Pada musim 2002, Indy Racing League (IRL) mengalami masa transisi, dengan dua tim juara CART yang sedang bertahan, Team Penske dan Chip Ganassi Racing , bergabung dalam seri dengan entri penuh waktu. Mesin Oldsmobile diubah mereknya menjadi Chevrolet, dan baik Honda maupun Toyota mengumumkan partisipasi mereka dalam seri mulai tahun 2003, sementara Infiniti mengumumkan penarikannya.
Sam Hornish Jr. (kiri) berhasil memenangkan gelar Kejuaraan Pembalap untuk yang kedua kalinya (gelar kedua secara berturut-turut), sementara
Hélio Castroneves (kanan) menempati posisi kedua di dalam klasemen akhir Kejuaraan Pembalap.
Sam Hornish Jr. memenangkan 5 balapan dalam perjalanannya meraih gelar juara keduanya secara beruntun, unggul dari kehebatan Penske, Hélio Castroneves , pemenang dua balapan termasuk Indy 500 dua kali berturut-turut, dalam perjalanan menuju posisi kedua dalam kejuaraan.
Tim
Sasis
Mesin
#
Pembalap
Ronde
Team Menard
Dallara
Chevrolet
2
Jaques Lazier
1–4
P. J. Jones [ N 1]
5
Raul Boesel
5–6
Mark Dismore
7–11
Vítor Meira R
12–15
31
Robby Gordon
5
Marlboro Team Penske
Dallara
Chevrolet
3
Hélio Castroneves
All
6
Gil de Ferran
1–14
Max Papis
15
Panther Racing
Dallara
Chevrolet
4
Sam Hornish Jr.
All
15
Dan Wheldon R
14–15
Treadway Racing
G-Force Dallara [ N 2]
Chevrolet
5
Rick Treadway R
5
1–4, 6, 9
Arie Luyendyk
5, 11
Anthony Lazzaro R
7
Will Langhorne R
12, 14–15
Robby McGehee
13
Kelley Racing
Dallara
Chevrolet
7
Al Unser Jr.
1–9, 12–15
Tony Renna R
10–11
78
12–15
8
Scott Sharp
All
Target Chip Ganassi Racing
G-Force
Chevrolet
9
Jeff Ward
All
22
Kenny Bräck
5
33
Bruno Junqueira
5
Cahill Racing
Dallara
Chevrolet
10
Robby McGehee
1–5
A. J. Foyt Enterprises
Dallara
Chevrolet
11
Eliseo Salazar
1–3, 10–15
Richie Hearn
4
Greg Ray
5–9
14
Airton Daré
All
Donnie Beechler [ N 3]
1
41
5
Greg Ray
10–13
Bradley Motorsports
Dallara
Infiniti
12
Shigeaki Hattori
2–7
Raul Boesel
9–15
Rick Treadway R
15
Walker Racing
Dallara
Chevrolet
15
Oriol Servià
5
Racing Professionals
G-Force Dallara [ N 4]
Chevrolet
16
Jon Herb
1–8
Mo Nunn Racing
G-Force
Chevrolet
17
Tony Kanaan
5
21
Felipe Giaffone
All
PDM Racing
Dallara
Chevrolet
18
Tyce Carlson
1–2
Jeret Schroeder
3
John de Vries R
6
Cory Kruseman R
15
Anthony Lazzaro R [ N 5]
5
Jimmy Kite
5
Team Rahal
Dallara
Chevrolet
19
Jimmy Vasser
3, 5
Convergent Racing
G-Force
Chevrolet
20
Hideki Noda R
1–3
Sam Schmidt Motorsports
Dallara
Chevrolet
20
Richie Hearn
5, 7–12
Greg Ray
14–15
Anthony Lazzaro R
13
1–2, 4
Richie Hearn
3, 6
Mark Dismore
5
Dreyer & Reinbold Racing
G-Force
Infiniti
24
Robbie Buhl
1–2, 5–15
Memo Gidley
3
Sarah Fisher
4
23
5, 8–15
Team Green
Dallara
Chevrolet
26
Paul Tracy
5
27
Dario Franchitti
5
39
Michael Andretti
5
Indy Regency Racing
G-Force
Chevrolet
28
Hideki Noda R
13–15
310 Racing
G-Force
Chevrolet
George Mack R
All
Duesenberg Brothers Racing CURB/Agajanian/Beck Motorsports
Dallara
Chevrolet
32
Johnny Herbert [ N 6]
5
Memo Gidley
5
54
Robby McGehee
7–9
Conquest Racing
Dallara
Infiniti
34
Laurent Redon R
All
Brayton Racing
Dallara
Chevrolet
37
John de Vries R [ N 7]
1–5
Scott Harrington
5, 11
Blair Racing
Dallara
Chevrolet
44
Alex Barron
All
Red Bull Cheever Racing
Dallara
Infiniti
51
Eddie Cheever
All
52
Tomas Scheckter R
1–12
Buddy Rice R
13–15
53
11–12
Max Papis
5
Robby McGehee
15
Zali Racing
G-Force
Chevrolet
81
Billy Roe
1, 5
Hemelgarn Racing
Dallara
Chevrolet
91
Buddy Lazier
All
CURB/Agajanian/Boat Indy Racing
Dallara
Chevrolet Infiniti [ N 8]
98
Billy Boat
All
BOLD indicates a Superspeedway.
Note: All races running on Oval/Speedway.
^ Injured during a practice crash at Indianapolis.
^ Used by Anthony Lazzaro at Pikes Peak; entry run in cooperation with Sam Schmidt Motorsports.
^ Injured during a practice crash at Homestead.
^ Raced from Texas onwards; both chassis were used during the Indy 500 month.
^ Replaced during the second week of Indy 500 practice.
^ Withdrew during Bump Day due to a racing conflict.
^ Replaced at Indianapolis ahead of Bump Day.
^ Used from Kansas onwards.