2002 USAC Gold Crown Series (Johnsonverse)

The 2002 USAC Gold Crown Series presented by NTT season was the 47th national championship season of American open wheel racing sanctioned by USAC. The season consisted of 40 races.
Sam Hornish Jr. won the championship after a fierce title fight with Gil de Ferran. Mario Domínguez was Rookie of the Year, and Hélio Castroneves won the Indianapolis 500 for the second year in a row.
In the Constructors' Cup, there seemed to be no clear-cut favorite early in the year. Ultimately, Mopar took its ninth Constructors' Cup, with its associated Dodge engine winning the Manufacturers' Cup, with 8 wins. Penske's rebound as a constructor after its late 90s collapse continued, managing to find victory line 5 times in 2002. Lola also had five wins, but Penske won the tiebreaker. Other constructors who got at least one win in 2002 included Toyota (4), Watson (3), Stacker (2), Mazda (1), Welter (1), Ford (1), GM (1), and Rahal (1).
==Drivers and teams==
Team 	Chassis 	Engine 	No 	Drivers
Target Chip Ganassi Racing 	Mopar M02 	Dodge 	4 	Bruno Junqueira
Target Chip Ganassi Racing 	Mopar M02 	Dodge 	12 	Kenny Bräck
Target Chip Ganassi Racing 	Mopar M02 	Dodge 	44 	Scott Dixon
Walker Racing 	Reynard 02i 	Offenhauser 	5 	Toranosuke Takagi
Newman/Haas Racing 	Lola B02/00 	Pontiac 	6 	Cristiano da Matta
Newman/Haas Racing 	Lola B02/00 	Pontiac 	11 	Christian Fittipaldi
PWR Championship Racing 	Lola B02/00 	Offenhauser 	7 	Scott Dixon
Team Rahal 	Rahal RH-010 	Ford-Cosworth	8 	Jimmy Vasser
Team Rahal 	Rahal RH-010 	Ford-Cosworth	9 	Michel Jourdain Jr.
Mo Nunn Racing 	Mopar M02 	Dodge 	10 	Tony Kanaan
Mo Nunn Racing 	Mopar M02 	Dodge 	21 	Felipe Giaffone
Herdez Competition 	Ford F-202 	Ford-Cosworth	16 	Mario Domínguez
Dale Coyne Racing 	Coyne DC-16 	Ford-Cosworth	19 	Darren Manning
Patrick Racing 	Wildcat Mk. XII 	Toyota 	20 	Oriol Servià
Sigma Autosport 	Lola B02/00 	Ford-Cosworth	22 	Max Papis
Team KOOL Green 	Reynard 02i 	Offenhauser 	26 	Paul Tracy
Team KOOL Green 	Reynard 02i 	Offenhauser 	27 	Dario Franchitti
Team Player's 	Watson 02 	Offenhauser 	132	Patrick Carpentier
Team Player's 	Watson 02 	Offenhauser 	133	Alex Tagliani
Motorola Racing 	Mopar M02 	Dodge 	139	Michael Andretti
Fernández Racing 	Watson 02 	Offenhauser 	51 	Adrián Fernández
Fernández Racing 	Watson 02 	Offenhauser 	52 	Shinji Nakano
Team Menard 	GM G02C 	Chevrolet 	25 	Mark Dismore
Team Menard 	GM G02C 	Chevrolet 	31 	Robby Gordon
Marlboro Team Penske 	Penske PC-29 	Ford-Cosworth	2 	Hélio Castroneves
Marlboro Team Penske 	Penske PC-29 	Ford-Cosworth	77 	Gil de Ferran
Panther Racing 	Toyota TR02 	Toyota 	104	Sam Hornish Jr.
Panther Racing 	Toyota TR02 	Toyota 	15 	Dan Wheldon
Treadway Racing 	G-Force GF02 	Chevrolet 	55 	Arie Luyendyk
Kelley Racing 	Mazda RX-02 	Mazda 	7 	Al Unser Jr.
Kelley Racing 	Mazda RX-02 	Mazda 	7 	Tony Renna
Kelley Racing 	Mazda RX-02 	Mazda 	78 	Tony Renna
Kelley Racing 	Mazda RX-02 	Mazda 	8 	Scott Sharp
Cahill Racing 	Ford F-202 	Ford-Cosworth	110	Robby McGehee
A. J. Foyt Enterprises 	Watson 02 	Offenhauser 	111	Eliseo Salazar
A. J. Foyt Enterprises 	Watson 02 	Offenhauser 	14 	Airton Daré
A. J. Foyt Enterprises 	Watson 02 	Offenhauser 	14 	Donnie Beechler
A. J. Foyt Enterprises 	Watson 02 	Offenhauser 	141	Donnie Beechler
Bradley Motorsports 	Riley & Scott Mark X	Infiniti 	112	Shigeaki Hattori
Bradley Motorsports 	Riley & Scott Mark X	Infiniti 	67 	Rick Treadway
Racing Professionals 	Dallara IR-02 	Chevrolet 	116	Jon Herb
PDM Racing 	Courage C56 	Chevrolet 	18 	Tyce Carlson
PDM Racing 	Courage C56 	Chevrolet 	99 	Jimmy Kite
Convergent Racing 	G-Force GF02 	Chevrolet 	120	Hideki Noda
Sam Schmidt Motorsports 	Dallara IR-02 	Chevrolet 	123	Richie Hearn
Sam Schmidt Motorsports 	Dallara IR-02 	Chevrolet 	123	Anthony Lazzaro
Sam Schmidt Motorsports 	Dallara IR-02 	Chevrolet 	119	Anthony Lazzaro
Dreyer & Reinbold Racing 	G-Force GF02 	Infiniti 	24 	Robbie Buhl
Dreyer & Reinbold Racing 	G-Force GF02 	Infiniti 	24 	Sarah Fisher
Dreyer & Reinbold Racing 	G-Force GF02 	Infiniti 	23 	Sarah Fisher
Galles Racing 	Galmer 02 	Offenhauser 	82 	Orlando Stokes
Indy Regency Racing 	Watson 02 	Offenhauser 	28 	Hideki Noda
310 Racing 	Welter US02 	Chevrolet 	131	George Mack
Duesenberg Brothers Racing
CURB/Agajanian/Beck Motorsports	Ford F-202 	Ford-Cosworth	132	Johnny Herbert
Duesenberg Brothers Racing
CURB/Agajanian/Beck Motorsports	Ford F-202 	Ford-Cosworth	154	Robby McGehee
Conquest Racing 	Riley & Scott Mark X	Infiniti 	34 	Laurent Redon
Brayton Racing 	Dallara IR-02 	Chevrolet 	137	Scott Harrington
Blair Racing 	Lola B02/00 	Chevrolet 	144	Alex Barron
Red Bull Cheever Racing 	Stacker O2B 	Infiniti 	151	Eddie Cheever
Red Bull Cheever Racing 	Stacker O2B 	Infiniti 	152	Tomas Scheckter
Red Bull Cheever Racing 	Stacker O2B 	Infiniti 	152	Buddy Rice
Red Bull Cheever Racing 	Stacker O2B 	Infiniti 	153	Buddy Rice
Zali Racing 	Welton US02 	Chevrolet 	81 	Billy Roe
Hemelgarn Racing 	Watson 02 	Offenhauser 	91 	Buddy Lazier
CURB/Agajanian/Boat Indy Racing	Ford F-202 	Ford-Cosworth	98 	Billy Boat
Vollstedt Racing 	Vollstedt 02 	Oldsmobile 	122	Jason Bright
Stacker & Associates 	Stacker 02B 	Buffalo 	56 	Guido Daccò
Stacker & Associates 	Stacker 02B 	Buffalo 	57 	Jeff Ward
Stacker & Associates 	Stacker 02B 	Buffalo 	58 	Brian Till
Ferrari Racing 	Ferrari U2002 	Ferrari 	53 	Tarso Marques
Ferrari Racing 	Ferrari U2002 	Ferrari 	83 	Ronnie Johncox
Williams Indy Engineering 	Williams IW02 	BMW 	49 	Mark Hotchkis
Williams Indy Engineering 	Williams IW02 	BMW 	61 	Philipp Peter
McLaren-Mercedes 	McLaren M48 	Mercedes-Benz	62 	André Lotterer
McLaren-Mercedes 	McLaren M48 	Mercedes-Benz	64 	Luis Díaz
Sauber Racing 	Sauber IC1 	Petronas 	89 	Raul Boesel
Sauber Racing 	Sauber IC1 	Petronas 	96 	Memo Gidley
British American Racing 	BAR 2002 	Supertec 	43 	David Kudrave
British American Racing 	BAR 2002 	Supertec 	45 	Ted Prappas
Minardi Indy 	Minardi M202 	Mercedes-Benz	65 	Jeret Schroeder
Minardi Indy 	Minardi M202 	Mercedes-Benz	66 	Cory Kruseman
GM Performance Racing 	GM G02C 	Chevrolet 	13 	Townsend Bell
GM Performance Racing 	GM G02C 	Chevrolet 	113	Jaques Lazier
Ford-Roush Racing 	Ford F-202 	Ford 	197	P. J. Jones
Ford-Roush Racing 	Ford F-202 	Ford 	199	Greg Ray
Mopar Racing 	Mopar M02 	Dodge 	60 	Jack Hewitt
Mopar Racing 	Mopar M02 	Dodge 	80 	Steve Butler
Toyota Racing Development 	Toyota TR2002 	Toyota 	54 	Will Langhorne
Toyota Racing Development 	Toyota TR2002 	Toyota 	63 	Vítor Meira
Nismo 	Nissan R02C 	Infiniti 	37 	Lee Bentham
Nismo 	Nissan R02C 	Infiniti 	38 	Allen May
MAZDASPEED 	Mazda RX02 	Mazda 	39 	Jonny Kane
MAZDASPEED 	Mazda RX02 	Mazda 	41 	Martin Basso
Courage Compétition 	Courage C56 	Infinity 	73 	Andy Michner
Courage Compétition 	Courage C56 	Infinity 	74 	William Langhorne
Welter Racing 	Welter US02 	Offenhauser 	76 	Derek Higgins
Welter Racing 	Welter US02 	Offenhauser 	88 	Alex Gurney
=== Formula One entrants in the Indianapolis 500 ===
Entrant 	Constructor 	Chassis	Engine† 	Tyre	No.	Driver
Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro 	Ferrari 	F2001
F2002	Ferrari 050
Ferrari 051	B 	201	Michael Schumacher
Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro 	Ferrari 	F2001
F2002	Ferrari 050
Ferrari 051	B 	202	Rubens Barrichello
West McLaren Mercedes 	McLaren-Mercedes	MP4-17 	Mercedes FO110M	M 	203	David Coulthard
West McLaren Mercedes 	McLaren-Mercedes	MP4-17 	Mercedes FO110M	M 	204	Kimi Räikkönen
BMW WilliamsF1 Team 	Williams-BMW 	FW24 	BMW P82 	M 	205	Ralf Schumacher
BMW WilliamsF1 Team 	Williams-BMW 	FW24 	BMW P82 	M 	206	Juan Pablo Montoya
Sauber Petronas 	Sauber-Petronas 	C21 	Petronas 02A 	B 	207	Nick Heidfeld
Sauber Petronas 	Sauber-Petronas 	C21 	Petronas 02A 	B 	208	Felipe Massa
DHL Jordan Honda 	Jordan-Honda 	EJ12 	Honda RA002E 	B 	209	Giancarlo Fisichella
DHL Jordan Honda 	Jordan-Honda 	EJ12 	Honda RA002E 	B 	210	Takuma Sato
Lucky Strike BAR Honda 	BAR-Honda 	004 	Honda RA002E 	B 	211	Jacques Villeneuve
Lucky Strike BAR Honda 	BAR-Honda 	004 	Honda RA002E 	B 	212	Olivier Panis
Mild Seven Renault F1 Team	Renault 	R202 	Renault RS22 	M 	214	Jarno Trulli
Mild Seven Renault F1 Team	Renault 	R202 	Renault RS22 	M 	215	Jenson Button
Jaguar Racing F1 Team 	Jaguar-Cosworth 	R3
R3B 	Cosworth CR-3
Cosworth CR-4	M 	216	Eddie Irvine
Jaguar Racing F1 Team 	Jaguar-Cosworth 	R3
R3B 	Cosworth CR-3
Cosworth CR-4	M 	217	Pedro de la Rosa
Orange Arrows 	Arrows-Cosworth 	A23 	Cosworth CR-3 	B 	220	Heinz-Harald Frentzen
Orange Arrows 	Arrows-Cosworth 	A23 	Cosworth CR-3 	B 	221	Enrique Bernoldi
KL Minardi Asiatech 	Minardi-Asiatech	PS02 	Asiatech AT02 	M 	222	Alex Yoong
KL Minardi Asiatech 	Minardi-Asiatech	PS02 	Asiatech AT02 	M 	223	Mark Webber
Panasonic Toyota Racing 	Toyota 	TF102 	Toyota RVX-02 	M 	224	Mika Salo
Panasonic Toyota Racing 	Toyota 	TF102 	Toyota RVX-02 	M 	225	Allan McNish
==Schedule==
No.	Race title 	Track 	Track type 	Date
1 	Gilroy Garlic 500 	San Jose Motorplex, Gilroy, California 	Superspeedway (restricted) 	February 10
2 	SunTrust Indy Challenge 	Richmond International Raceway, Richmond, Virginia 	Short oval 	February 16
3 	Budweiser Indy 200 	Riverside International Raceway, Riverside, California 	Road course 	February 24
4 	Grand Prix of Miami 	Homestead-Miami Speedway, Homestead, Florida 	Intermediate oval 	March 2
5 	Tecate/Telmex Grand Prix of Monterrey 	Fundidora Park, Monterrey, Nuevo León, Mexico 	Street course 	March 10
6 	Bombardier ATV 200 	Phoenix International Raceway, Avondale, Arizona 	One-mile oval 	March 17
7 	Yamaha Indy 400 	California Speedway, Fontana, California 	Superspeedway (unrestricted)	March 24
8 	Mopar 200 	Ontario Motor Speedway, Ontario, California 	Superspeedway (unrestricted)	March 31
9 	Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach 	Streets of Long Beach, California 	Street course 	April 14
10 	Firestone Indy 225 	Nazareth Speedway, Nazareth, Pennsylvania 	One-mile oval 	April 21
11 	Bridgestone Potenza 500 	Twin Ring Motegi, Motegi, Kanto 	Intermediate oval 	April 27
12 	Indianapolis 500 	Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Speedway, Indiana 	Superspeedway (unrestricted)	May 26
13 	Miller Lite 250 	Milwaukee Mile, West Allis, Wisconsin 	One-mile oval 	June 2
14 	Bridgestone Grand Prix of Monterey Featuring the Shell 300	Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, Monterey, California 	Road course 	June 9
15 	G.I. Joe's 200 	Portland International Raceway, Portland, Oregon 	Road course 	June 16
16 	Radisson Indy 225 	Pikes Peak International Raceway, Fountain, Colorado 	Intermediate oval 	June 23
17 	USAC Grand Prix of Chicago 	Chicago Motor Speedway, Cicero, Illinois 	Intermediate oval 	June 30
18 	U.S. 500 	San Jose Motorplex, Gilroy, California 	Superspeedway (restricted) 	July 7
19 	Marconi Grand Prix of Cleveland Presented by U.S. Bank 	Burke Lakefront Airport, Cleveland, Ohio 	Road course 	July 14
20 	Firestone Indy 200 	Nashville Superspeedway, Lebanon, Tennessee 	Intermediate oval 	July 21
21 	Michigan 500 	Michigan International Speedway, Brooklyn, Michigan 	Superspeedway (unrestricted)	July 28
22 	Boomtown 500 	Texas Motor Speedway, Fort Worth, Texas 	Intermediate oval 	August 3
23 	USAC Grand Prix of Mid-Ohio 	Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, Lexington, Ohio 	Road course 	August 11
24 	Motorola 220 	Road America, Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin 	Road course 	August 18
25 	California 500 	Ontario Motor Speedway, Ontario, California 	Superspeedway (unrestricted)	September 1
26 	Coca-Cola 400 	Denver International Speedway, Denver, Colorado 	Superspeedway (restricted) 	September 8
29 	Sure for Men Rockingham 500 	Rockingham Motor Speedway, Corby, United Kingdom 	Intermediate oval 	September 14
30 	German 500 	EuroSpeedway Lausitz, Klettwitz, Brandeburg, Germany 	Superspeedway (unrestricted)	September 21
31 	Belterra Casino Indy 300 	Kentucky Speedway, Sparta, Kentucky 	Intermediate oval 	September 28
32 	Ameristar Casino Indy 200 	Kansas Speedway, Kansas City, Kansas 	Intermediate oval 	October 6
33 	Gateway Indy 250 	Gateway International Raceway, Madison, Illinois 	Intermediate oval 	October 13
34 	Delphi Indy 300 	Walt Disney World Speedway, Bay Lake, Florida 	Intermediate oval 	October 20
35 	Dodge Indy 300 	Surfers Paradise Street Circuit, Surfers Paradise, Queensland, Australia	Street course 	October 27
36 	The 500 Presented by Toyota 	California Speedway, Fontana, California 	Superspeedway (unrestricted)	November 3
37 	Dallara 400 	Monza Circuit, Monza, Lombardy, Italy 	Superspeedway (restricted) 	November 10
38 	Gran Premio Telmex-Gigante Presented by Banamex/VISA 	Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez, Mexico City, Mexico 	Road course 	November 17
39 	DieHard Indy 500K 	Talladega Superspeedway, Lincoln, Alabama 	Superspeedway (restricted) 	November 24
40 	Florida Citrus Growers 500 	Daytona International Speedway, Daytona Beach, Florida 	Superspeedway (restricted) 	December 1
==Results==
No.	Race title 	Pole position 	Most laps led 	Winner 	Team 	Chassis/Engine
1 	Gilroy Garlic 500 	Hideki Noda 	Scott Dixon 	Scott Dixon 	Target Chip Ganassi Racing	Mopar/Dodge
2 	SunTrust Indy Challenge 	Gil de Ferran 	Gil de Ferran 	Sam Hornish Jr. 	Panther Racing 	Toyota/Toyota
3 	Budweiser Indy 200 	Sarah Fisher 	Gil de Ferran 	Gil de Ferran 	Marlboro Team Penske 	Penske/Ford
4 	Grand Prix of Miami 	Sam Hornish Jr. 	Sam Hornish Jr. 	Sam Hornish Jr. 	Panther Racing 	Toyota/Toyota
5 	Tecate/Telmex Grand Prix of Monterrey 	Adrián Fernández 	Cristiano da Matta	Cristiano da Matta	Newman/Haas Racing 	Lola/Pontiac
6 	Bombardier ATV 200 	Hélio Castroneves 	Sam Hornish Jr. 	Hélio Castroneves 	Marlboro Team Penske 	Penske/Ford
7 	Yamaha Indy 400 	Eddie Cheever 	Sam Hornish Jr. 	Sam Hornish Jr. 	Panther Racing 	Toyota/Toyota
8 	Mopar 200 	Scott Dixon 	Scott Dixon 	Allen May 	Nismo 	Nissan/Infiniti
9 	Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach 	Jimmy Vasser 	Michael Andretti 	Michael Andretti 	Motorola Racing 	Mopar/Dodge
10 	Firestone Indy 225 	Gil de Ferran 	Gil de Ferran 	Scott Sharp 	Kelley Racing 	Mazda/Mazda
11 	Bridgestone Potenza 500 	Bruno Junqueira 	Tony Kanaan 	Bruno Junqueira 	Target Chip Ganassi Racing	Mopar/Dodge
12 	Indianapolis 500 	Bruno Junqueira 	Hélio Castroneves 	Hélio Castroneves 	Marlboro Team Penske 	Penske/Ford
13 	Miller Lite 250 	Adrián Fernández 	Paul Tracy 	Paul Tracy 	Team KOOL Green 	Reynard/Offenhauser
14 	Bridgestone Grand Prix of Monterey Featuring the Shell 300	Cristiano da Matta	Cristiano da Matta	Cristiano da Matta	Newman/Haas Racing 	Lola/Pontiac
15 	G.I. Joe's 200 	Cristiano da Matta	Cristiano da Matta
Kenny Bräck	Cristiano da Matta	Newman/Haas Racing 	Lola/Pontiac
16 	Radisson Indy 225 	Gil de Ferran 	Gil de Ferran 	Gil de Ferran 	Marlboro Team Penske 	Penske/Ford
17 	USAC Grand Prix of Chicago 	Dario Franchitti 	Cristiano da Matta	Cristiano da Matta	Newman/Haas Racing 	Lola/Pontiac
18 	U.S. 500 	Scott Dixon 	Shinji Nakano 	Jack Hewitt 	Mopar Racing 	Mopar/Dodge
19 	Marconi Grand Prix of Cleveland Presented by U.S. Bank 	Cristiano da Matta	Patrick Carpentier	Patrick Carpentier	Team Player's 	Watson/Offenhauser
20 	Firestone Indy 200 	Billy Boat 	Tomas Scheckter 	Alex Barron 	Blair Racing 	Lola/Chevrolet
21 	Michigan 500 	Tomas Scheckter 	Tomas Scheckter 	Tomas Scheckter 	Red Bull Cheever Racing 	Stacker/Infiniti
22 	Boomtown 500 	Tomas Scheckter 	Tomas Scheckter 	Jeff Ward 	Stacker & Associates 	Stacker/Buffalo
23 	USAC Grand Prix of Mid-Ohio 	Patrick Carpentier	Patrick Carpentier	Patrick Carpentier	Team Player's 	Watson/Offenhauser
24 	Motorola 220 	Bruno Junqueira 	Paul Tracy 	Cristiano da Matta	Newman/Haas Racing 	Lola/Pontiac
25 	California 500 	Paul Tracy 	Tomas Scheckter 	Mark Dismore 	Team Menard 	GM/Chevrolet
26 	Coca-Cola 400 	Bruno Junqueira 	Kenny Bräck 	Alex Gurney 	Welter Racing 	Welter/Offenhauser
29 	Sure for Men Rockingham 500 	Kenny Bräck 	Kenny Bräck 	Dario Franchitti 	Team KOOL Green 	Reynard/Offenhauser
30 	German 500 	Jeff Ward 	Jason Bright 	Jason Bright 	Vollstedt Racing 	Vollstedt/Oldsmobile
31 	Belterra Casino Indy 300 	Sarah Fisher 	Felipe Giaffone 	Felipe Giaffone 	Mo Nunn Racing 	Mopar/Dodge
32 	Ameristar Casino Indy 200 	Tomas Scheckter 	Tomas Scheckter 	Airton Daré 	A. J. Foyt Enterprises 	Watson/Offenhauser
33 	Gateway Indy 250 	Gil de Ferran 	Hélio Castroneves 	Gil de Ferran 	Marlboro Team Penske 	Penske/Ford
34 	Delphi Indy 300 	Sam Hornish Jr. 	Sam Hornish Jr. 	Sam Hornish Jr. 	Panther Racing 	Toyota/Toyota
35 	Dodge Indy 300 	Cristiano da Matta	Cristiano da Matta	Mario Domínguez 	Herdez Competition 	Ford/Ford-Cosworth
36 	The 500 Presented by Toyota 	Tony Kanaan 	Jimmy Vasser 	Jimmy Vasser 	Team Rahal 	Rahal/Ford-Cosworth
37 	Dallara 400 	Michael Andretti 	Tyce Carlson 	Jack Hewitt 	Mopar Racing 	Mopar/Dodge
38 	Gran Premio Telmex-Gigante Presented by Banamex/VISA 	Bruno Junqueira 	Tony Kanaan 	Kenny Bräck 	Target Chip Ganassi Racing	Mopar/Dodge
39 	DieHard Indy 500K 	Eliseo Salazar 	Tony Kanaan 	Will Langhorne 	Toyota Racing Development 	Toyota/Toyota
40 	Florida Citrus Growers 500 	Tyce Carlson 	Alex Tagliani 	Michael Andretti 	Motorola Racing 	Mopar/Dodge
Category:Johnsonverse