Template:Short description
Template:Use mdy dates
Template:American Championship Car season
The 1998 FedEx Championship Series season was the twentieth in the Championship Auto Racing Teams (CART) era of American open-wheel car racing. It consisted of 19 races, beginning in Homestead, Florida on March 15 and concluding in Fontana, California on November 1. The FedEx Championship Series Drivers' Champion was Alex Zanardi, his second consecutive championship, while the series' Rookie of the Year was Tony Kanaan. This was the first of five years of sponsorship by FDX Corporation, who became FedEx Corporation in 2000.
The season was marred by a deadly crash on lap 175 of the U.S. 500. Adrián Fernández slammed into the outside wall in the fourth turn of Michigan International Speedway. His right front wheel was torn off and hurled over the fence into the stands, killing three spectators (Kenneth Fox, Sheryl Laster, and Michael Tautkus) and injuring six others. Fernández was uninjured.[1]
This was the final season with Bobby Rahal on the CART grid. Other notable events of the 1998 season include first wins for Bryan Herta and future Indycar Series and Indianapolis 500 champion Dario Franchitti. Mexican driver Adrián Fernández got his second career win at Twin Ring Motegi, the first race run there by Champ Cars.
Drivers and constructors
The following teams and drivers competed in the 1998 CART Championship Series season.
| Team
|
Chassis
|
Engine
|
Tires
|
No
|
Drivers
|
Rounds
|
Primary Sponsors
|
| Template:Flagicon Chip Ganassi Racing
|
Reynard 98i
|
Honda HRK
|
F
|
1
|
Template:Flagicon Alex Zanardi
|
All
|
Target
|
| 12
|
Template:Flagicon Jimmy Vasser
|
All
|
| Template:Flagicon Marlboro Team Penske
|
Penske PC-27
|
Mercedes IC108E
|
G
|
2
|
Template:Flagicon Al Unser Jr.
|
All
|
Marlboro
|
| 3
|
Template:Flagicon André Ribeiro
|
All
|
| Template:Flagicon Walker Racing
|
Reynard 98i
|
Honda HRK
|
G
|
5
|
Template:Flagicon Gil de Ferran
|
All
|
Valvoline
|
| Template:Flagicon Newman-Haas Racing
|
Swift 009.c
|
Ford XB
|
G
|
6
|
Template:Flagicon Michael Andretti
|
All
|
Texaco-Havoline
|
| 11
|
Template:Flagicon Christian Fittipaldi
|
1–6, 8–19
|
Kmart
|
| Template:Flagicon Roberto Moreno
|
7
|
| Template:Flagicon Team Rahal
|
Reynard 98i
|
Ford XB
|
F
|
7
|
Template:Flagicon Bobby Rahal
|
All
|
Miller Lite
|
| 8
|
Template:Flagicon Bryan Herta
|
All
|
Shell
|
| Template:Flagicon Hogan Racing
|
Reynard 98i
|
Mercedes IC108E
|
F
|
9
|
Template:Flagicon JJ Lehto
|
All
|
Hogan Motor Leasing
|
| Template:Flagicon Della Penna Motorsports
|
Swift 009.c
|
Ford XB
|
F
|
10
|
Template:Flagicon Richie Hearn
|
All
|
Budweiser
|
| 43
|
Template:Flagicon Hideshi Matsuda
|
2
|
BMB Mini-Juke
|
| Template:Flagicon Project CART
|
Reynard 98i
|
Mercedes IC108E
|
G
|
15
|
Template:Flagicon Roberto Moreno
|
1–2
|
Hawaiian Tropic
|
| Template:Flagicon Domenico Schiattarella
|
3
|
| Template:Flagicon Bettenhausen Racing
|
Reynard 98i
|
Mercedes IC108E
|
G
|
16
|
Template:Flagicon Hélio Castroneves
|
All
|
Alumax
|
| Template:Flagicon PacWest Racing Group
|
Reynard 98i
|
Mercedes IC108E
|
F
|
17
|
Template:Flagicon Maurício Gugelmin
|
All
|
Hollywood Cigarettes
|
| 18
|
Template:Flagicon Mark Blundell
|
All
|
Motorola
|
| Template:Flagicon Payton/Coyne Racing
|
Reynard 98i
|
Ford XB
|
F
|
19
|
Template:Flagicon Michel Jourdain Jr.
|
All
|
Herdez
|
| 34
|
Template:Flagicon Dennis Vitolo
|
1, 4, 6–10, 12, 15–19
|
SmithKline Beecham <templatestyles src="Template:Tooltip/styles.css" />15Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Payton/Coyne Racing <templatestyles src="Template:Tooltip/styles.css" />3Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Banco Cacique <templatestyles src="Template:Tooltip/styles.css" />1Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
|
| Template:Flagicon Gualter Salles
|
2–3, 5, 11, 13–14
|
| Template:Flagicon Patrick Racing
|
Reynard 98i
|
Ford XB
|
F
|
20
|
Template:Flagicon Scott Pruett
|
All
|
Visteon
|
| 40
|
Template:Flagicon Adrián Fernández
|
All
|
Tecate Beer
|
| Template:Flagicon Tasman Motorsports Group
|
Reynard 98i
|
Honda HRK
|
F
|
21
|
Template:Flagicon Tony Kanaan
|
All
|
LCI
|
| Template:Flagicon Arciero-Wells Racing
|
Reynard 98i
|
Toyota RV8C
|
F
|
24
|
Template:Flagicon Hiro Matsushita
|
1–3, 5
|
Panasonic
|
| Template:Flagicon Robby Gordon
|
4, 6–19
|
| 25
|
Template:Flagicon Max Papis
|
All
|
MCI Worldcom
|
| Template:Flagicon Team KOOL Green
|
Reynard 98i
|
Honda HRK
|
F
|
26
|
Template:Flagicon Paul Tracy
|
All
|
KOOL
|
| 27
|
Template:Flagicon Dario Franchitti
|
All
|
| Template:Flagicon Forsythe Racing
|
Reynard 98i
|
Mercedes IC108E
|
F
|
33
|
Template:Flagicon Patrick Carpentier
|
All
|
Player's
|
| 99
|
Template:Flagicon Greg Moore
|
All
|
| Template:Flagicon All American Racing
|
Reynard
|
Toyota RV8C
|
G
|
98
|
Template:Flagicon P. J. Jones
|
1–15
|
Castrol
|
| 36
|
Template:Flagicon Alex Barron
|
1–12
|
| Eagle 987
|
13–19
|
| 98
|
Template:Flagicon Vincenzo Sospiri
|
16–19
|
| Template:Flagicon Davis Racing
|
Lola T98/00
|
Ford XB
|
G
|
77
|
Template:Flagicon Arnd Meier
|
All
|
BAAN Business Software <templatestyles src="Template:Tooltip/styles.css" />8Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Hasseröder <templatestyles src="Template:Tooltip/styles.css" />11Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
|
Season summary
Schedule
| Rnd
|
Date
|
Race Name
|
Circuit
|
Location
|
| 1
|
March 15
|
Template:Flagicon Marlboro Grand Prix of Miami Presented by Toyota
|
<templatestyles src="Legend/styles.css" /> O Homestead-Miami Speedway
|
Homestead, Florida
|
| 2
|
March 28
|
Template:Flagicon Budweiser 500K
|
<templatestyles src="Legend/styles.css" /> O Twin Ring Motegi
|
Motegi, Japan
|
| 3
|
April 5
|
Template:Flagicon Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach
|
<templatestyles src="Legend/styles.css" /> R Streets of Long Beach
|
Long Beach, California
|
| 4
|
April 27*
|
Template:Flagicon Bosch Spark Plug Grand Prix Presented by Toyota
|
<templatestyles src="Legend/styles.css" /> O Nazareth Speedway
|
Nazareth, Pennsylvania
|
| 5
|
May 10
|
Template:Flagicon Rio 400K
|
<templatestyles src="Legend/styles.css" /> O Autódromo de Jacarepaguá
|
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
|
| 6
|
May 23
|
Template:Flagicon Motorola 300
|
<templatestyles src="Legend/styles.css" /> O Gateway International Raceway
|
Madison, Illinois
|
| 7
|
May 31
|
Template:Flagicon Miller Lite 200
|
<templatestyles src="Legend/styles.css" /> O Milwaukee Mile
|
West Allis, Wisconsin
|
| 8
|
June 7
|
Template:Flagicon ITT Automotive Detroit Grand Prix
|
<templatestyles src="Legend/styles.css" /> R The Raceway on Belle Isle Park
|
Detroit, Michigan
|
| 9
|
June 21
|
Template:Flagicon Texaco/Havoline Presents the Budweiser/G. I. Joe's 200
|
<templatestyles src="Legend/styles.css" /> R Portland International Raceway
|
Portland, Oregon
|
| 10
|
July 12
|
Template:Flagicon Medic Drug Grand Prix of Cleveland Presented by Star Bank
|
<templatestyles src="Legend/styles.css" /> R Cleveland Burke Lakefront Airport
|
Cleveland, Ohio
|
| 11
|
July 19
|
Template:Flagicon Molson Indy Toronto
|
<templatestyles src="Legend/styles.css" /> R Exhibition Place
|
Toronto, Ontario
|
| 12
|
July 26
|
Template:Flagicon U.S. 500 Presented by Toyota
|
<templatestyles src="Legend/styles.css" /> O Michigan Speedway
|
Brooklyn, Michigan
|
| 13
|
August 9
|
Template:Flagicon Miller Lite 200
|
<templatestyles src="Legend/styles.css" /> R Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course
|
Lexington, Ohio
|
| 14
|
August 16
|
Template:Flagicon The Chicago Tribune Presents the Texaco/Havoline 200
|
<templatestyles src="Legend/styles.css" /> R Road America
|
Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin
|
| 15
|
September 6
|
Template:Flagicon Molson Indy Vancouver
|
<templatestyles src="Legend/styles.css" /> R Streets of Vancouver
|
Vancouver, British Columbia
|
| 16
|
September 13
|
Template:Flagicon Honda Grand Prix of Monterey Featuring the Texaco/Havoline 300
|
<templatestyles src="Legend/styles.css" /> R Laguna Seca Raceway
|
Monterey, California
|
| 17
|
October 4
|
Template:Flagicon Texaco Grand Prix of Houston
|
<templatestyles src="Legend/styles.css" /> R George R. Brown Convention Center
|
Houston, Texas
|
| 18
|
October 18
|
Template:Flagicon Honda Indy 300
|
<templatestyles src="Legend/styles.css" /> R Surfers Paradise Street Circuit
|
Surfers Paradise, Australia
|
| 19
|
November 1
|
Template:Flagicon Marlboro 500 Presented by Toyota
|
<templatestyles src="Legend/styles.css" /> O California Speedway
|
Fontana, California
|
– The Nazareth race was scheduled for April 26, but postponed due to rain.
– The Houston race was scheduled for 153 miles, but was shortened due to poor visibility.
<templatestyles src="Legend/styles.css" /> O Oval/Speedway
<templatestyles src="Legend/styles.css" /> R Road/Street course
Race results
Final driver standings
Script error: No such module "labelled list hatnote".
|
|
| Color
|
Result
|
| Gold
|
Winner
|
| Silver
|
2nd place
|
| Bronze
|
3rd place
|
| Green
|
4th–6th place
|
| Light Blue
|
7th–12th place
|
| Dark Blue
|
Finished (Outside Top 12)
|
| Purple
|
Did not finish
|
| Red
|
Did not qualify (DNQ)
|
| Brown
|
Withdrawn (Wth)
|
| Black
|
Disqualified (DSQ)
|
| White
|
Did not start (DNS)
|
| Blank
|
Did not participate (DNP)
|
| Not competing
|
|
| In-line notation
|
| Bold
|
Pole position
|
| Italics
|
Ran fastest race lap
|
| *
|
Led most race laps
|
| <templatestyles src="Legend/styles.css" /> RY
|
Rookie of the Year
|
| <templatestyles src="Legend/styles.css" /> R
|
Rookie
|
|
|
Nations' Cup
- Top result per race counts towards Nations' Cup.
Chassis Constructors' Cup
Engine Manufacturers' Cup
Driver breakdown
References
<templatestyles src="Reflist/styles.css" />
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
- Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
See also
Template:American Championship Car seasons
Script error: No such module "Navbox".