Billy Boat

Last updated
Billy Boat
BillyBoatMay2007.jpg
Billy Boat (right) preparing tires for his son Chad's sprint car in 2007
NationalityFlag of the United States.svg  United States
Born (1966-02-02) February 2, 1966 (age 57)
Phoenix, Arizona
IndyCar Series
Years active1996–2003
Teams A. J. Foyt Enterprises
PDM Racing
Team Pelfrey
Beck Motorsports
Curb Agajanian Performance Group
Panther Racing
Starts75
Wins1
Poles9
Fastest laps5
Best finish4th in 2001
Previous series
1986-1987 Indy Lights
NASCAR Xfinity Series career
1 race run over 1 year
Best finish135th (2003)
First race 2003 Bashas' Supermarkets 200 (Phoenix)
WinsTop tens Poles
000

William Leonard Boat (born February 2, 1966) is an American former open-wheel driver who raced in the Indy Racing League.

Contents

Racing career

Boat began his career in USAC where he won 11 straight Western Series races on his way to the 1995 championship. He won the Turkey Night Grand Prix midget car race in 1995. He was a three-peat winner in the event after winning in 1996 and 1997. He made his first IRL start in the 1997 Indianapolis 500 driving for A. J. Foyt Enterprises. In 1998 he won 6 poles, including 5 in a row, both league records, and won his first race at Texas Motor Speedway. It was his only official IRL victory. (He appeared to have won the same race in the 1996-97 season, but a scoring error meant he finished second). He is one of the few drivers with the distinction to have started from both the pole (1998) and final 33rd (2000, 2001) starting position in the Indy 500. He has not appeared in an IRL race since the 2003 Indianapolis 500.

Personal life

Boat is a graduate of Arizona State University. In 1986 he founded Billy Boat Performance Exhaust, a company that makes performance exhaust systems for luxury and high performance cars, light trucks, and high performance watercraft. Boat has four children, with three girls and one boy.

In 2014, Boat's son Chad began competing in the NASCAR Nationwide Series, driving a family-owned No. 84 Chevrolet.

Motorsports career results

American open–wheel racing results

(key)

Indy Lights

YearTeam12345678910RankPoints
1986 Marsh Holt RacingPHX1
4
MIL
11
MEA
7
TORPOC
8
MDO
5
ROA
6
LS
8
PHX2
3
MIA
8
6th67
1987 Machinist Union RacingPHX
10
MIL
13
MEACLETORPOCMDONZRLSMIA24th4

IndyCar Series

YearTeamChassisNo.Engine12345678910111213141516RankPointsRef
1996 Pagan Racing Reynard 94i99 Ford XB V8 t WDW PHX INDY
DNQ
NC- [1]
1996–97 A. J. Foyt Enterprises Dallara IR711 Oldsmobile Aurora V8 NHM LVS WDW PHX INDY
7
LV2
23
18th151 [2]
G-Force GF011 TXS
2
CLT
2
NH2
8
PDM Racing Dallara IR718 PPIR
19
1998 A. J. Foyt Enterprises Dallara IR811 WDW
21
PHX
3
INDY
23
TXS
1
NHM
21
DOV CLT PPIR
9
ATL
12
TX2
14
LVS
26
13th194 [3]
1999 Dallara IR9WDW
9
PHX
4
CLT
C
INDY
3
TXS
24
PPIR
24
ATL
10
DOV
4
PPI2
13
LVS
22
TX2
9
12th204 [4]
2000 Team Pelfrey Dallara IR-0081WDW
9
PHX
6
LVS
7
TXS
23
PPIR
18
ATL
8
KTY
18
TX2
3
10th181 [5]
A. J. Foyt Enterprises G-Force GF0541 INDY
15
2001 Curb/Agajanian-Beck Motorsports Dallara IR-0198PHX
5
HMS
13
ATL
14
INDY
9
TXS
5
PPIR
4
RIR
18
KAN
9
NSH
2
KTY
6
STL
6
CHI
12
TX2
12
4th313 [6]
2002 CURB/Agajanian/Beck Motorsports Dallara IR-02 Chevrolet Indy V8 HMS
16
PHX
8
FON
18
NZR
8
INDY
18
TXS
7
PPIR
14
RIR
22
13th225 [7]
Infiniti VRH35ADE V8 KAN
9
NSH
14
MIS
14
KTY
19
STL
23
CHI
19
TX2
24
2003 Panther Racing Dallara IR-03 Chevrolet Indy V8 HMS
PHX
MOT
INDY
32
TXS
PPIR
RIR
KAN
NSH
MIS
STL
KTY
NZR
CHI
FON
TX2
37th1 [8]

Indianapolis 500

YearChassisEngineStartFinishTeam
1996 Reynard 94i Ford XB V8 t DNQ Pagan Racing
1997 Dallara IR7 Oldsmobile Aurora V8 227 A. J. Foyt Enterprises
1998 Dallara IR8 Oldsmobile Aurora V8 123 A. J. Foyt Enterprises
1999 Dallara IR9 Oldsmobile Aurora V8 33 A. J. Foyt Enterprises
2000 G-Force GF05 Oldsmobile Aurora V8 3115 A. J. Foyt Enterprises
2001 Dallara IR-01 Oldsmobile Aurora V8 329 CURB/Agajanian/Beck Motorsports
2002 Dallara IR-02 Chevrolet Indy V8 2318 Agajanian/Boat Racing
2003 Dallara IR-03 Chevrolet Indy V8 2932 Panther Racing

NASCAR

(key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time. Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led.)

Busch Series

NASCAR Busch Series results
YearTeamNo.Make12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031323334NBSCPtsRef
2003 Braun Racing 30 Dodge DAY CAR LVS DAR BRI TEX TAL NSH CAL RCH GTY NZH CLT DOV NSH KEN MLW DAY CHI NHA PPR IRP MCH BRI DAR RCH DOV KAN CLT MEM ATL PHO
29
CAR HOM 135th76 [9]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Arie Luyendyk</span> Dutch racing driver (born 1953)

Arie Luijendijk, nicknamed "The Flying Dutchman," is a Dutch former auto racing driver, and winner of the 1990 and 1997 Indianapolis 500 races. He was inducted into the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Hall of Fame in 2009, and the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America in 2014.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Buddy Rice</span> American racing driver

Buddy Rice is an American former race car driver. He is best known for winning the 2004 Indianapolis 500 while driving for Rahal Letterman Racing, and the 2009 24 Hours of Daytona for Brumos Racing.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eliseo Salazar</span> Chilean racing driver (born 1954)

Eliseo Salazar Valenzuela is a Chilean former racing driver. As of 2024, he is the only Chilean to have participated in a Formula One World Championship. He made his Formula One debut on 15 March 1981, and ultimately contested 37 races scoring a total of three championship points. After Formula One, Salazar has participated in numerous motorsport disciplines, including the Chilean national rally championship, Formula 3000, IndyCar, and the World Sportscar Championship.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jimmy Vasser</span> American racecar driver and team owner

James Vasser Jr. is an American former racing driver. Vasser won the 1996 CART IndyCar championship with Chip Ganassi Racing, and scored ten victories in the series. Vasser was the last American to win the CART championship.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kenny Bräck</span> Swedish racing driver (born 1966)

Kenny Bräck is a Swedish former race car driver. Until his retirement from racing, he competed in the CART, Indy Racing League and the IROC series. He won the 1998 Indy Racing League championship and the 1999 Indianapolis 500, becoming the first Swedish driver to win the race.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Scott Sharp</span> American racing driver

Scott Sharp is an American professional racing driver in the United SportsCar Championship. He is the son of six-time SCCA champion Bob Sharp. Sharp is best known for his years as a competitor in the Indy Racing League.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jeff Ward (motorsports)</span> American motorcycle racer

Jeffrey Ward is a British-American former professional motocross racer, auto racing driver and off-road racer. He won the AMA Motocross Championship five times and the AMA Supercross Championship twice and the Motocross des Nations seven times. After retiring from motorcycle competition, Ward turned to auto racing, finishing in second place at the Indianapolis 500 and winning a race at the Texas Motor Speedway. He then competed in off-road truck racing and rallycross. Ward was inducted into the Motorcycle Hall of Fame in 1999 and, was inducted into the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America on 12 August 2006.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jimmy Kite</span> American racing driver

Jimmy Kite is a retired American race car driver. He debuted in the Indy Racing League IndyCar Series in 1997 and has competed in 34 IndyCar races, including five Indianapolis 500s. In 2005, he intended to compete in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series and he made four starts before being called to replace the injured Paul Dana for Hemelgarn Racing in the IRL, where he completed the season after the Indy 500.

Gregory Ray is an American former race car driver.

Bradley "Buzz" Calkins Jr. is a former Indy Racing League driver. After a successful run in Indy Lights from 1993 to 1995 where he finished 11th, 10th, and 6th in his three seasons, he and his Bradley Motorsports team purchased a 1995 Reynard chassis to compete in the inaugural season of the IRL. He won the series' inaugural race, the 1996 Indy 200 at Walt Disney World ahead of Tony Stewart and was that year's league co-champion with Scott Sharp. He competed in the Indianapolis 500 six times, with a best finish of 10th in 1998. His win in the series' first race would end up to be his only IRL win. Calkins graduated from the University of Colorado Boulder in 1993. Calkins earned a Master of Business Administration from Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University in 2000. He drove until 2001 when he retired and ventured into the business world. He served as president of his father's company, Bradley Petroleum, until its sale in 2017.

Jim Guthrie is a former driver in the Indy Racing League. He debuted in the Indy Racing League in 1996 with moderately successful results. When the IRL moved to purpose-built chassis in 1997, Guthrie was forced to take out a second mortgage to purchase a new chassis. With no sponsorship and the prospects of losing his house if his venture was unsuccessful, he won the second race in the new chassis at Phoenix International Raceway. He got sponsorship from Jacuzzi for the Indianapolis 500 and was able to finish the season winning Rookie of the Year honors and kept his house. Jim contested four races in 1998, but then during the Indianapolis 500, he was seriously injured in a multi-car crash, but he returned later in the season for two different teams. He attempted the 1999 Indianapolis 500 but failed to qualify his Coulson Racing entry.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Scott Harrington (racing driver)</span> American racing driver

Scott Harrington is an American former auto racing driver, formerly active in the Indy Racing League and sportscar racing. He is now a private racing driver coach.

Michael Dennis Groff is a former race car driver who competed in CART and the IRL IndyCar Series and was the 1989 Indy Lights champion. His younger brother Robbie was also a CART and IRL driver from 1994 to 1998.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mark Dismore</span> American racing driver

Mark Dismore is a former driver in the Indy Racing League and the 1990 Toyota Pacific champion as well as the winner of the 1993 24 Hours of Daytona with Dan Gurney's All American Racers in a Toyota GTP car with co-drivers Rocky Moran and P. J. Jones. He made 3 CART starts in 1991 but was badly injured in a practice crash for the Indianapolis 500, when his car veered sharply towards the entrance of pit road at the exit of Turn 4 and back-ended the fence, only to careen across the pit lane and smash virtually head on at sizeable speed against the edge of pit wall; this second impact tore off the front of the car leaving Mark's legs exposed. Amongst the injuries he suffered, the most severe was a broken neck. He was largely out of open wheel racing until the 1996 Indy 500 where he drove for Team Menard though he did try to qualify in the 1992 Indianapolis 500 for Concept Motorsports in an outdated Lola/Buick. In 1997 he drove a second car at the Indy 500 for Kelley Racing and would become a full-time fixture there until the 2001 season. He returned to Menard for a partial season in 2002. Dismore has a single IRL win coming in the fall 1999 Texas Motor Speedway race and also finished a career-best third in points that season. Among his 62 career IRL starts he won four poles. He also represented the IRL in the International Race of Champions in 2000 and 2001.

Stéphan Grégoire is a French race car driver currently living in Zionsville, Indiana.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Davy Jones (racing driver)</span> American racing driver

Davy Jones is an American racing driver. He won the 1996 24 Hours of Le Mans alongside Alexander Wurz and Manuel Reuter.

Jack Miller, usually known as Dr. Jack Miller, is an American retired racing driver. He drove in the Indy Racing League from 1997 to 2001 and the Indianapolis 500 from 1997 to 1999. Miller is a practicing dentist and was accordingly "The Racing Dentist." For much of his racing career, he was sponsored by dental product companies including Crest and Water Pik.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Donnie Beechler</span> American racing driver

Donnie Beechler, is a former driver in the Indy Racing League. He was born in Springfield, Illinois.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Steve Knapp</span> American racing driver

Steve Knapp, is a former driver in IndyCar. He raced in the 1998–2000 seasons with 13 career starts, including 3 at the Indianapolis 500. His best career finish was in his first race, a third place at the 1998 Indianapolis 500, where he was named Rookie of the Year. He never led a lap in any of his IRL races. Knapp now owns and operates Elite Engines out of West Bend specializing in FA, FC, S2, HART F2 and Mazda engines for the U.S. F2000 National Championship.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Billy Roe</span> American racing driver

Billy Roe, is a former driver in the Indy Racing League. He raced in the 1997–1998 and 2000–2002 seasons with 16 career starts, including 2 at the Indianapolis 500. His best IRL finish was a 12th place at Nashville Speedway in 2001. In the 1997 Las Vegas Motor Speedway race, he fielded his own car. Prior to racing in the IRL he competed in Toyota Atlantic from 1991 to 1995, however, he never competed in more than 3 races in a single season. He also competed in 2 Indy Lights races in 1992. After racing in the IRL he competed in the 2003 and 2004 seasons of the Infiniti Pro Series, finishing 16th and 10th in points. Billy Roe established Indianapolis Motor Speedway's first official electric car lap record of 106.897 mph on May 7, 2011 - first lap, first time around, in the Brawner Hawk EX-11.

References

  1. "Billy Boat – 1996 Indy Racing League Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved August 6, 2023.
  2. "Billy Boat – 1997 Indy Racing League Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved August 6, 2023.
  3. "Billy Boat – 1998 Pep Boys Indy Racing League Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved August 6, 2023.
  4. "Billy Boat – 1999 Pep Boys Indy Racing League Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved August 6, 2023.
  5. "Billy Boat – 2000 Indy Racing Northern Lights Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved August 6, 2023.
  6. "Billy Boat – 2001 Indy Racing Northern Lights Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved August 6, 2023.
  7. "Billy Boat – 2002 Indy Racing League Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved August 6, 2023.
  8. "Billy Boat – 2003 IndyCar Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved August 6, 2023.
  9. "Billy Boat – 2003 NASCAR Busch Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved April 13, 2023.