2005 IndyCar Series

Rule changes for 2005

• A mandated switch to the single-point re-fueling systems used by some teams in 2004. The IRL only approved one type of fueling probe and buckeye, and these only work as a single-point system. In the approved system, two hoses coming from the storage tank combined at the fueling mechanism, handled by the fueler. The crew member previously responsible for the operation of the vent and jack was now free to operate only the jack.
• Cars raced on all ovals in the same configuration introduced at the 88th Indianapolis 500 in May 2004 with minimal aerodynamic changes. The changes were limited to specific areas of the underwing and sidepods. The IRL required teams to use the same engine cover as the previous year without modifications.

• Teams were allowed to change engines prior to qualifying without penalty at the following events, which were scheduled to be three-day events: Homestead, St. Petersburg, Motegi, Texas, Milwaukee, Infineon, Watkins Glen, and California.
• The amount of methanol that teams were allowed to have in their trackside tanks was changed. Teams were allowed to carry 85 gallons for 187.5-mile races, 90 gallons for 200-mile events, 100 gallons for 225-mile events, 125 gallons for 260-mile races, 135 gallons for 300-mile events, 175 gallons for 400-mile events and 225 gallons for 500-mile events.
• The mandatory minimum weight of cars was 1,600 pounds, 75 pounds heavier than the oval minimum weight. The additional weight was attributed to the brake system, which consisted of an aluminum brake caliper, steel rotor and pad as specified by the IRL, as well as the limited slip differential in the gearbox.
• For the first time Firestone introduced the treaded rain tires only for road and street courses races if in case of rain weather.

Confirmed entries

Schedule

Results

Race summaries

[[Homestead–Miami Indy 300|Toyota Indy 300]]

On March 6, at Homestead-Miami Speedway, Dan Wheldon led 158 of 200 laps to get the victory. Tomas Scheckter sat on the pole.

Top Ten Results

1. 26- Dan Wheldon
2. 6- Sam Hornish Jr.
3. 11- Tony Kanaan
4. 17- Vítor Meira
5. 3- Hélio Castroneves
6. 10- Darren Manning
7. 83- Patrick Carpentier
8. 51- Alex Barron
9. 14- A. J. Foyt IV
10. 91- Paul Dana

[[XM Satellite Radio Indy 200]]

On March 19, at Phoenix International Raceway, Sam Hornish Jr. won his first race of the season. Bryan Herta sat on the pole. This would be the last time IndyCar would compete at Phoenix until the race was revived in 2016.

Top Ten Results

1. 6- Sam Hornish Jr.
2. 3- Hélio Castroneves
3. 11- Tony Kanaan
4. 27- Dario Franchitti
5. 8- Scott Sharp
6. 26- Dan Wheldon
7. 7- Bryan Herta
8. 10- Darren Manning
9. 83- Patrick Carpentier
10. 55- Kosuke Matsuura

[[Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg]]

On April 3, the Honda Grand Prix on the Streets of St. Petersburg (Florida) marked the first non-oval event for the IndyCar Series. Dan Wheldon won his second race of the year. Bryan Herta sat on the pole. Andretti Green Racing drivers swept the top 4 finishing positions.

Top Ten Results

1. 26- Dan Wheldon
2. 11- Tony Kanaan
3. 27- Dario Franchitti
4. 7- Bryan Herta
5. 17- Vítor Meira
6. 9- Scott Dixon
7. 15- Buddy Rice
8. 83- Patrick Carpentier
9. 10- Darren Manning
10. 51- Alex Barron

[[Indy Japan 300]]

On April 30, at Twin Ring Motegi in Motegi, Tochigi, Japan, Dan Wheldon won his third race of the season. Sam Hornish Jr. sat on the pole.

Top Ten Results

1. 26- Dan Wheldon
2. 8- Scott Sharp
3. 15- Buddy Rice
4. 16- Danica Patrick
5. 7- Bryan Herta
6. 11- Tony Kanaan
7. 6- Sam Hornish Jr.
8. 10- Darren Manning
9. 55- Kosuke Matsuura
10. 4- Tomas Scheckter

[[2005 Indianapolis 500|89th Indianapolis 500]]

On May 29, at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Dan Wheldon won his first Indy 500 and his fourth race of the season. However, the focus of the race was on Danica Patrick who led 19 laps, the first time a woman has ever led a lap at Indy. Tony Kanaan sat on the pole.

Top Ten Results

1. 26- Dan Wheldon
2. 17- Vítor Meira
3. 7- Bryan Herta
4. 16- Danica Patrick
5. 95- Buddy Lazier
6. 27- Dario Franchitti
7. 8- Scott Sharp
8. 11- Tony Kanaan
9. 3- Hélio Castroneves
10. 33- Ryan Briscoe

[[Firestone 550|Bombardier Learjet 500]]

On June 11, at Texas Motor Speedway, Tomas Scheckter won his first race of the season, sitting on the pole and leading for 119 of 200 laps. This was the last victory for Chevrolet engine in the series before the temporary withdrawal until 2011.

Top Ten Results

1. 4- Tomas Scheckter
2. 6- Sam Hornish Jr.
3. 11- Tony Kanaan
4. 8- Scott Sharp
5. 3- Hélio Castroneves
6. 26- Dan Wheldon
7. 55- Kosuke Matsuura
8. 27- Dario Franchitti
9. 17- Vítor Meira
10. 7- Bryan Herta

[[SunTrust Indy Challenge]]

On June 25, at Richmond International Raceway, Hélio Castroneves won his first race of the season. Sam Hornish Jr. sat on the pole.

Top Ten Results

1. 3- Hélio Castroneves
2. 27- Dario Franchitti
3. 83- Patrick Carpentier
4. 4- Tomas Scheckter
5. 26- Dan Wheldon
6. 51- Alex Barron
7. 2- Tomáš Enge
8. 7- Bryan Herta
9. 55- Kosuke Matsuura
10. 16- Danica Patrick

[[RoadRunner Turbo Indy 300|Argent Mortgage Indy 300]]

On July 3, at Kansas Speedway, Tony Kanaan won by a fraction of a second over Dan Wheldon and Vítor Meira. Danica Patrick won her first career IndyCar Series pole.

Top Ten Results

1. 11- Tony Kanaan
2. 26- Dan Wheldon
3. 17- Vítor Meira
4. 27- Dario Franchitti
5. 4- Tomas Scheckter
6. 8- Scott Sharp
7. 10- Darren Manning
8. 3- Hélio Castroneves
9. 16- Danica Patrick
10. 15- Buddy Rice

[[Firestone Indy 200]]

On July 16 at Nashville Superspeedway, Dario Franchitti won, leading 74 of 200 laps. Tomas Scheckter sat on the pole. Tomas Enge fractured his back in a lap 27 crash in turn 1 and would miss the next 2 races.

Top Ten Results

1. 27- Dario Franchitti
2. 6- Sam Hornish Jr.
3. 83- Patrick Carpentier
4. 8- Scott Sharp
5. 3- Hélio Castroneves
6. 9- Scott Dixon
7. 16- Danica Patrick
8. 33- Ryan Briscoe
9. 95- Buddy Lazier
10. 20- Ed Carpenter

[[ABC Supply Company A. J. Foyt 225]]

On July 24 at The Milwaukee Mile, Sam Hornish Jr. won from the pole, leading 123 of 225 laps.

Top Ten Results

1. 6- Sam Hornish Jr.
2. 27- Dario Franchitti
3. 4- Tomas Scheckter
4. 11- Tony Kanaan
5. 26- Dan Wheldon
6. 7- Bryan Herta
7. 83- Patrick Carpentier
8. 51- Alex Barron
9. 17- Vítor Meira
10. 8- Scott Sharp

[[Firestone Indy 400]]

On July 31 at Michigan International Speedway, Bryan Herta won from the pole, leading 159 of 200 laps.

Top Ten Results

1. 7- Bryan Herta
2. 26- Dan Wheldon
3. 4- Tomas Scheckter
4. 11- Tony Kanaan
5. 6- Sam Hornish Jr.
6. 15- Buddy Lazier
7. 8- Scott Sharp
8. 27- Dario Franchitti
9. 83- Patrick Carpentier
10. 33- Ryan Briscoe

[[Kentucky Indy 300|AMBER Alert Portal Indy 300]]

On August 14 at Kentucky Speedway, Scott Sharp won for the first time since 2003 at Twin Ring Motegi, holding off Vítor Meira for the last laps to win. Danica Patrick sat on the pole for the second time in the season after rain washed out qualifying and the starting grid was determined by the fastest times in practice. Tomas Enge returned from injury to finish 11th.

Top Ten Results

1. 8- Scott Sharp
2. 17- Vítor Meira
3. 26- Dan Wheldon
4. 51- Alex Barron
5. 3- Hélio Castroneves
6. 95- Buddy Lazier
7. 6- Sam Hornish Jr.
8. 55- Kosuke Matsuura
9. 14- A. J. Foyt IV
10. 91- Jimmy Kite

[[Honda Indy 225]]

On August 21 at Pikes Peak International Raceway, Penske Racing teammates Hélio Castroneves and Sam Hornish Jr. started 1–2. Dan Wheldon won his fifth race of the season, tying Sam Hornish Jr.'s record for most victories in a season. This was the final IRL race at PPIR as the track was sold to International Speedway Corporation for intent to be shut down as ISC looked for a new Denver-area circuit. However, plans failed and the track was sold for testing purposes, but cannot be used for competition per ISC regulations.

Top Ten Results

1. 26- Dan Wheldon
2. 6- Sam Hornish Jr.
3. 11- Tony Kanaan
4. 3- Hélio Castroneves
5. 17- Vítor Meira
6. 2- Tomáš Enge
7. 27- Dario Franchitti
8. 16- Danica Patrick
9. 8- Scott Sharp
10. 83- Patrick Carpentier

[[Peak Antifreeze & Motor Oil Indy Grand Prix|Argent Mortgage Indy Grand Prix]]

On August 28 at the circuit's inaugural race at Infineon Raceway, Tony Kanaan won the race, taking the lead on lap 52 from points leader Dan Wheldon, who was hampered by fuel problems all day and finished out of the race in 18th. Ryan Briscoe sat on the pole, but caused a three-car accident on lap 20 that also eliminated Hélio Castroneves and Danica Patrick from the race.

Top Ten Results

1. 11- Tony Kanaan
2. 15- Buddy Rice
3. 51- Alex Barron
4. 83- Patrick Carpentier
5. 2- Tomáš Enge
6. 55- Kosuke Matsuura
7. 9- Scott Dixon
8. 27- Dario Franchitti
9. 17- Vítor Meira
10. 14- Jeff Bucknum

[[Peak Antifreeze & Motor Oil Indy 300|Peak Antifreeze Indy 300]]

On September 11 at Chicagoland Speedway, Dan Wheldon won his sixth race, breaking the all-time record for most wins in an IRL season. Ryan Briscoe originally won the pole but was disqualified for a technical infraction and sent to the back of the grid. The pole winner after this became Danica Patrick for her third (and final) IndyCar pole. Briscoe's weekend got significantly worse as he was involved in a fiery crash with Alex Barron on lap 20. Briscoe was taken by helicopter to a Chicago-area hospital with head and back pain, but was alert. He suffered a concussion, two broken collarbones, a bruised lung and contusions to his arms and legs. The accident resulted in a 16-minute red flag.

Top Ten Results

1. 26- Dan Wheldon
2. 3- Hélio Castroneves
3. 6- Sam Hornish Jr.
4. 4- Tomas Scheckter
5. 11- Tony Kanaan
6. 16- Danica Patrick
7. 17- Vítor Meira
8. 8- Scott Sharp
9. 83- Patrick Carpentier
10. 95- Buddy Lazier

[[Camping World Grand Prix at The Glen|Watkins Glen Indy Grand Prix]]

On September 25 at Watkins Glen International, Scott Dixon won his first race since his 2003 IndyCar Series Championship season. Hélio Castroneves sat on the pole. This was the first major open-wheel race at Watkins Glen since 1981 and Dixon's first road course victory. As of 2024, this was the final IndyCar Series victory for Toyota engine to date.

Top Ten Results

1. 9- Scott Dixon
2. 11- Tony Kanaan
3. 27- Dario Franchitti
4. 10- Giorgio Pantano
5. 26- Dan Wheldon
6. 55- Kosuke Matsuura
7. 6- Sam Hornish Jr.
8. 7- Bryan Herta
9. 8- Scott Sharp
10. 83- Patrick Carpentier

[[Toyota Indy 400]]

On October 16 at California Speedway, Dario Franchitti won his second race of the year over Tony Kanaan by 0.111 s. Chevrolet powered cars finished 7th and 8th in their final IRL race while Toyota powered cars had a best finish of 5th in theirs. IndyCar would not return to this track until 2012.

Last competition victory for Honda in the series until 2012 Indianapolis 500.

Top Ten Results

1. 27- Dario Franchitti
2. 11- Tony Kanaan
3. 17- Vítor Meira
4. 8- Scott Sharp
5. 6- Sam Hornish Jr.
6. 26- Dan Wheldon
7. 4- Tomas Scheckter
8. 2- Tomáš Enge
9. 3- Hélio Castroneves
10. 9- Scott Dixon

Points standings

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• Ties in points broken by number of wins, followed by number of 2nds, 3rds, etc., and then by number of pole positions, followed by number of times qualified 2nd, etc.

Footnotes

References

References

1. Oreowicz, John. (2005). "Autocourse: Indianapolis 500 & Indy Racing League IndyCar Series Official Yearbook 2004". Hazleton Publishing.