The 2004 Menards IRL Infiniti Pro Series season was the third season of the series under the Indy Racing League ownership, and the 19th in Indy NXT combined history, as officially recognized by IndyCar. All teams used Dallara IL-02 chassis and Infiniti engines.
2004 Infiniti Pro Series season | |
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Infiniti Pro Series | |
Season | |
Races | 12 |
Start date | February 29 |
End date | October 16 |
Awards | |
Drivers' champion | ![]() |
Teams' champion | ![]() |
Rookie of the Year | ![]() |
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/a/a3/Menards_Infiniti_Pro_Series_color.png)
In his second year of Pro Series competition, Thiago Medeiros won the championship convincingly, giving Sam Schmidt Motorsports its first title. He won six wins, including the second running of the Freedom 100 from pole position, scored seven pole positions and led the most laps in all but two of the 12 races. Medeiros became champion by taking the green flag at the penultimate round in Chicagoland, and finished with a 134-point lead over Paul Dana, who scored his lone Infiniti Pro Series win at Milwaukee.
Despite joining the Infiniti Pro Series at the fourth round in Kansas, rookie P. J. Chesson rallied to a fourth place in the standings, including a three-win streak with newcomers Mo Nunn Racing, an effort instigated and managed by Nunn's wife Kathryn. Despite a penalty at the last round that demoted him behind Arie Luyendyk Jr. in the standings, Chesson won Rookie of the Year over Leonardo Maia by 25 points.
A. J. Foyt Enterprises and Panther Racing, the champions of the previous two editions, left the series, although Foyt entered a car for Jeff Simmons at the Freedom 100, finishing second behind Medeiros. Simmons and Marty Roth became the first drivers to contest the Indianapolis 500 and the Freedom 100 in the same year. Sinden Racing Service and Genoa Racing also left the series entirely, while the privateer effort by Matt Beardsley ceased to be after the Freedom 100. On the other hand, Roquin Motorsports re-expanded to a full time effort, Roth Racing, Racing Professionals and Bullet-Team Motorsports made their debut with partial seasons, apart from Mo Nunn joining the championship at the fourth round.
While the Freedom 100 attracted 17 competitors, the Infiniti Pro Series struggled with entries throughout much of 2004, especially during the summer stretch, with only nine cars and just three finishers at the Milwaukee round. Grid sizes improved over the last three races, with 15 drivers in each round. Only the top 3 drivers in the standings contested the full season, with two others missing one round. Former IndyCar drivers that competed during the season were Billy Roe, Jon Herb, Cory Witherill and Scott Mayer.
Team and driver chart
editSchedule
editThe schedule for 2004 stayed at 12 rounds with minor date changes over 2003. Mirroring the IRL IndyCar Series, the series left Gateway International Raceway and visited the storied Milwaukee Mile, who had featured in the last season of the original Indy Lights championship in 2001. This would be the last all-oval season for the series, as the IRL-managed championship would introduce road course racing from 2005 onwards.
Rd. | Date | Race name | Track | Location |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | February 29 | Homestead-Miami 100 | Homestead–Miami Speedway | Homestead, Florida |
2 | March 20 | Phoenix 100 | Phoenix International Raceway | Avondale, Arizona |
3 | May 22 | Futaba Freedom 100 | Indianapolis Motor Speedway | Speedway, Indiana |
4 | July 3 | Aventis Racing for Kids 100 | Kansas Speedway | Kansas City, Kansas |
5 | July 17 | Cleanevent 100 | Nashville Superspeedway | Lebanon, Tennessee |
6 | July 25 | Milwaukee 100 | Milwaukee Mile | West Allis, Wisconsin |
7 | August 1 | Paramount Health Insurance 100 | Michigan International Speedway | Brooklyn, Michigan |
8 | August 14 | Kentucky 100 | Kentucky Speedway | Sparta, Kentucky |
9 | August 22 | Pikes Peak 100 | Pikes Peak International Raceway | Fountain, Colorado |
10 | September 11 | Chicago 100 | Chicagoland Speedway | Joliet, Illinois |
11 | October 2 | California 100 | California Speedway | Fontana, California |
12 | October 16 | Texas 100 | Texas Motor Speedway | Fort Worth, Texas |
Race results
editChampionship standings
editDrivers' Championship
edit- Scoring system
Position | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | 5th | 6th | 7th | 8th | 9th | 10th | 11th | 12th | 13th | 14th | 15th | 16th | 17th | 18th | 19th |
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Points | 50 | 40 | 35 | 32 | 30 | 28 | 26 | 24 | 22 | 20 | 19 | 18 | 17 | 16 | 15 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 11 |
- The driver who leads the most laps in a race is awarded two additional points.
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Footnotes
editReferences
edit- ^ "IPS: Giebler signs with Duesenberg Racing for 2004". au.motorsport.com. 2004-02-26. Retrieved 2023-10-03.
- ^ "Unser Joins Forces With Keith Duesenberg Racing". indyracing.com. June 30, 2004. Archived from the original on August 7, 2004. Retrieved October 3, 2023.
- ^ "Unser, Fonferko Join Forces With Duesenberg". indyracing.com. July 14, 2004. Archived from the original on August 7, 2004. Retrieved October 3, 2004.
- ^ "Youngster In Line for Ride With Stewart Racing". indyracing.com. January 16, 2004. Archived from the original on December 16, 2004. Retrieved October 3, 2023.
- ^ "Roth Points To Running Full Time In 2005 Season". indyracing.com. October 6, 2004. Archived from the original on October 29, 2004. Retrieved October 3, 2023.
- ^ Racecar. "Leo Maia Signs Menards Infiniti Pro Series Deal with Brian Stewart". www.racecar.com. Retrieved 2023-10-03.
- ^ "Roth Racing Prepares to Roll in 2004". indyracing.com. January 9, 2004. Archived from the original on February 6, 2004. Retrieved October 3, 2004.
- ^ "Luyendyk Jr joins Schmidt for IPS". Crash. 2004-02-10. Retrieved 2023-10-03.
- ^ "Sprint Car Veteran Gregg Makes Series Debut". indyracing.com. August 11, 2004. Archived from the original on August 27, 2004. Retrieved October 3, 2023.
- ^ "Daily Trackside Report - California Speedway". October 1, 2004. Archived from the original on December 16, 2004. Retrieved October 3, 2023.
- ^ "Medeiros to drive for Sam Schmidt Motorsports". January 8, 2004. Archived from the original on February 6, 2004. Retrieved October 3, 2023.
- ^ "Xbox Indy Car Gets A Driver - XboxAddict News". xboxaddict.com. Retrieved 2023-10-03.
- ^ "Daily Trackside Report - Chicagoland Speedway". indyracing.com. September 10, 2004. Archived from the original on October 29, 2004. Retrieved October 3, 2023.
- ^ a b "Teenager Partners With Herb For Race Entry". indyracing.com. October 15, 2004. Archived from the original on December 11, 2004. Retrieved October 3, 2023.
- ^ "Roquins Keep It All In The Family". indyracing.com. February 28, 2004. Archived from the original on June 27, 2004. Retrieved October 3, 2023.
- ^ "Beardsley Aims For Consistency In Races". indyracing.com. February 24, 2004. Archived from the original on March 15, 2004. Retrieved October 3, 2023.
- ^ "Foyt hires Simmons to run in Indy Infiniti race". ESPN.com. 2004-05-06. Retrieved 2023-10-03.
- ^ a b "Fletcher Joins Field For Futaba Freedom 100". indyracing.com. May 16, 2004. Archived from the original on December 16, 2004. Retrieved October 3, 2023.
- ^ "Pollard Will Join Series Full Time". indyracing.com. January 26, 2004. Archived from the original on December 11, 2004. Retrieved October 3, 2023.
- ^ "IPS News and notes: Simmons to Finish Season with Kenn Hardley Racing". us.motorsport.com. September 29, 2004. Retrieved 2023-10-03.
- ^ "Teammates Medeiros, Luyendyk Will Start 1-2". indyracing.com. March 19, 2004. Archived from the original on December 11, 2004. Retrieved October 3, 2023.
- ^ "Drake Relishes His Laps On Historic Oval". indyracing.com. April 23, 2004. Archived from the original on August 20, 2004. Retrieved October 3, 2023.
- ^ "Luyendyk Makes Move To AFS Racing". indyracing.com. August 11, 2004. Archived from the original on December 11, 2004. Retrieved October 3, 2023.
- ^ "Peterson's Passion Continues To Grow". indyracing.com. 2004-12-11. Archived from the original on December 11, 2004. Retrieved October 3, 2023.
- ^ a b "IPS: Mo Nunn Racing enters series". us.motorsport.com. 2004-06-17. Retrieved 2023-10-03.
- ^ "Nunn doubles up in IPS". www.autosport.com. 2004-08-18. Retrieved 2023-10-03.
- ^ "IRL news - Dana signs with Hemelgarn for IPS". crash.net. December 18, 2003. Archived from the original on January 13, 2004. Retrieved October 3, 2023.
- ^ "IPS: Indianapolis: Cory Witherill to race in Freedom 100". us.motorsport.com. 2004-05-20. Retrieved 2023-10-03.
- ^ "Fast Facts - Chicagoland 100". indyracing.com. September 7, 2004. Archived from the original on December 16, 2004. Retrieved October 3, 2003.