INDY RACING LEAGUE (IRL) Founding & Early History

The Indy  Racing League (IRL) is an American-baaed open wheel auto racing sanctioning body.The League sanctions three racing series, the premier  IZOD IndyCar Series, Firestone Indy Lights  and the  U.S. F2000 National Championship. The IRL is owned by the Hulman and Co., who also owns the Indianapolis Motor Speedway complex.


IRL FOUNDING

The IRL was founded in 1994 by Tony George and began racing in 1996.George blueprinted the IRL as a lower-cost open-wheel alternative to CART. It initially attracted some of the smaller teams who believed in the vision presented by George.

                                                                                                                               

                                                                               
                                                                                                                                                                                                     


In later years, the IRL has become similar to the CART series from which it separated. The Leaque's  winner's circle is now dominated by a few weathy teams - including those from the old CART series, such as  Chip Ganassi Racing and Team Penske.

                                                                                                                                                                                                       
                                                                                   

                                                                                
                                                                                           

                                                   

The IRL's early seasons consisted of sparce schedules, mostly unknown drivers, and inexperienced teams. Eventually the schedule expanded, and the caliber of drivers improved. The IRL began to draw teams from CART starting in 2000,                                                                                                                                                           , contributing  to the later's bankruptcy, rebranding as Champ Car in 2003 and ultimate demise and absorption by the IRL in 2008.


HISTORY of the IRL Name

Beginning in 1980, the term Indy Car was often used to describe the races in the events sanctioned by CART, which had become the dominant governing body for open-wheel racing in the United States.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               

In 1992, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway registered the IndyCar trademark and licensed it to CART, which renamed its championship the IndyCar World Series.

In the 1996 season, the IndyCar mark was the subject of a fierce legal battle. Eventually a settlement was reached CART agreed to give up the use of the IndyCar mark following the 1996 season and the IRL could not use the name before the end of the 2002 season.

Following a six-year hiatus, the IRL announced it would rename their premier series the IndyCar Series for the 2003 racing season.