The 1998 Molson Indy Toronto

Honda Indy Toronto

The Honda Indy Toronto is an annual IndyCar Series race, held in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Originally known as the Molson Indy Toronto, it was a Champ Car World Series race held annually from 1986 to 2007...

was the eleventh round of the 1998 CART FedEx Champ Car World Series season, held on July 19, 1998 on the streets of Exhibition Place

Exhibition Place

Exhibition Place is a mixed-use district in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, by the shoreline of Lake Ontario, just west of downtown. The 197–acre area includes expo, trade, and banquet centres, theatre and music buildings, monuments, parkland, sports facilities, and a number of civic, provincial,...

 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Toronto

Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...

.

Starting Grid

1. Dario Franchitti
   Dario Franchitti
   George Dario Marino Franchitti is a Scottish racing driver. He formerly competed in the CART series before switching to the IndyCar Series where he was 2007 champion, and won the rain-shortened 2007 Indianapolis 500. Franchitti is also a former NASCAR driver for Chip Ganassi Racing, competing...
   
    (second straight pole in Toronto)
2. Alex Zanardi
   Alex Zanardi
   Alessandro "Alex" Zanardi is an Italian racing driver and paracyclist.He won two CART championship titles in North America during the late 1990s. He also had a less successful career as a Formula One driver...
   
   
3. Michael Andretti
   Michael Andretti
   Michael Mario Andretti is a retired American CART and Formula One driver and owner of the Andretti Autosport team in the IndyCar Series. Andretti is the son of Mario Andretti. His son is Marco Andretti.-Early career:...
   
   
4. Gil de Ferran
   Gil de Ferran
   Gil de Ferran , is a professional racing driver and team owner. De Ferran was the 2000 and 2001 Champ Car champion driving for the Penske Honda Team and the winner of the 2003 Indianapolis 500.Inspired by the success of fellow Brazilian Emerson Fittipaldi, de Ferran began his career in kart racing...
   
   
5. Christian Fittipaldi
   Christian Fittipaldi
   Christian Fittipaldi is a Brazilian racing driver who has competed in various forms of motorsport including Formula One, Champ Car and NASCAR...
   
   
6. Jimmy Vasser
   Jimmy Vasser
   Jimmy Vasser is a retired American racing driver and current co-owner of KV Racing Technology. Vasser won the 1996 IndyCar season championship with Chip Ganassi Racing, and scored ten victories in the series...
   
   
7. Tony Kanaan
   Tony Kanaan
   Antoine Rizkallah Kanaan Filho, commonly known as Tony Kanaan is a Brazilian race car driver of Lebanese heritage. Kanaan won the 2004 Indy Racing League IndyCar Series championship driving Andretti Green Racing's 7-Eleven sponsored car, winning three times in his Honda-powered Dallara...
   
    (R)
8. Scott Pruett
   Scott Pruett
   Scott Donald Pruett is an American race car driver who has competed in NASCAR, Champ Car, IMSA, Trans-Am and Grand-Am. He and his wife Judy have three children, and are children's book authors....
   
   
9. Bobby Rahal
   Bobby Rahal
   Robert "Bobby" Woodward Rahal is an American auto racing driver and team owner. As a driver, he won three championships and 24 races in the CART open-wheel series, including the 1986 Indianapolis 500...
   
   
10. Paul Tracy
    Paul Tracy
    Paul Tracy is a professional automobile racer who has competed in CART, the ChampCar World Series and the IndyCar Series...
    
    
11. André Ribeiro
    André Ribeiro
    André Ribeiro , is a former IndyCar World Series and CART racing driver.-Biography:Ribeiro drove in Champ Car for 4 seasons, scoring 3 wins and 2 poles . He drove primarily for Tasman Motorsports and Penske Racing...
    
    
12. Greg Moore
13. Richie Hearn
    Richie Hearn
    Richie Hearn , is an American IndyCar racing driver.Hearn was born in Glendale, California. He ran in the Toyota Atlantic championship for two seasons, winning the title in 1995. In 1996, he began driving for John Della Penna in both the IRL and Champ Car ranks...
    
    
14. Al Unser, Jr.
    Al Unser, Jr.
    Alfred Unser, Jr. , nicknamed "Little Al", "Al Junior" or simply "Junior" is a retired American race car driver and two-time Indianapolis 500 winner.-History:...
    
    
15. Mark Blundell
    Mark Blundell
    Mark Blundell is a Formula One, sports car, and CART racing driver. He was a Formula One presenter for the British broadcaster ITV until the end of the 2008 season when the TV broadcasting rights switched to the BBC....
    
    
16. Adrian Fernandez
    Adrian Fernández
    José Adrián Fernández Mier is a Mexican racing driver and co-owner of the Fernandez Racing team.-Early career:...
    
    
17. Bryan Herta
    Bryan Herta
    Bryan John Herta is an American race car driver. He currently runs his own team, Bryan Herta Autosport in the Firestone Indy Lights Series...
    
    
18. Patrick Carpentier
    Patrick Carpentier
    Patrick Carpentier is a retired Canadian race car driver. He is best known for his career in the Champ Car World Series and the IndyCar Series. In 2009, Patrick shared the #36 of Tommy Baldwin Racing with Mike Skinner and ran Michael Waltrip's #55 Toyota Camry in the road course races in the...
    
    
19. Mauricio Gugelmin
    Mauricio Gugelmin
    Maurício Gugelmin is a former racing driver from Brazil. He took part in both Formula One and the Champ Car World Series. He participated in 80 Formula One grands prix, debuting in 1988 for the March team. He achieved one top-three finish and scored a total of ten championship points in the series...
    
    
20. Max Papis
    Max Papis
    Massimiliano "Max" Papis is a racing driver who has competed in several top-level motorsports events such as Le Mans 24 Hours, Formula One and Champ Car. He has three Champ Car victories. He is the son-in-law of Emerson Fittipaldi. His son's godfather is fellow Italian Alex Zanardi...
    
    
21. Hélio Castroneves
    Hélio Castroneves
    Hélio Castroneves is a Brazilian auto racing driver currently competing in the North American IndyCar Series. In IndyCar competition, Castroneves has 14 wins and 28 poles, and has never placed lower than sixth in the standings in a complete season of racing...
    
     (R)
22. Robby Gordon
    Robby Gordon
    Robert W. "Robby" Gordon is an American racecar driver who currently competes in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series as an owner-driver, driving the No. 7 Speed Energy Dodge Charger for Robby Gordon Motorsports, and also competes part-time in the Nationwide Series...
    
    
23. P. J. Jones
24. Michel Jourdain, Jr.
    Michel Jourdain, Jr.
    Michel Jourdain Jr. is an IndyCar driver. Jourdain Jr. started racing cars in the Mexican Formula Junior series at the age of 12. He then moved to the Mexican Formula K and Formula 2 series.-Champ Car:...
    
    
25. Arnd Meier
    Arnd Meier
    Arnd Meier is a former race car driver. After finishing second in the 1996 German Formula Three Championship behind Jarno Trulli, but ahead of teammate Nick Heidfeld, Meier participated in the 1997 and 1998 seasons of the CART World Series for Project Indy and Davis Racing...
    
    
26. JJ Lehto (R)
27. Alex Barron (R)
28. Gualter Salles
    Gualter Salles
    Gualter Salles , is an open wheel racecar driver. He raced in the 1997-2000 and 2003 CART seasons, with 49 career starts. His best finish came in his last race, the Lexmark Indy 300 at Surfers Paradise in Australia, where he finished 6th. Salles also raced one competition in the Indy Racing...
    
    

Lap 17

Richie Hearn

Richie Hearn

Richie Hearn , is an American IndyCar racing driver.Hearn was born in Glendale, California. He ran in the Toyota Atlantic championship for two seasons, winning the title in 1995. In 1996, he began driving for John Della Penna in both the IRL and Champ Car ranks...

 locked up the right front tire and spun on turn 1. Top 6 was composed by: Dario Franchitti

Dario Franchitti

George Dario Marino Franchitti is a Scottish racing driver. He formerly competed in the CART series before switching to the IndyCar Series where he was 2007 champion, and won the rain-shortened 2007 Indianapolis 500. Franchitti is also a former NASCAR driver for Chip Ganassi Racing, competing...

, Alex Zanardi

Alex Zanardi

Alessandro "Alex" Zanardi is an Italian racing driver and paracyclist.He won two CART championship titles in North America during the late 1990s. He also had a less successful career as a Formula One driver...

, Michael Andretti

Michael Andretti

Michael Mario Andretti is a retired American CART and Formula One driver and owner of the Andretti Autosport team in the IndyCar Series. Andretti is the son of Mario Andretti. His son is Marco Andretti.-Early career:...

, Gil de Ferran

Gil de Ferran

Gil de Ferran , is a professional racing driver and team owner. De Ferran was the 2000 and 2001 Champ Car champion driving for the Penske Honda Team and the winner of the 2003 Indianapolis 500.Inspired by the success of fellow Brazilian Emerson Fittipaldi, de Ferran began his career in kart racing...

, Jimmy Vasser

Jimmy Vasser

Jimmy Vasser is a retired American racing driver and current co-owner of KV Racing Technology. Vasser won the 1996 IndyCar season championship with Chip Ganassi Racing, and scored ten victories in the series...

 and Paul Tracy

Paul Tracy

Paul Tracy is a professional automobile racer who has competed in CART, the ChampCar World Series and the IndyCar Series...

.

Lap 26

First full course caution. Michel Jourdain, Jr.

Michel Jourdain, Jr.

Michel Jourdain Jr. is an IndyCar driver. Jourdain Jr. started racing cars in the Mexican Formula Junior series at the age of 12. He then moved to the Mexican Formula K and Formula 2 series.-Champ Car:...

 and Alex Barron collided at the hairpin. Arnd Meier

Arnd Meier

Arnd Meier is a former race car driver. After finishing second in the 1996 German Formula Three Championship behind Jarno Trulli, but ahead of teammate Nick Heidfeld, Meier participated in the 1997 and 1998 seasons of the CART World Series for Project Indy and Davis Racing...

 stalled the car metres in front and started a jampack. Meanwhile, Gil de Ferran retired after an incident in the pits. Christian Fittipaldi

Christian Fittipaldi

Christian Fittipaldi is a Brazilian racing driver who has competed in various forms of motorsport including Formula One, Champ Car and NASCAR...

 had problems, also, but did not retired.

Lap 27

Top 6: Dario Franchitti, Michael Andretti, Jimmy Vasser, Paul Tracy, Alex Zanardi and Tony Kanaan

Tony Kanaan

Antoine Rizkallah Kanaan Filho, commonly known as Tony Kanaan is a Brazilian race car driver of Lebanese heritage. Kanaan won the 2004 Indy Racing League IndyCar Series championship driving Andretti Green Racing's 7-Eleven sponsored car, winning three times in his Honda-powered Dallara...

.

Lap 32

Second full course caution, as Blundell's car stalled on turn 9, following the collision with Carpentier. On lap 36, green flag came out.

Lap 38

JJ Lehto had a big crash. Third full course caution. Green flag came out some laps later.

Lap 52

Top 6: Dario Franchitti, Michael Andretti, Jimmy Vasser, Alex Zanardi, Tony Kanaan and Paul Tracy.

Lap 61

Tony Kanaan had a pit fire. Meanwhile, in the hairpin, Alex Zanardi had a collision with his teammate Jimmy Vasser.

Lap 68

Gualter Salles

Gualter Salles

Gualter Salles , is an open wheel racecar driver. He raced in the 1997-2000 and 2003 CART seasons, with 49 career starts. His best finish came in his last race, the Lexmark Indy 300 at Surfers Paradise in Australia, where he finished 6th. Salles also raced one competition in the Indy Racing...

 had a collision at the hairpin with Al Unser, Jr.

Al Unser, Jr.

Alfred Unser, Jr. , nicknamed "Little Al", "Al Junior" or simply "Junior" is a retired American race car driver and two-time Indianapolis 500 winner.-History:...

 and went airborne.

16 laps to go

Dario Franchitti spun and stalled. Paul Tracy slightly t-boned him. Heartbreak for Team KOOL Green! Fourth full course caution was out. Green flag came out with 11 laps to go.

8 laps to go

Top 6: Michael Andretti, Alex Zanardi, Jimmy Vasser, Bobby Rahal

Bobby Rahal

Robert "Bobby" Woodward Rahal is an American auto racing driver and team owner. As a driver, he won three championships and 24 races in the CART open-wheel series, including the 1986 Indianapolis 500...

, Bryan Herta

Bryan Herta

Bryan John Herta is an American race car driver. He currently runs his own team, Bryan Herta Autosport in the Firestone Indy Lights Series...

 and Scott Pruett

Scott Pruett

Scott Donald Pruett is an American race car driver who has competed in NASCAR, Champ Car, IMSA, Trans-Am and Grand-Am. He and his wife Judy have three children, and are children's book authors....

.

5 laps to go

Paul Tracy and Adrian Fernandez

Adrian Fernández

José Adrián Fernández Mier is a Mexican racing driver and co-owner of the Fernandez Racing team.-Early career:...

 collided on turn 1 while they were battling for 9th place.

Final results

Top 12

1. Alex Zanardi
   Alex Zanardi
   Alessandro "Alex" Zanardi is an Italian racing driver and paracyclist.He won two CART championship titles in North America during the late 1990s. He also had a less successful career as a Formula One driver...
   
   
2. Michael Andretti
   Michael Andretti
   Michael Mario Andretti is a retired American CART and Formula One driver and owner of the Andretti Autosport team in the IndyCar Series. Andretti is the son of Mario Andretti. His son is Marco Andretti.-Early career:...
   
   
3. Jimmy Vasser
   Jimmy Vasser
   Jimmy Vasser is a retired American racing driver and current co-owner of KV Racing Technology. Vasser won the 1996 IndyCar season championship with Chip Ganassi Racing, and scored ten victories in the series...
   
   
4. Bobby Rahal
   Bobby Rahal
   Robert "Bobby" Woodward Rahal is an American auto racing driver and team owner. As a driver, he won three championships and 24 races in the CART open-wheel series, including the 1986 Indianapolis 500...
   
   
5. Bryan Herta
   Bryan Herta
   Bryan John Herta is an American race car driver. He currently runs his own team, Bryan Herta Autosport in the Firestone Indy Lights Series...
   
   
6. Scott Pruett
   Scott Pruett
   Scott Donald Pruett is an American race car driver who has competed in NASCAR, Champ Car, IMSA, Trans-Am and Grand-Am. He and his wife Judy have three children, and are children's book authors....
   
   
7. Richie Hearn
   Richie Hearn
   Richie Hearn , is an American IndyCar racing driver.Hearn was born in Glendale, California. He ran in the Toyota Atlantic championship for two seasons, winning the title in 1995. In 1996, he began driving for John Della Penna in both the IRL and Champ Car ranks...
   
   
8. Max Papis
   Max Papis
   Massimiliano "Max" Papis is a racing driver who has competed in several top-level motorsports events such as Le Mans 24 Hours, Formula One and Champ Car. He has three Champ Car victories. He is the son-in-law of Emerson Fittipaldi. His son's godfather is fellow Italian Alex Zanardi...
   
   
9. Adrian Fernandez
   Adrian Fernández
   José Adrián Fernández Mier is a Mexican racing driver and co-owner of the Fernandez Racing team.-Early career:...
   
   
10. Hélio Castroneves
    Hélio Castroneves
    Hélio Castroneves is a Brazilian auto racing driver currently competing in the North American IndyCar Series. In IndyCar competition, Castroneves has 14 wins and 28 poles, and has never placed lower than sixth in the standings in a complete season of racing...
    
    
11. Greg Moore
12. Mauricio Gugelmin
    Mauricio Gugelmin
    Maurício Gugelmin is a former racing driver from Brazil. He took part in both Formula One and the Champ Car World Series. He participated in 80 Formula One grands prix, debuting in 1988 for the March team. He achieved one top-three finish and scored a total of ten championship points in the series...
    
    

Point standings. After 11 races

Top 5

1. Alex Zanardi
   Alex Zanardi
   Alessandro "Alex" Zanardi is an Italian racing driver and paracyclist.He won two CART championship titles in North America during the late 1990s. He also had a less successful career as a Formula One driver...
   
    175 points
2. Jimmy Vasser
   Jimmy Vasser
   Jimmy Vasser is a retired American racing driver and current co-owner of KV Racing Technology. Vasser won the 1996 IndyCar season championship with Chip Ganassi Racing, and scored ten victories in the series...
   
    106 points
3. Greg Moore 98 points
4. Adrian Fernandez
   Adrian Fernández
   José Adrián Fernández Mier is a Mexican racing driver and co-owner of the Fernandez Racing team.-Early career:...
   
    89 points
5. Michael Andretti
   Michael Andretti
   Michael Mario Andretti is a retired American CART and Formula One driver and owner of the Andretti Autosport team in the IndyCar Series. Andretti is the son of Mario Andretti. His son is Marco Andretti.-Early career:...
   
   84 points