Indy Racing League

The Indy Racing League, better known as IRL, is the promoter of a predominantly oval based open-wheel racing series in the United States and, more recently, Japan. Its centerpiece is the Indianapolis 500. The IRL is owned by Hulman and Co., which also owns the Indianapolis Motor Speedway complex. The IRL was brought about in 1994 by Tony George and was created with a breakaway group of drivers from CART, which had coordinated Indy car racing since 1979. George designed IRL as a lower-cost open-wheel alternative to CART, which had come to be technology-driven and dominated by a few wealthy multi-car teams much like in Formula One. Since then, the IRL has developed a consistent engine package and chassis rules which have produced some of the closest finishes in any racing series. Ironically, the series is now dominated by many of the same wealthy multi-car teams that once dominated CART.

IRL Champions

• 1996 - Scott Sharp, United States; Buzz Calkins, United States (tie)
• 1997 - Tony Stewart, United States
• 1998 - Kenny Bräck, Sweden
• 1999 - Greg Ray, United States
• 2000 - Buddy Lazier, United States
• 2001 - Sam Hornish, Jr., United States
• 2002 - Sam Hornish, Jr., United States
• 2003 - Scott Dixon, New Zealand
• 2004 - Tony Kanaan, Brazil
• 2005 - Dan Wheldon, Great Britain