After three seasons in Formula One, came to Indy cars
in 1985 and has amassed 155 starts. A 10-time Indy
starter, with best finish third in 1989. Won poles in
CART races at Milwaukee (1994) and St. Louis (1997).
Also captured world sports car championship in 1987.
Raul Boesel returned to Indianapolis in 1998 for the
first time since 1995, the last year CART drivers
participated in the race. Boesel had four top-10 finishes in nine starts at Indy,
and the big race is one of the primary reasons he signed on in the Indy Racing
League with McCormack Motorsports for 1998.
Boesel ran a full Championship Auto Racing Teams schedule in 1997. He
grabbed one pole (Gateway) and finished third in a three-abreast drag race to the
finish at Portland. He ended up 10th in the season standings. He joins
McCormack Motorsports for a full IRL season.
Boesel was a national karting champion in Brazil at the age of 17 before racing
Formula Fords. By 1982 he was running in Formula One.
After a short F1 career, he joined the CART series and was the fastest rookie at
the Indianapolis 500. In 1986 he had eight top-10 finishes. He stayed with
CART off and on the next few years. Meanwhile, in 1988 he won the IMSA 24
Hours at Daytona.
He finished third in the 1989 Indianapolis 500 and backed it up with a seventh
and a fourth in 1992 and 1993. He has led 21 laps spread over three Indy 500s.
His top CART season finish was fifth in 1993, followed by a seventh in 1994.
The next two years were less successful.
Sources: Star/News and SpeedNet staff reports.
