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1998 Lone Star 500

{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2025}}

{{American Championship Car race report infobox

|Country = USA

|Race = Texas II

|Image = TexasMotorSpeedway.svg

|Date = September 20

|Year = 1998

|Official name = Lone Star 500

|Round_No = 10th

|Series = Indy Racing League

|Location = Texas Motor Speedway

|Course = Permanent racing facility

|Course_mi = 1.500

|Course_km = 2.414

|Distance_laps = 208

|Distance_mi = 312.000

|Distance_km = 502.115

|Pole_Driver = Billy Boat

|Pole_Team = A. J. Foyt Enterprises

|Pole_Time = 23.896

|Pole_Country = USA

|Fast_Driver = Jeff Ward

|Fast_Team = ISM Racing

|Fast_Time = 24.081

|Fast_Lap = unknown

|Fast_Country = USA

|First_Driver = John Paul Jr.

|First_Team = Byrd-Cunningham Racing

|First_Country = USA

|Second_Driver = Robby Unser

|Second_Team = Team Cheever

|Second_Country = USA

|Third_Driver = Jeff Ward

|Third_Team = ISM Racing

|Third_Country = USA

}}

The 1998 Lone Star 500 was the tenth round of the 1998 Indy Racing League season. The race was held on September 20, 1998 at the {{convert|1.50|mi|km|abbr=on}} Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth, Texas. Open-wheel veteran John Paul Jr. earned his first win since the 1983 Michigan 500 in a race determined by attrition and fuel strategy. It would be Paul's only win in his IRL career and the only win for Byrd-Cunningham Racing in the series. Rookie Robby Unser scored his first and only podium as well as led the only laps in his career.

The race saw many crashes and problems plague the usual frontrunners, including Arie Luyendyk (fuel pump), Eddie Cheever (engine malfunction), Scott Sharp (crash), Greg Ray (engine malfunction), and Tony Stewart (led 51 laps before an engine problem ended his race). By finishing 5th, points leader Kenny Bräck maintained his comfortable lead in the points standings, all but ensuring he would be the next IRL champion in the next race.

Report

class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%"
Key

! Meaning

align="center" | R

| Rookie

align="center" | W

| Past winner

=Qualifying=

Two laps qualifying. The worst lap from any of the drivers are unknown.

class="wikitable sortable" " style="fontsize:95%"

!| Pos

!| No.

!| Name

!| Lap

!| Best (in mph)

scope="row" | 1

| align=center| 11

| {{flagicon|USA}} Billy Boat W

| align="center"| 23.896

| align="center"| 225.979

scope="row" | 2

| align=center| 1

| {{flagicon|USA}} Tony Stewart

| align="center"| 24.014

| align="center"| 224.869

scope="row" | 3

| align=center| 8

| {{flagicon|USA}} Scott Sharp

| align="center"| 24.048

| align="center"| 224.551

scope="row" | 4

| align=center| 28

| {{flagicon|USA}} Mark Dismore

| align="center"| 24.075

| align="center"| 224.299

scope="row" | 5

| align=center| 35

| {{flagicon|USA}} Jeff Ward

| align="center"| 24.099

| align="center"| 224.076

scope="row" | 6

| align=center| 6

| {{flagicon|USA}} Davey Hamilton

| align="center"| 24.142

| align="center"| 223.677

scope="row" | 7

| align=center| 4

| {{flagicon|Canada}} Scott Goodyear

| align="center"| 24.240

| align="center"| 222.770

scope="row" | 8

| align=center| 77

| {{flagicon|France}} Stéphan Grégoire

| align="center"| 24.288

| align="center"| 222.332

scope="row" | 9

| align=center| 51

| {{flagicon|USA}} Eddie Cheever

| align="center"| 24.295

| align="center"| 222.268

scope="row" | 10

| align=center| 14

| {{flagicon|Sweden}} Kenny Bräck

| align="center"| 24.304

| align="center"| 222.186

scope="row" | 11

| align=center| 43

| {{flagicon|USA}} Dave Steele R

| align="center"| 24.319

| align="center"| 222.049

scope="row" | 12

| align=center| 97

| {{flagicon|USA}} Greg Ray

| align="center"| 24.333

| align="center"| 221.921

scope="row" | 13

| align=center| 30

| {{flagicon|Brazil}} Raul Boesel

| align="center"| 24.387

| align="center"| 221.429

scope="row" | 14

| align=center| 10

| {{flagicon|USA}} John Paul Jr.

| align="center"| 24.394

| align="center"| 221.366

scope="row" | 15

| align=center| 16

| {{flagicon|Brazil}} Marco Greco

| align="center"| 24.398

| align="center"| 221.330

scope="row" | 16

| align=center| 3

| {{flagicon|USA}} Robbie Buhl

| align="center"| 24.451

| align="center"| 220.850

scope="row" | 17

| align=center| 52

| {{flagicon|USA}} Robby Unser R

| align="center"| 24.454

| align="center"| 220.823

scope="row" | 18

| align=center| 23

| {{flagicon|Colombia}} Roberto Guerrero

| align="center"| 24.491

| align="center"| 220.489

scope="row" | 19

| align=center| 91

| {{flagicon|USA}} Buddy Lazier

| align="center"| 24.499

| align="center"| 220.417

scope="row" | 20

| align=center| 18

| {{flagicon|USA}} Steve Knapp R

| align="center"| 24.669

| align="center"| 218.898

scope="row" | 21

| align=center| 12

| {{flagicon|USA}} Buzz Calkins

| align="center"| 24.723

| align="center"| 218.420

scope="row" | 22

| align=center| 40

| {{flagicon|USA}} Jack Miller

| align="center"| 24.821

| align="center"| 217.558

scope="row" | 23

| align=center| 99

| {{flagicon|USA}} Sam Schmidt

| align="center"| 24.857

| align="center"| 217.243

scope="row" | 24

| align=center| 81

| {{flagicon|USA}} Brian Tyler R

| align="center"| 24.900

| align="center"| 216.867

scope="row" | 25

| align=center| 98

| {{flagicon|USA}} Donnie Beechler R

| align="center"| 25.040

| align="center"| 215.655

scope="row" | 26

| align=center| 19

| {{flagicon|USA}} Stan Wattles

| align="center"| 25.387

| align="center"| 212.707

scope="row" | 27

| align=center| 15

| {{flagicon|USA}} Andy Michner R

| align="center"| 26.119

| align="center"| 206.746

scope="row" | 28

| align=center| 5

| {{flagicon|Netherlands}} Arie Luyendyk{{ref|1|1}} W

| align="center"| 24.585

| align="center"| 219.646

colspan=5 align=center|Source{{cite web|title=1998 Lone Star 500|url=http://racing-reference.info/race/1998_Lone_Star_500/O|publisher=racing-reference.info|accessdate=September 7, 2017}}{{cite web|title=Starting Grid, Texas (1998-09-20)|url=http://www.indyracingleague.com:80/stats/grids.php3?track=Texas&eventdate=1998-09-20|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000509082711/http://www.indyracingleague.com/stats/grids.php3?track=Texas&eventdate=1998-09-20|url-status=dead|archive-date=2000-05-09|publisher=indyracingleague.com|accessdate=September 20, 2017}}

{{refbegin}}

  1. {{note|1}} Changed to a backup car for the race, after repeatedly changing engines during the weekend before loaning one from Panther Racing.

{{refend}}

=Race=

class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%"
PosNo.DriverTeamLapsTime/RetiredGridLaps LedPoints
1

| align=center|10

|{{flagicon|USA}} John Paul Jr.

|Byrd-Cunningham Racing

|align=center|208

|align=center|2:21:53.557

|align=center|14

|align=center|31

|align=center|50

2

| align=center|52

|{{flagicon|USA}} Robby Unser R

|Team Cheever

|align=center|208

|align=center| +1.577 sec

|align=center|17

|align=center|22

|align=center|40

3

| align=center|35

|{{flagicon|USA}} Jeff Ward

|ISM Racing

|align=center|208

|align=center|Running

|align=center|5

|align=center|16

|align=center|35

4

| align=center|23

|{{flagicon|Colombia}} Roberto Guerrero

|Cobb Racing

|align=center|208

|align=center|Running

|align=center|18

|align=center|22

|align=center|32

5

| align=center|5

|{{flagicon|SWE}} Kenny Bräck

|A. J. Foyt Enterprises

|align=center|207

|align=center| +1 Lap

|align=center|10

|align=center|

|align=center|30

6

| align=center|91

|{{flagicon|USA}} Buddy Lazier

|Hemelgarn Racing

|align=center|206

|align=center| +2 Laps

|align=center|19

|align=center|14

|align=center|28

7

| align=center|3

|{{flagicon|USA}} Robbie Buhl

|Team Menard

|align=center|205

|align=center| +3 Laps

|align=center|16

|align=center|

|align=center|26

8

| align=center|19

|{{flagicon|USA}} Stan Wattles

|Metro Racing Systems

|align=center|205

|align=center| +3 Laps

|align=center|26

|align=center|

|align=center|24

9

| align=center|6

|{{flagicon|USA}} Davey Hamilton

|Nienhouse Motorsports

|align=center|202

|align=center| +6 Laps

|align=center|6

|align=center|

|align=center|22

10

| align=center|28

|{{flagicon|USA}} Mark Dismore

|Kelley Racing

|align=center|202

|align=center| +6 Laps

|align=center|4

|align=center|14

|align=center|20

11

| align=center|12

|{{flagicon|USA}} Buzz Calkins

|Bradley Motorsports

|align=center|201

|align=center| +7 Laps

|align=center|21

|align=center|

|align=center|19

12

| align=center|40

|{{flagicon|USA}} Jack Miller

|Sinden Racing Services

|align=center|201

|align=center| +7 Laps

|align=center|22

|align=center|

|align=center|18

13

| align=center|81

|{{flagicon|USA}} Brian Tyler R

|Team Pelfrey

|align=center|174

|align=center|Engine

|align=center|24

|align=center|

|align=center|17

14

| align=center|11

|{{flagicon|USA}} Billy Boat W

|A. J. Foyt Enterprises

|align=center|162

|align=center| +46 Laps

|align=center|1

|align=center|

|align=center|19

15

| align=center|15

|{{flagicon|USA}} Andy Michner R

|Riley & Scott

|align=center|158

|align=center|Engine

|align=center|27

|align=center|7

|align=center|15

16

| align=center|16

|{{flagicon|Brazil}} Marco Greco

|Phoenix Racing

|align=center|133

|align=center|Contact

|align=center|15

|align=center|

|align=center|14

17

| align=center|30

|{{flagicon|Brazil}} Raul Boesel

|McCormack Motorsports

|align=center|133

|align=center|Contact

|align=center|13

|align=center|30

|align=center|13

18

| align=center|18

|{{flagicon|USA}} Steve Knapp R

|PDM Racing

|align=center|131

|align=center|Contact

|align=center|20

|align=center|

|align=center|12

19

| align=center|98

|{{flagicon|USA}} Donnie Beechler R

|Cahill Racing

|align=center|122

|align=center|Contact

|align=center|25

|align=center|

|align=center|11

20

| align=center|1

|{{flagicon|USA}} Tony Stewart

|Team Menard

|align=center|80

|align=center|Engine

|align=center|2

|align=center|51

|align=center|14

21

| align=center|97

|{{flagicon|USA}} Greg Ray

|Knapp Motorsports

|align=center|75

|align=center|Engine

|align=center|12

|align=center|

|align=center|9

22

| align=center|4

|{{flagicon|Canada}} Scott Goodyear

|Panther Racing

|align=center|71

|align=center|Clutch

|align=center|7

|align=center|

|align=center|8

23

| align=center|8

|{{flagicon|USA}} Scott Sharp

|Kelley Racing

|align=center|67

|align=center|Contact

|align=center|3

|align=center|1

|align=center|8

24

|align=center|43

|{{flagicon|USA}} Dave Steele R

|Panther Racing

|align=center|39

|align=center|Contact

|align=center|11

|align=center|

|align=center|6

25

| align=center|51

|{{flagicon|USA}} Eddie Cheever

|Team Cheever

|align=center|30

|align=center|Engine

|align=center|9

|align=center|

|align=center|5

26

| align=center|77

|{{flagicon|France}} Stéphan Grégoire

|Chastain Motorsports

|align=center|18

|align=center|Contact

|align=center|8

|align=center|

|align=center|4

27

| align=center|99

|{{flagicon|USA}} Sam Schmidt

|LP Racing

|align=center|5

|align=center|Engine

|align=center|23

|align=center|

|align=center|3

28

| align=center|5

|{{flagicon|Netherlands}} Arie Luyendyk W

|Treadway Racing

|align=center|5

|align=center|Fuel Pump

|align=center|28

|align=center|

|align=center|2

colspan=9 align=center|Source

Race Statistics

  • Lead changes: 17 among 10 drivers

{{col-begin}}

{{col-break}}

class="wikitable"

!colspan=2|Lap Leaders

Laps

! Leader

1-27Tony Stewart
28-41Mark Dismore
42Jeff Ward
43-50Raul Boesel
51Scott Sharp
52-75Tony Stewart
76-80Jeff Ward
81-87John Paul Jr.
88-109Raul Boesel
110-116Andy Michner
117-130Buddy Lazier
131-136John Paul Jr.
137-140Roberto Guerrero
141-162Robby Unser
163John Paul Jr.
164-182Roberto Guerrero
183-191Jeff Ward
192-208John Paul Jr.

{{col-break}}

class="wikitable"

!colspan=2|Cautions: 8 for 74 laps

Laps

! Reason

19-27

|Stéphane Grégoire crash

40-48

|Dave Steele crash

70-78

|Scott Sharp crash

85-92

|Debris

108-116

|Billy Boat crash

134-152

|Greco, Boesel, Beechler and Knapp crash

160-164

|Tow-in for Andy Michner

198-202

|Davey Hamilton's tire blow-out

{{col-end}}

Standings after the race

;Drivers' Championship standings

{{col-begin}}

{{col-3}}

class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%"
scope="col" | Rank

! scope="col" | +/–

! scope="col" | Driver

! scope="col" | Points

1

|align="left"| 10px

| {{flagicon|Sweden}} Kenny Bräck

|align=center| 312

2

|align="left"| 10px

| {{flagicon|USA}} Davey Hamilton

|align=center| 281

3

|align="left"| 10px

| {{flagicon|USA}} Tony Stewart

|align=center| 271

4

|align="left"| 10px

| {{flagicon|USA}} Scott Sharp

|align=center| 254

5

|align="left"| 10px 1

| {{flagicon|USA}} Jeff Ward

|align=center| 243

{{col-end}}

  • Note: Only the top five positions are included for the standings.

References

{{reflist}}

{{American Championship Car race report footer |

Series = Indy Racing League |

Name_of_race = Lone Star 500 |

Year_of_race = 1998 |

Previous_race_in_season = 1998 Atlanta 500 Classic |

Next_race_in_season = 1998 Las Vegas 500K |

Previous_year's_race = 1998 True Value 500 |

Next_year's_race = 1999 Longhorn 500

}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Lone Star 500, 1998}}

Category:1998 in IndyCar

Lone

Category:Texas Motor Speedway