American Indycar Series

The American Indycar Series (AIS) was an American open wheel racing series founded in 1988 by Bill Tempero. It utilized used chassis and engines from the CART series and the Indy Racing League. CART and IRL drivers Buddy Lazier, Jaques Lazier, Robby Unser, and Johnny Unser found success in the AIS.

The series was reborn with new management in 2001-2002. A new management team formed United States Speedway Series (USSS), while a new AIS under different management conducted races as well. The USSS ceased racing after 2005; the AIS shut down after 2002.

Over the years, the series had a predominantly western-based schedule.

History
In the mid-1980s, the once-popular Can Am series was withering, and most teams had already defected to the CART Indy car series or IMSA. The last holdouts formed CAT (Can-Am Teams) in 1986 to take over sanctioning as part of the SCCA.

Two plans emerged, one keeping the Formula 5000-based cars, and others who favored using old CART Indy car machines. Bill Tempero led the Indy-style effort. CAT held one race in 1986, and folded after a short 1987 season. Tempero broke off and started his Indy car series in 1988, with the cars powered by 5.9-litre stock block Chevrolet engines.

As the series began to slowly gain competitors, the teams were allowed to run a choice of two powerplants. The aforementioned stockblock Chevy V-8, or a V-6 (best known as the Buick/Menard) in turbocharged or normally aspirated configuration. An equivalency formula was determined to provide for competitive balance among the different engine combinations.

The chassis used were used March, Lola, Reynard, Eagle, and Penske from CART competition. In later years, G-Force and Dallara cars from IRL competition were also used.

American IndyCar Series

 * 1988 Buddy Lazier
 * 1989 Robby Unser
 * 1990 Bill Tempero
 * 1991 Bill Tempero
 * 1992 Rod Bennett
 * 1993 Rick Sutherland
 * 1994 Bill Tempero
 * 1995 Bill Tempero
 * 1996 Ken Petrie
 * 1997 Ken Petrie
 * 1998 Greg Gorden
 * 1999 Bill Tempero
 * 2000 Mike Lee
 * 2002 Eddie Nahir (ARS)

United States Speedway Series

 * 2001 Ken Petrie
 * 2002 Ken Petrie
 * 2003 Mike Koss
 * 2004 Greg Gorden
 * 2005 Bailey Dotson

1986-1987 CAT season

 * For 1987, Indy car events were organized through CAT (Can Am Teams).

1988 season

 * The first full season of AIS took place in 1988. The season concluded with twin races at Willow Springs. Buddy Lazier won the first season championship, with Robby Unser second.

1989 season

 * June 4 I-70 Speedway, Robby Unser (2 wins)
 * June 11 Memphis Motorsports Park Robby Unser (2 wins)
 * July 4 Colorado National Speedway Robby Unser, Buddy Lazier
 * September 30 Tioga Robby Unser, Richard Griffin
 * October 29 Willow Springs Buddy Lazier, Robby Unser

2002 ARS

 * April 20–21 Las Vegas Motor Speedway Las Vegas Valley|Las Vegas, Nevada (Eddy Nahir)
 * May 18–19 Thunderhill Motorsport Park
 * June 21–23 California Speedway, two races, (Eddy Nahir, Eddy Nahir)
 * Oct. 5 - 6 Willow Springs International Raceway
 * Nov. 22 - 24 Phoenix International Raceway
 * Dec. 13 - 15 Aloha Grand Prix