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 summaries

Homestead 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
  1. Shigeaki Hattori
  2. Philipp Peter
  3. Cristiano da Matta
  4. Felipe Giaffone
  5. Jorge Goeters

    Milwaukee race

Held May 31 at The Milwaukee Mile. Sérgio Paese won the pole.
Top Five Results
  1. Derek Higgins
  2. Felipe Giaffone
  3. Sérgio Paese
  4. Geoff Boss
  5. Tony Renna

    Detroit race

Held June 7 at Belle Isle Raceway. Airton Daré won the pole.
Top Five Results
  1. Airton Daré
  2. Cristiano da Matta
  3. Geoff Boss
  4. Mark Hotchkis
  5. Didier André

    Portland race

Held June 21 at Portland International Raceway. Guy Smith won the pole.
Top Five Results
  1. Guy Smith
  2. Felipe Giaffone
  3. Luiz Garcia, Jr.
  4. Airton Daré
  5. Brian Cunningham

    Cleveland race

Held July 12 at Burke Lakefront Airport. Luiz Garcia, Jr. won the pole.
Top Five Results
  1. Luiz Garcia, Jr.
  2. Derek Higgins
  3. Didier André
  4. Guy Smith
  5. Tony Renna

    Toronto race

Held July 19 at Exhibition Place. Guy Smith won the pole.
Top Five Results
  1. Guy Smith
  2. Naoki Hattori
  3. Chris Simmons
  4. Philipp Peter
  5. Didier André

    Michigan race

Held July 25 at Michigan International Speedway. Tony Renna won the pole.
Top Five Results
  1. Tony Renna
  2. Cristiano da Matta
  3. Sérgio Paese
  4. Andy Boss
  5. Oriol Servià

    Trois-Rivières race

Held August 2 at the Trois-Rivières, Quebec Street Circuit. Cristiano da Matta won the pole.
Top Five Results
  1. Cristiano da Matta
  2. Oriol Servià
  3. Naoki Hattori
  4. Guy Smith
  5. Didier André

    Vancouver race

Held September 6 at Pacific Place. Cristiano da Matta won the pole.
Top Five Results
  1. Cristiano da Matta
  2. Derek Higgins
  3. Airton Daré
  4. Mike Borkowski
  5. Felipe Giaffone

    Laguna Seca race

Held September 13 at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. Didier André won the pole.
Top Five Results
  1. Didier André
  2. Oriol Servià
  3. Derek Higgins
  4. Geoff Boss
  5. Naoki Hattori

    Fontana race

Held October 31 at The California Speedway. Tony Renna won the pole.
Top Five Results
  1. Mark Hotchkis
  2. Felipe Giaffone
  3. Tony Renna
  4. Cory Witherill
  5. Didier André

    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 and to the driver leading the most laps.
Note:
Race 4 no additional point for the qualifying were awarded due to rain.

Complete Overview

R20=retired, but classified NS=did not start NT=no time set in qualifying =place after practice, but grid position not held free