List of American Championship Car Rookie of the Year Winners
The following is a list compiling all the winners of the Rookie of the Year award in open wheel American Championship Car Racing from 1946 season to the present day. Before the creation of Championship Auto Racing Teams the prize is not officially awarded. So all of the AAA and USAC winners of the Rookie of the Year award is not officially recognized. The list of "Indy car" or "Champ car" rookies under the following auspices:
- American Automobile Association Contest Board
- United States Automobile Club
- Championship Auto Racing Teams
- Indy Racing League/IndyCar Series
Sanctioning bodies
The 1946 season is a source of a statistical anomaly. The AAA Contest Board included a substantial number of "Big Car" races in the national championship for 1946, swelling the season to 77 events. Some later texts chose to dismiss the 71 Big Car races from record, but reliable records and historians contend that the season should be regarded as the full 77-race schedule.
Officially, Jim Trueman Rookie of the Year Award named after the late founder of the two-time champion TrueSports Racing Team, it was presented from 1979 Season to 2007 Season to the rookie who accumulates the most Champ Car Championship Series points among first year drivers.
Rookie of the Year winners
AAA and USAC Rookie of the Year winners
CART Jim Trueman Rookie of the Year winners
The Rookie of the Year award in CART was named in the honor of Jim Trueman.Season | Driver | Driver standings | Wins | Team | Chassis | Engine | Tyres |
1979 | ![]() | 15 | WASP Racing | Goodyear | |||
1980 | ![]() | 12 | Rhoades Competition | Penske | Cosworth DFX | Goodyear | |
1981 | ![]() | 9 | Bob Fletcher Racing | Goodyear | |||
1982 | ![]() | 2 | 2 | Truesports | March 82C | Cosworth DFX | Goodyear |
1983 | ![]() | 2 | 4 | Forsythe Racing | March 83C | Cosworth DFX | Goodyear |
1984 | ![]() | 11 | Bignotti-Cotter Racing | March 84C | Cosworth DFX | Goodyear | |
1985 | ![]() | 18 | Provimi Racing | Lola T900 | Cosworth DFX | Goodyear | |
1986 | ![]() | 30 | Leader Cards Racing | March 86C | Cosworth DFX | Goodyear | |
1987 | ![]() | 12 | Arciero Racing | March 87C | Cosworth DFX | Goodyear | |
1988 | ![]() | 11 | Arciero Racing | March 88C | Cosworth DFX | Goodyear | |
1989 | ![]() | 20 | Andale Racing | Lola | Cosworth DFX | Goodyear | |
1990 | ![]() | 9 | Chip Ganassi Racing | Penske PC-18 | Chevrolet A | Goodyear | |
1991 | ![]() | 15 | Bayside Disposal Racing | Lola | Cosworth DFX | Goodyear | |
1992 | ![]() | 14 | Bettenhausen Racing | Penske PC-20 | Chevrolet A | Goodyear | |
1993 | ![]() | Champion | 5 | Newman/Haas Racing | Lola T93/00 | Ford XB | Goodyear |
1994 | ![]() | 6 | 1 | Forsythe Racing | Reynard 94i | Ford XB | Goodyear |
1995 | ![]() | 14 | 1 | Jim Hall Racing | Reynard 95i | Mercedes-Benz IC108 | Goodyear |
1996 | ![]() | 3 | 3 | Chip Ganassi Racing | Reynard 96i | Honda HRH | Firestone |
1997 | ![]() | 17 | Bettenhausen Racing | Reynard 97i | Mercedes-Benz IC108D | Goodyear | |
1998 | ![]() | 9 | Tasman Motorsports | Reynard 98i | Honda HRK | Firestone | |
1999 | ![]() | Champion | 7 | Chip Ganassi Racing | Reynard 99i | Honda HRS | Firestone |
2000 | ![]() | 4 | Team Rahal | Reynard 2Ki | Ford Cosworth XF | Firestone | |
2001 | ![]() | 8 | 1 | PacWest Racing | Reynard 01i | Toyota RV8F | Firestone |
2002 | ![]() | 18 | 1 | Herdez Competition | Lola B02/00 | Ford Cosworth XF | Bridgestone |
2003 | ![]() | 4 | 3 | Newman/Haas Racing | Lola B02/00 | Ford Cosworth XFE | Bridgestone |
2004 | ![]() | 6 | RuSPORT | Lola B02/00 | Ford Cosworth XFE | Bridgestone | |
2005 | ![]() | 8 | Rocketsports Racing | Lola B02/00 | Ford Cosworth XFE | Bridgestone | |
2006 | ![]() | 6 | Team Australia | Lola B02/00 | Ford Cosworth XFE | Bridgestone | |
2007 | ![]() | 3 | 2 | Minardi Team USA | Panoz DP01 | Cosworth XFE | Bridgestone |
IndyCar Series Rookie of the Year winners
As of 2018 IndyCar Series season The Rookie of the Year Award is presented to the top-finishing rookie in the IndyCar Series Drivers point standings. Winner also receives a $50,000 bonus. The Rookie of the Year Award is based on points for the IndyCar Series Drivers' Championship earned at each event.Season | Driver | Driver standings | Wins | Team | Chassis | Engine | Tyres |
1996–97 | ![]() | 12 | 1 | Blueprint Racing | Lola T93/00 Dallara IR7 | Menard V6 Buick V6 Oldsmobile Aurora V8 | Firestone |
1998 | ![]() | 16 | Cheever Racing | G-Force GF01B Dallara IR8 | Oldsmobile Aurora V8 | Goodyear | |
1999 | ![]() | 14 | Harrington Motorsports | Dallara IR9 | Infiniti VRH35ADE V8 Oldsmobile Aurora V8 | Firestone | |
2000 | ![]() | 16 | TeamXtreme | G-Force GF05 | Oldsmobile Aurora V8 | Firestone | |
2001 | ![]() | 6 | Treadway Racing | G-Force GF05B | Oldsmobile Aurora V8 | Firestone | |
2002 | ![]() | 12 | Conquest Racing | Dallara IR-02 | Infiniti VRH35ADE V8 | Firestone | |
2003 | ![]() | 11 | Andretti Green Racing | Dallara IR-03 | Honda HI3R V8 | Firestone | |
2004 | ![]() | 14 | Fernández Racing | G-Force GF09B | Honda HI4R V8 | Firestone | |
2005 | ![]() | 12 | Rahal Letterman Racing | Panoz GF09C | Honda HI5R V8 | Firestone | |
2006 | ![]() | 7 | 1 | Andretti Green Racing | Dallara IR-05 | Honda HI6R V8 | Firestone |
2007 | ![]() | 19 | Rahal Letterman Racing | Dallara IR-05 | Honda HI7R V8 | Firestone | |
2008 | ![]() | 10 | Andretti Green Racing | Dallara IR-05 | Honda HI7R V8 | Firestone | |
2009 | ![]() | 13 | Luczo-Dragon Racing | Dallara IR-05 | Honda HI7R V8 | Firestone | |
2010 | ![]() | 16 | Dale Coyne Racing | Dallara IR-05 | Honda HI7R V8 | Firestone | |
2011 | ![]() | 12 | Newman/Haas Racing | Dallara IR-05 | Honda HI7R V8 | Firestone | |
2012 | ![]() | 5 | Sam Schmidt Motorsports | Dallara DW12 | Honda HI12TT V6t | Firestone | |
2013 | ![]() | 20 | Sam Schmidt Motorsports | Dallara DW12 | Honda HI13TT V6t | Firestone | |
2014 | ![]() | 8 | Andretti Autosport | Dallara DW12 | Honda HI14TT V6t | Firestone | |
2015 | ![]() | 15 | Bryan Herta Autosport | Dallara DW12 | Honda HI15TT V6t | Firestone | |
2016 | ![]() | 11 | 1 | Bryan Herta Autosport | Dallara DW12 | Honda HI16TT V6t | Firestone |
2017 | ![]() | 14 | Dale Coyne Racing | Dallara DW12 | Honda HI17TT V6t | Firestone | |
2018 | ![]() | 11 | Schmidt Peterson Motorsports | Dallara IR-18 | Honda HI18TT V6t | Firestone | |
2019 | ![]() | 6 | Chip Ganassi Racing | Dallara IR-18 | Honda HI19TT V6t | Firestone |
IndyCar Rookie winners
# | Season | Date | Sanction | Track / Race | No. | Winning Driver | Entrant / Team | Chassis | Engine | Tire | Grid | Laps Led |
1 | 1913 | May 30 | AAA | Indianapolis 500 ' | 16 | ![]() | Peugeot Auto Racing | Peugeot L76 | Peugeot I4 448 ci | Firestone | 7 | 138 |
2 | 1914 | May 30 | AAA | Indianapolis 500 ' | 16 | ![]() | Louis Delâge | Delage Type R | Delage | Palmer | 15 | 102 |
3 | 1926 | May 30 | AAA | Indianapolis 500 ' | 15 | ![]() | Peter Kreis | 1926 Miller 91 | Miller SC | Firestone | 20 | 95 |
4 | 1927 | May 30 | AAA | Indianapolis 500 ' | 32 | ![]() | Bill White | Duesenberg | Duesenberg SC 90 ci | Firestone | 22 | 51 |
5 | 1947 | June 8 | AAA | Milwaukee Mile ' | 8 | ![]() | Fred Peters | 1939 Wetteroth | Offenhauser L4 270 ci | Firestone | Pole | 71 |
6 | 1947 | June 22 | AAA | Langhorne Speedway ' | 8 | ![]() | Fred Peters | 1939 Wetteroth | Offenhauser L4 270 ci | Firestone | 7 | 31 |
7 | 1948 | August 15 | AAA | Milwaukee Mile ' | 98 | ![]() | J. C. Agajanian | 1948 Kurtis 2000 | Offenhauser L4 270 ci | Firestone | 3 | 1 |
8 | 1948 | October 10 | AAA | DuQuoin ' | 7 | ![]() | Kurtis Kraft Racing | 1948 Kurtis 1000 | Offenhauser L4 270 ci | Firestone | 7 | 77 |
9 | 1949 | November 6 | AAA | Del Mar Fairgrounds ' | 57 | ![]() | Pat Clancy | Ewing | Offenhauser L4 270 ci | Firestone | Pole | 100 |
10 | 1950 | August 27 | AAA | Milwaukee Mile ' | 98 | ![]() | J. C. Agajanian | 1948 Kurtis 2000 | Offenhauser L4 270 ci | Firestone | 8 | 108 |
11 | 1956 | October 21 | USAC | Sacramento ' | 8 | ![]() | John Zink Racing | 1955 Watson D | Offenhauser L4 270 ci | Firestone | Pole | 88 |
12 | 1959 | October 25 | USAC | Sacramento ' | 3 | ![]() | Racing Associates | 1955 Kuzma D | Offenhauser L4 252 ci | Firestone | 11 | 57 |
13 | 1963 | August 18 | USAC | Milwaukee Mile ' | 92 | ![]() | Team Lotus | Lotus 29 | Ford Indy V8 255 ci | Dunlop | Pole | 200 |
14 | 1966 | May 30 | USAC | Indianapolis 500 ' | 24 | ![]() | Mecom Racing Team | Lola T90 | Ford Indy V8 255 ci | Firestone | 15 | 10 |
15 | 1977 | July 17 | USAC | Michigan ' | 25 | ![]() | Interscope Racing | Parnelli VPJ-6B | Cosworth DFX V8t | Goodyear | 4 | 24 |
16 | 1982 | July 4 | CART | Cleveland ' | 19 | ![]() | Truesports | March 82C | Cosworth DFX V8t | Goodyear | 2 | 26 |
17 | 1982 | September 19 | CART | Road America ' | 32 | ![]() | Forsythe Racing | March 82C | Cosworth DFX V8t | Goodyear | 9 | 1 |
18 | 1982 | September 26 | CART | Michigan ' | 19 | ![]() | Truesports | March 82C | Cosworth DFX V8t | Goodyear | 5 | 29 |
19 | 1983 | July 17 | CART | Michigan 500 ' | 12 | ![]() | VDS Racing | Penske PC-10 | Cosworth DFX V8t | Goodyear | 2 | 26 |
20 | 1983 | August 14 | CART | Pocono 500 ' | 33 | ![]() | Forsythe Racing | March 83C | Cosworth DFX V8t | Goodyear | 2 | 116 |
21 | 1983 | September 11 | CART | Mid-Ohio ' | 33 | ![]() | Forsythe Racing | March 83C | Cosworth DFX V8t | Goodyear | 2 | 40 |
22 | 1983 | October 23 | CART | Laguna Seca Raceway ' | 33 | ![]() | Forsythe Racing | March 83C | Cosworth DFX V8t | Goodyear | Pole | 95 |
23 | 1983 | October 29 | CART | Phoenix ' | 33 | ![]() | Forsythe Racing | March 83C | Cosworth DFX V8t | Goodyear | Pole | 138 |
24 | 1993 | March 21 | CART | Gold Coast Indy 300 ' | 5 | ![]() | Newman/Haas Racing | Lola T93/00 | Ford XB V8t | Goodyear | Pole | 32 |
25 | 1993 | June 6 | CART | Milwaukee Mile ' | 5 | ![]() | Newman/Haas Racing | Lola T93/00 | Ford XB V8t | Goodyear | 7 | 19 |
26 | 1993 | August 1 | CART | Michigan 500 ' | 5 | ![]() | Newman/Haas Racing | Lola T93/00 | Ford XB V8t | Goodyear | 2 | 222 |
27 | 1993 | August 8 | CART | New Hampshire ' | 5 | ![]() | Newman/Haas Racing | Lola T93/00 | Ford XB V8t | Goodyear | 2 | 222 |
28 | 1993 | September 19 | CART | Nazareth Speedway ' | 5 | ![]() | Newman/Haas Racing | Lola T93/00 | Ford XB V8t | Goodyear | Pole | 155 |
29 | 1994 | September 11 | CART | Road America ' | 12 | ![]() | Forsythe/Green Racing | Reynard 94i | Ford XB V8t | Goodyear | 2 | 15 |
30 | 1995 | August 20 | CART | New Hampshire ' | 31 | ![]() | Tasman Motorsports | Reynard 95i | Honda HRH V8t | Firestone | Pole | 96 |
31 | 1995 | September 10 | CART | Laguna Seca Raceway ' | 8 | ![]() | Jim Hall Racing | Reynard 95i | Mercedes-Benz IC108B V8t | Goodyear | 3 | 54 |
32 | 1996 | January 27 | IRL | Walt Disney World ' | 12 | ![]() | Bradley Motorsports | Reynard 95i | Ford XB V8t | Firestone | 5 | 130 |
33 | 1996 | June 23 | CART | Grand Prix of Portland ' | 4 | ![]() | Chip Ganassi Racing | Reynard 96i | Honda HRH V8t | Firestone | Pole | 95 |
34 | 1996 | August 11 | CART | Mid-Ohio ' | 4 | ![]() | Chip Ganassi Racing | Reynard 96i | Honda HRH V8t | Firestone | Pole | 79 |
35 | 1996 | September 8 | CART | Laguna Seca Raceway ' | 4 | ![]() | Chip Ganassi Racing | Reynard 96i | Honda HRH V8t | Firestone | Pole | 41 |
36 | 1997 | March 23 | IRL | Phoenix ' | 27 | ![]() | Blueprint Racing | Dallara IR7 | Oldsmobile Aurora V8 | Firestone | 2 | 74 |
37 | 1999 | April 18 | CART | Long Beach ' | 4 | ![]() | Chip Ganassi Racing | Reynard 99i | Honda HRS V8t | Firestone | 5 | 40 |
38 | 1999 | May 2 | CART | Nazareth Speedway ' | 4 | ![]() | Chip Ganassi Racing | Reynard 99i | Honda HRS V8t | Firestone | Pole | 210 |
39 | 1999 | May 15 | CART | Rio 200 ' | 4 | ![]() | Chip Ganassi Racing | Reynard 99i | Honda HRS V8t | Firestone | 3 | 93 |
40 | 1999 | June 27 | CART | Cleveland ' | 4 | ![]() | Chip Ganassi Racing | Reynard 99i | Honda HRS V8t | Firestone | Pole | 76 |
41 | 1999 | August 15 | CART | Mid-Ohio ' | 4 | ![]() | Chip Ganassi Racing | Reynard 99i | Honda HRS V8t | Firestone | 8 | 28 |
42 | 1999 | August 22 | CART | Chicago Speedway ' | 4 | ![]() | Chip Ganassi Racing | Reynard 99i | Honda HRS V8t | Firestone | 10 | 132 |
43 | 1999 | September 5 | CART | Streets of Vancouver ' | 4 | ![]() | Chip Ganassi Racing | Reynard 99i | Honda HRS V8t | Firestone | Pole | 73 |
44 | 2000 | May 28 | IRL | Indianapolis 500 ' | 9 | ![]() | Chip Ganassi Racing | G-Force GF05 | Oldsmobile Aurora V8 | Firestone | 2 | 167 |
45 | 2001 | May 6 | CART | Nazareth Speedway ' | 18 | ![]() | PacWest Racing | Reynard 01i | Toyota RV8F V8t | Firestone | 23 | 36 |
46 | 2001 | May 27 | IRL | Indianapolis 500 ' | 68 | ![]() | Penske Racing | Dallara IR-01 | Oldsmobile Aurora V8 | Firestone | 11 | 52 |
47 | 2001 | August 19 | CART | Road America ' | 4 | ![]() | Chip Ganassi Racing | Lola B01/00 | Toyota RV8F V8t | Firestone | 10 | 11 |
48 | 2002 | July 28 | IRL | Michigan ' | 9 | ![]() | Cheever Racing | Dallara IR-02 | Infiniti VRH35ADE V8 | Firestone | Pole | 122 |
49 | 2002 | October 27 | CART | Surfers Paradise ' | 55 | ![]() | HVM Racing | Lola B2/00 | Ford XF V8t | Bridgestone | 16 | 4 |
50 | 2003 | May 5 | CART | Brands Hatch ' | 2 | ![]() | Newman/Haas Racing | Lola B2/00 | Ford XF V8t | Bridgestone | 2 | 95 |
51 | 2003 | May 11 | CART | EuroSpeedway Lausitz ' | 2 | ![]() | Newman/Haas Racing | Lola B2/00 | Ford XF V8t | Bridgestone | Pole | 74 |
52 | 2003 | July 5 | CART | Cleveland ' | 2 | ![]() | Newman/Haas Racing | Lola B2/00 | Ford XF V8t | Bridgestone | Pole | 33 |
53 | 2003 | October 26 | CART | Surfers Paradise ' | 31 | ![]() | American Spirit Team Johansson | Reynard 02i | Ford XF V8t | Bridgestone | 12 | 15 |
54 | 2006 | August 27 | IRL | Sonoma Raceway ' | 26 | ![]() | Andretti Green Racing | Dallara IR-05 | Honda HI6R V8 | Firestone | 2 | 30 |
55 | 2007 | July 1 | CART | Circuit Mont-Tremblant ' | 14 | ![]() | Minardi Team USA | Panoz DP01 | Cosworth XFE V8t | Bridgestone | 5 | 20 |
56 | 2007 | July 29 | CART | San Jose Grand Prix ' | 14 | ![]() | Minardi Team USA | Panoz DP01 | Cosworth XFE V8t | Bridgestone | 15 | 30 |
57 | 2008 | April 6 | IRL | Grand Prix of St. Petersburg ' | 06 | ![]() | Newman/Haas Racing | Dallara IR-05 | Honda HI7R V8 | Firestone | 9 | 19 |
58 | 2008 | August 31 | IRL | Detroit Grand Prix ' | 02 | ![]() | Newman/Haas Racing | Dallara IR-05 | Honda HI7R V8 | Firestone | 4 | 15 |
59 | 2014 | June 28 | IndyCar | Grand Prix of Houston ' | 18 | ![]() | Dale Coyne Racing | Dallara DW12 | Honda HI14TT V6t | Firestone | 19 | 7 |
60 | 2016 | May 29 | IndyCar | Indianapolis 500 ' | 98 | ![]() | Bryan Herta Autosport | Dallara DW12 | Honda HI16TT V6t | Firestone | 11 | 14 |
61 | 2019 | March 24 | IndyCar | Circuit of the Americas ' | 88 | ![]() | Harding Steinbrenner Racing | Dallara IR-18 | Honda HI19TT V6t | Firestone | 4 | 15 |
62 | 2019 | September 22 | IndyCar | Laguna Seca ' | 88 | ![]() | Harding Steinbrenner Racing | Dallara IR-18 | Honda HI19TT V6t | Firestone | Pole | 83 |