2004 IndyCar Series season

IRL Seasons
Current = 2004
Previous = 2003
Next = 2005 The 2004 Indy Racing League IndyCar Series season was dominated by two teams, Andretti Green Racing and Rahal Letterman Racing. While there was great parity in 2003 between Honda and Toyota powered teams, in 2004 Honda began to outshine Toyota bringing their teams Penske Racing and Chip Ganassi Racing down with it, leaving Scott Dixon winless and in 10th place in his attempt to defend his 2003 championship.

Calendar

Race Summaries

Toyota Indy 300

This race was held and Homestead-Miami Speedway on February 29. Buddy Rice won the pole.

Top ten results
# Sam Hornish Jr.
# Hélio Castroneves
# Dan Wheldon
# Tora Takagi
# Tomas Scheckter
# Darren Manning
# Buddy Rice
# Tony Kanaan
# Scott Sharp
# Robbie Buhl

Copper World Indy 200

This race was held and Phoenix International Raceway on March 21. Dan Wheldon won the pole.

Top ten results
# Tony Kanaan
# Scott Dixon
# Dan Wheldon
# Alex Barron
# Darren Manning
# Hélio Castroneves
# Bryan Herta
# Tora Takagi
# Buddy Rice
# Greg Ray

Indy Japan 300

This race was held and Twin Ring Motegi on April 17. This was Honda's first win in the annual oval race held at their own track. Dan Wheldon won the pole.

Top ten results
# Dan Wheldon
# Tony Kanaan
# Hélio Castroneves
# Darren Manning
# Scott Dixon
# Buddy Rice
# Dario Franchitti
# Kosuke Matsuura
# Scott Sharp
# Tora Takagi

=88th Indianapolis 500=

The 88th Indianapolis 500 mile race was held at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on May 30. Buddy Rice sat on pole. The race was shortened to 180 laps (450 miles) due to rain.

Top ten results
# Buddy Rice
# Tony Kanaan
# Dan Wheldon
# Bryan Herta
# Bruno Junqueira
# Vitor Meira
# Adrian Fernández
# Scott Dixon
# Hélio Castroneves
# Roger Yasukawa

=Bombardier 500=

This race was held and Texas Motor Speedway on June 12. Dario Franchitti won the pole.

Top ten results
# Tony Kanaan
# Dario Franchitti
# Alex Barron
# Sam Hornish Jr.
# Adrian Fernández
# Vitor Meira
# Greg Ray
# Darren Manning
# Felipe Giaffone
# Tora Takagi

SunTrust Indy Challenge

This race was held and Richmond International Raceway on June 26. Hélio Castroneves won the pole.

Top ten results
# Dan Wheldon
# Vitor Meira
# Hélio Castroneves
# Bryan Herta
# Tony Kanaan
# Buddy Rice
# Adrian Fernández
# Scott Dixon
# Scott Sharp
# Felipe Giaffone

Argent Mortgage 300

This race was held and Kansas Speedway on July 4. Buddy Rice won the pole.

Top ten results
# Buddy Rice
# Vitor Meira
# Tony Kanaan
# Dario Franchitti
# Bryan Herta
# Adrian Fernández
# Hélio Castroneves
# Sam Hornish Jr.
# Dan Wheldon
# Alex Barron

Firestone Indy 200

This race was held and Nashville Superspeedway on July 17. Buddy Rice won the pole.

Top ten results
# Tony Kanaan
# Sam Hornish Jr.
# Hélio Castroneves
# Darren Manning
# Townsend Bell
# Buddy Rice
# Mark Taylor
# Scott Dixon
# Kosuke Matsuura
# Adrian Fernández

=Menards A.J. Foyt 225=

This race was held and the Milwaukee Mile on July 25. Vitor Meira won the pole.

Top ten results
# Dario Franchitti
# Buddy Rice
# Sam Hornish Jr.
# Tony Kanaan
# Vitor Meira
# Townsend Bell
# Alex Barron
# Adrian Fernández
# Bryan Herta
# Kosuke Matsuura

=Michigan Indy 400=

This race was held and Michigan International Speedway on August 1. Tony Kanaan won the pole.

Top ten results
# Buddy Rice
# Tony Kanaan
# Dan Wheldon
# Sam Hornish Jr.
# Vitor Meira
# Bryan Herta
# Scott Dixon
# Townsend Bell
# Scott Sharp
# Hélio Castroneves

=Belterra Casino Indy 300=

This race was held and Kentucky Speedway on August 15. Buddy Rice won the pole.

Top ten results
# Adrian Fernández
# Buddy Rice
# Dan Wheldon
# Kosuke Matsuura
# Tony Kanaan
# Dario Franchitti
# Vitor Meira
# Ed Carpenter
# Bryan Herta
# Darren Manning

Honda Indy 225

This race was held and Pikes Peak International Raceway on August 22. Tony Kanaan won the pole.

Top ten results
# Dario Franchitti
# Adrian Fernández
# Dan Wheldon
# Darren Manning
# Tony Kanaan
# Hélio Castroneves
# Vitor Meira
# Jaques Lazier
# Bryan Herta
# Alex Barron

Firestone Indy 225

This race was held and Nazareth Speedway on August 29. Hélio Castroneves won the pole. The race was heralded as the series' 100th event.

Top ten results
# Dan Wheldon
# Tony Kanaan
# Dario Franchitti
# Buddy Rice
# Hélio Castroneves
# Darren Manning
# Adrian Fernández
# Bryan Herta
# Scott Dixon
# Vitor Meira

Delphi Indy 300

This race was held and Chicagoland Speedway on September 12. Hélio Castroneves won the pole.

Top ten results
# Adrian Fernández 200 laps in 2:09:31.3301
# Bryan Herta +0.0716
# Tony Kanaan +0.1239
# Dan Wheldon +0.2464
# Vitor Meira +0.4873
# Sam Hornish Jr. +0.5402
# Scott Dixon +0.6109
# Felipe Giaffone +1.1137
# Scott Sharp +1.1878
# Hélio Castroneves +1.2595

Toyota Indy 400

This race was held and California Speedway on October 3. Hélio Castroneves won the pole.

Top ten results
# Adrian Fernández
# Tony Kanaan
# Dan Wheldon
# Sam Hornish Jr.
# Buddy Rice
# Dario Franchitti
# Hélio Castroneves
# Scott Dixon
# Townsend Bell
# Mark Taylor

=Chevy 500=

This race was held and Texas Motor Speedway on October 17. Hélio Castroneves won the pole.

Top ten results
# Hélio Castroneves
# Tony Kanaan
# Dan Wheldon
# Vitor Meira
# Adrian Fernández
# Scott Dixon
# Mark Taylor
# Scott Sharp
# Townsend Bell
# A.J. Foyt IV

Final Point Standings

Driver

For every race points were awarded to all starters: 50 points to the winner, 40 for runner up, 35 for third place, 32 for fourth place, 30 for fifth place, 28 for sixth place, 26 seventh place, 24 eighth place, 22 for ninth place, 20 for tenth place, winding down to 12 points for 18th place. From 18th place to 24th place each driver was awarded with 12 points. Starting with 25th place every lower placed driver was awarded with 10 point. Additional points were awarded to the driver leading the most laps (3 points). No additional points were awarded for the qualifying.

Note:

Race 4 After a red flag for rain Jaques Lazier replaced Robby Gordon, but all points were awarded to Robby Gordon.

Race 14 Hélio Castroneves had 15 points deduction due to a premature start after the final caution.

All drivers were awarded with points.