2002 Indy Racing League
| 2002 Indy Racing League season | |
|---|---|
| Indy Racing League | |
| Season | |
| Races | 15 |
| Start date | March 2 |
| End date | September 15 |
| Awards | |
| Drivers' champion | Sam Hornish Jr. |
| Manufacturers' Cup | Chevrolet |
| Rookie of the Year | Laurent Rédon |
| Indianapolis 500 winner | Hélio Castroneves |
Sam Hornish Jr. (left) won his second Drivers' Championship (second straight title) while Hélio Castroneves (right) finished second in the championship.
The 2002 Indy Racing League (IRL) was one of transition, with two reigning CART championship teams, Team Penske and Target Chip Ganassi Racing, joining the series with full time entries. The Oldsmobile engine was rebranded as a Chevrolet, and both Honda and Toyota announced their participation in the series starting in 2003 while Infiniti announced its withdrawal.
Sam Hornish Jr. won 5 races on his way to his second straight championship ahead of Penske juggernaut Hélio Castroneves, winner of two races including a second straight Indy 500, on his way to second in the championship. The season was also notable for seeing six drivers win their first career Indy Racing League races.