Kanaan dominated in 2004

The 2004 Indy Racing League season featured the close competition which has become synonymous with the league's competition and saw a Brazilian come away with the title.

Tony Kanaan (No. 11 Team 7-Eleven Dallara/Honda/Firestone) capped one of the most dominating seasons in IRL IndyCar® Series history by claiming the 2004 IndyCar Series championship with one race to go at California.

Tony Kanaan became the first driver in any major American racing series to complete every possible lap (3,305 or 3,305) in competition and won his first IndyCar Series title. Following an eighth-place finish in the season opener, Kanaan never finished outside the top five and recorded three victories. Kanaan's title was the first for Andretti Green Racing and its ownership group of Michael Andretti, Kim Green and Kevin Savoree.

Sam Hornish Jr. (No. 6 Marlboro Team Penske Dallara/Toyota/Firestone) won the Toyota Indy 300 at Homestead-Miami Speedway, becoming the first driver to win his debut for car owner Roger Penske.

Buddy Rice, who began the season as a replacement for the injured Kenny Brack, became the first American to win the Indianapolis 500 since 1998 when he won the "Greatest Spectacle in Racing" in May. Rice, who won two other races, earned a trip to the White House to meet President George W. Bush.

Adrian Fernandez, who moved his team to the IndyCar Series before the Phoenix race in March, found success late in the year, winning three times in the final five events. Fernandez's win at Kentucky clinched the manufacturer's title for Honda.

Fernandez also saw success as a team owner as rookie Kosuke Matsuura claimed the Bombardier Rookie of the Year Award and the Bank One Rookie of the Year Award at the Indianapolis 500.

Dan Wheldon enjoyed breakout sophomore campaign, with three wins, including Honda's first victory at Twin Ring Motegi and the 100th IndyCar Series race at Nazareth Speedway.

Dario Franchitti won the IndyCar Series' first race at the historic Milwaukee Mile and also won at Pikes Peak International Raceway.

TAG Heuer joined as official timekeeper of the league and saw its split-second timing technology put to use often. Eleven races finished with a margin of victory of less than one second, including the Argent Mortgage Indy 300 at Kansas Speedway where Buddy Rice defeated Rahal Letterman Racing teammate Vitor Meira by .0051 of a second, the second-closest finish in IndyCar Series history.

IRL officials announced the 2005 season will include a record 17 races, including three road and street course venues, a street race in downtown St. Petersburg, Florida.; Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, California, and Watkins Glen International in New York.

Press release
IRL