2008 IndyCar Series
The 2008 IndyCar Series was the 13th season of the IndyCar Series. It was the 97th recognized season of top-level American open wheel racing. On February 26, 2008, the managements of Indy Racing League and Champ Car came to an agreement to become a single entity, ending a twelve-year split and resulting in the cancellation of the 2008 Champ Car World Series.
| 2008 IndyCar season | |
|---|---|
| IndyCar Series | |
| Season | |
| Races | 19 |
| Start date | March 29 |
| End date | October 26 |
| Awards | |
| Drivers' champion | Scott Dixon |
| Rookie of the Year | Hideki Mutoh |
| Indianapolis 500 winner | Scott Dixon |
The first race was held on March 29 at the Homestead–Miami Speedway. The premier event was the 92nd Indianapolis 500 on May 25. All races were televised on ABC, ESPN, ESPN2, or ESPN Classic. All IndyCar Series broadcasts continued to use the Side-By-Side format in their first year of HD broadcasts. Races were also broadcast on the IMS Radio Network and XM for the radios.
Scott Dixon driving for Chip Ganassi Racing won the first unified title in 13 years after completing the IndyCar–Indy 500 double. Dixon took six victories over the course of the season but had to fend off a consistent championship challenge from Hélio Castroneves until the final round at Chicagoland Speedway.