | R18 | 18 | R17 | 4 | 4 | 22 | 17 | 24 | R23 |
23 | Cory Witherill | United States | Genoa Racing | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 22 | 13 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 22 | 15 | 23 | 12 | 14 | 4 |
24 | Clint Mears | United States | Penske Racing | (3) | NS | - | - | 4 | R18 | 9 | 17 | 16 | 19 | 22 | 17 | - | - | 22 | 16 | - | - | 11 | 8 | - | - | - | - | 16 | 10 | 21 | R22 |
25 | Mattias Andersson | Sweden | Brian Stewart Racing | 20 | R15 | 9 | 7 | 21 | R17 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
Mario Domínguez | Mexico | Herdez Competition Team | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 19 | 14 | 14 | 7 | - | - | |
27 | Rodolfo Lavín, Jr. | Mexico | Indy Regency Racing | 22 | 8 | 22 | R18 | 23 | NS | 22 | R24 | 19 | 13 | 21 | 18 | 19 | R17 | - | - | 21 | 18 | 23 | 17 | - | - | 21 | R21 | 21 | R23 | - | - |
28 | Bud Kaeding | United States | Dorricott Racing | - | - | - | - | - | - | 19 | 14 | 4 | R23 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 16 | 12 | - | - | - | - | - | - | 15 | 16 |
Wim Eyckmans | Belgium | Brian Stewart Racing | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 18 | 12 | 12 | R19 | 10 | 19 | |
- | Tim Moser | United States | Irish Motorsports/Bordin Racing | - | - | 19 | 14 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
- | Eric Jensen | Canada | Genoa Racing | - | - | 25 | 17 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
- | Paul Jasper | United States | PacWest Lights | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 20 | 21 |