2001 Indy Racing League Explained

The 2001 Indy Racing Northern Light Series saw the addition of five races and loss of one to bring the total to 13. Chip Ganassi Racing returned to the Indy 500 with four cars and were joined on the grid by Penske Racing and Team Kool Green. Sam Hornish Jr. won 3 races on his way to the championship while the less consistent Buddy Lazier won four races on his way to second place in his title defense.

Confirmed entries

Team	Chassis	Engine		Drivers	Round(s)
Team Menard	Dallara	Oldsmobile	2	Greg Ray	1–10
			Jaques Lazier	11–13
Galles Racing	G-Force	Oldsmobile	3	Al Unser Jr.	All
			31		1–4
			32		All
Panther Racing	Dallara	Oldsmobile	4	Sam Hornish Jr.	All
Treadway-Hubbard Racing	G-Force	Oldsmobile	5	Arie Luyendyk	4
					10, 12–13
		Oldsmobile	21		All
Tri-Star Motorsports	Dallara	Oldsmobile	6	Tyce Carlson	1
					2–4, 8
				Jeret Schroeder	5, 7
			60	Richie Hearn	4
Dick Simon Racing	Dallara	Oldsmobile	7	Stéphan Grégoire	1–3
			17	Roberto Guerrero	4
Kelley Racing	Dallara	Oldsmobile	8	Scott Sharp	All
			28	Mark Dismore	All
PDM Racing	G-Force	Oldsmobile	9	Jeret Schroeder	1–4, 8
			18		12–13
Cahill Racing	Dallara	Oldsmobile	10	Robby McGehee	1–5, 8–13
			11	Dr. Jack Miller	3
A. J. Foyt Enterprises	Dallara	Oldsmobile	align=center rowspan=2		Donnie Beechler	4–12
			Greg Ray	13
			14	Eliseo Salazar	All
			41	Robby Gordon	4
Bradley Motorsports	Dallara	Oldsmobile	12	Buzz Calkins	All
Walker Racing	Dallara	Oldsmobile	15	Sarah Fisher	All
Indy Regency Racing	G-Force	Oldsmobile	16		3–4
Dreyer & Reinbold Racing	G-Force	Infiniti	24	Robbie Buhl	All
Blueprint Racing	G-Force	Oldsmobile	27	John Hollansworth Jr.	2
			Jim Guthrie	4
McCormack Motorsports	G-Force	Oldsmobile	30		1–3, 5
			Jimmy Kite	4
Chip Ganassi Racing	G-Force	Oldsmobile	33	Tony Stewart	4
			44	Jimmy Vasser	4
			49	Nicolas Minassian	4
			50	Bruno Junqueira	4
Conquest Racing	Dallara	Infiniti	34	Laurent Redon	12–13
Heritage Motorsports	G-Force	Oldsmobile	35	Jeff Ward	1–7, 9–13
			36	Stéphan Grégoire	4
Brayton Racing	Dallara	Oldsmobile	37	Steve Knapp	4
			61	Memo Gidley	4
Team Green	Dallara	Oldsmobile	39	Michael Andretti	4
Sam Schmidt Motorsports	Dallara	Oldsmobile	44		11, 13
			99	Davey Hamilton	1–5
				Richie Hearn	6, 12
				Jaques Lazier	7–10
				Alex Barron	11
Team Cheever	Dallara	Infiniti	51	Eddie Cheever	All
			52	Scott Goodyear	4
Vertex-Cunningham Racing	Dallara	Oldsmobile	55	Shigeaki Hattori	All
Team Penske	Dallara	Oldsmobile	66	Gil de Ferran	1, 4
			68	Hélio Castroneves	1, 4
Team Xtreme	G-Force	Oldsmobile	77	Jaques Lazier	4–6
			88	Airton Daré	All
Zali Racing	G-Force	Oldsmobile	81	John Paul Jr.	4
				Billy Roe	5–13
Hemelgarn Racing	Dallara	Oldsmobile	91	Buddy Lazier	All
			92	Stan Wattles	1–3
					11–13
			93	Steve Knapp	4
Curb-Agajanian-Beck Motorsports	Dallara	Oldsmobile	98	Billy Boat	All

Season Summary

Schedule

Rnd	Date	Race Name	Track	City
1	March 18	Pennzoil Copper World Indy 200	Phoenix International Raceway	Phoenix, Arizona
2	April 8	Infiniti Grand Prix of Miami	Homestead-Miami Speedway	Homestead, Florida
3	April 28	zMax 500	Atlanta Motor Speedway	Hampton, Georgia
4	May 27	85th Indianapolis 500	Indianapolis Motor Speedway	Speedway, Indiana
5	June 9			Fort Worth, Texas
6	June 17			Fountain, Colorado
7	June 30
8	July 8			Kansas City, Kansas
9	July 21			Lebanon, Tennessee
10	August 12	Belterra Resort Indy 300	Kentucky Speedway	Sparta, Kentucky
11	August 26		Gateway International Raceway	Madison, Illinois
12	September 2	Delphi Indy 300	Chicagoland Speedway	Joliet, Illinois
13	October 6			Fort Worth, Texas
Sources:^[1] ^[2]

Race results

Rnd	Race	Pole position	Fastest lap	Most Laps Led	Winner
1	Phoenix	Greg Ray	Billy Boat	Sam Hornish Jr.	Sam Hornish Jr.
2	Homestead-Miami	Jeff Ward	Sam Hornish Jr.	Sam Hornish Jr.	Sam Hornish Jr.
3	Atlanta	Greg Ray	Greg Ray	Greg Ray	Greg Ray
4	Indianapolis	Scott Sharp	Sam Hornish Jr.	Hélio Castroneves	Hélio Castroneves
5		Mark Dismore	Eddie Cheever	Greg Ray	Scott Sharp
6		Greg Ray	Billy Boat	Sam Hornish Jr.	Buddy Lazier
7		Jaques Lazier	Buddy Lazier	Buddy Lazier	Buddy Lazier
8		Scott Sharp	Mark Dismore	Eddie Cheever	Eddie Cheever
9		Greg Ray	Buddy Lazier	Sam Hornish Jr.	Buddy Lazier
10	Kentucky	Scott Sharp	Mark Dismore	Scott Sharp	Buddy Lazier
11		Sam Hornish Jr.	Robbie Buhl	Sam Hornish Jr.	Al Unser Jr.
12	Chicagoland	Jaques Lazier	Robbie Buhl	Jaques Lazier	Jaques Lazier
13		Sam Hornish Jr.	Felipe Giaffone	Sam Hornish Jr.	Sam Hornish Jr.

Note: All races running on Oval/Speedway.

Race summaries

Pennzoil Copper World Indy 200

This race was held March 18 at Phoenix International Raceway. Greg Ray won the pole.

Top ten results

1. 4- Sam Hornish Jr.
2. 14- Eliseo Salazar
3. 91- Buddy Lazier
4. 8- Scott Sharp
5. 98- Billy Boat
6. 21- Felipe Giaffone
7. 35- Jeff Ward
8. 10- Robby McGehee
9. 12- Buzz Calkins
10. 88- Airton Daré

Inaugural Infiniti Grand Prix of Miami

This race was held April 8 at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Jeff Ward won the pole. Sarah Fisher's second place was the highest finish in an Indy car race by a female driver at the time.

Top ten results

1. 4- Sam Hornish Jr.
2. 15- Sarah Fisher
3. 14- Eliseo Salazar
4. 21- Felipe Giaffone
5. 35- Jeff Ward
6. 3- Al Unser Jr.
7. 28- Mark Dismore
8. 8- Scott Sharp
9. 51- Eddie Cheever
10. 32- Didier André

zMax 500

This race was held April 28 at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Greg Ray won the pole. A huge 11-car pileup occurred on lap 54, sending Dr. Jack Miller to the hospital with a concussion. It would be Miller's final race. This is also the final Indy car race held at Atlanta to-date.

Top ten results

1. 2- Greg Ray
2. 8- Scott Sharp
3. 12- Buzz Calkins
4. 4- Sam Hornish Jr.
5. 14- Eliseo Salazar
6. 91- Buddy Lazier
7. 35- Jeff Ward
8. 55- Shigeaki Hattori
9. 88- Airton Daré
10. 21- Felipe Giaffone

85th Indianapolis 500

The Indy 500 was held May 27 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Scott Sharp sat on pole. Sharp crashed on the opening lap, and finished last. Team Penske returned to Indy after failing to qualify in 1995 and boycotting the race due to the IRL/CART "split" from 1996 to 2000. Penske finishes 1st–2nd with Hélio Castroneves and Gil de Ferran, Roger Penske's first-ever 1–2 at Indy as an owner.

Top ten results

1. 68- Hélio Castroneves
2. 66- Gil de Ferran
3. 39- Michael Andretti
4. 44- Jimmy Vasser
5. 50- Bruno Junqueira
6. 33- Tony Stewart
7. 14- Eliseo Salazar
8. 88- Airton Daré
9. 98- Billy Boat
10. 21- Felipe Giaffone

Casino Magic 500

This race was held June 9 at Texas Motor Speedway. Mark Dismore won the pole. A serious crash on lap 56 involved Davey Hamilton, who lost control after Jeret Schroeder blew an engine, and Hamilton drove in the oil. Hamilton then crashed hard into the turn 2 wall, causing serious injuries to both legs and feet. The crash effectively ended Hamilton's full-time racing career. Scott Sharp stole the win after Eddie Cheever and Greg Ray crashed hard on the backstretch while battling for the victory in the final laps. Robby McGehee, who was running many laps down, was also caught up in the mishap; McGehee suffered leg and head injuries and missed several races.

Top ten results

1. 8- Scott Sharp
2. 21- Felipe Giaffone
3. 4- Sam Hornish Jr.
4. 91- Buddy Lazier
5. 98- Billy Boat
6. 11- Donnie Beechler
7. 14- Eliseo Salazar
8. 3- Al Unser Jr.
9. 77- Jaques Lazier
10. 55- Shigeaki Hattori

Radisson Indy 200

This race was held June 17 at Pikes Peak International Raceway. Greg Ray won the pole.

Top ten results

1. 91- Buddy Lazier
2. 4- Sam Hornish Jr.
3. 24- Robbie Buhl
4. 98- Billy Boat
5. 88- Airton Daré
6. 51- Eddie Cheever
7. 21- Felipe Giaffone
8. 8- Scott Sharp
9. 99- Richie Hearn
10. 15- Sarah Fisher

Inaugural SunTrust Indy Challenge

This race was held June 30 at Richmond International Raceway. Jaques Lazier won the pole.

Top ten results

1. 91- Buddy Lazier
2. 4- Sam Hornish Jr.
3. 3- Al Unser Jr.
4. 32- Didier André
5. 8- Scott Sharp
6. 28- Mark Dismore
7. 11- Donnie Beechler
8. 35- Jeff Ward
9. 24- Robbie Buhl
10. 12- Buzz Calkins

Ameristar Casino Indy 200

This race was held July 8 at Kansas Speedway. Scott Sharp won the pole.

Top ten results

1. 51- Eddie Cheever
2. 4- Sam Hornish Jr.
3. 11- Donnie Beechler
4. 21- Felipe Giaffone
5. 91- Buddy Lazier
6. 88- Airton Daré
7. 14- Eliseo Salazar
8. 55- Shigeaki Hattori
9. 98- Billy Boat
10. 10- Robby McGehee

Inaugural Harrah's 200

This race was held July 21 at Nashville Superspeedway. Greg Ray won the pole. On lap 103 of the race, Cheever was attempting to lap the slower car of Greg Ray, when the two made contact in turn 2. The resulting accident also caught up Unser, Jr., Beechler, and Dismore, who was struck from behind by a charging Airton Dare. No one was injured in the crash. This was the first caution of the race and lasted 18 laps, with Buddy Lazier in the lead as racing resumed.

Top ten results

1. 91- Buddy Lazier
2. 98- Billy Boat
3. 99- Jaques Lazier
4. 10- Robby McGehee
5. 8- Scott Sharp
6. 4- Sam Hornish Jr.
7. 55- Shigeaki Hattori
8. 21- Felipe Giaffone
9. 12- Buzz Calkins
10. 11- Donnie Beechler

Belterra Resort Indy 300

This race was held August 12 at Kentucky Speedway. Scott Sharp won the pole. Buddy Lazier drove to victory, his final career win.

Top ten results

1. 91- Buddy Lazier
2. 8- Scott Sharp
3. 4- Sam Hornish Jr.
4. 3- Al Unser Jr.
5. 11- Donnie Beechler
6. 98- Billy Boat
7. 55- Shigeaki Hattori
8. 21- Felipe Giaffone
9. 24- Robbie Buhl
10. 35- Jeff Ward

Inaugural Gateway Indy 250

This race was held August 26 at Gateway International Raceway. Sam Hornish Jr. won the pole.

Top ten results

1. 3- Al Unser Jr.
2. 28- Mark Dismore
3. 4- Sam Hornish Jr.
4. 51- Eddie Cheever
5. 24- Robbie Buhl
6. 98- Billy Boat
7. 35- Jeff Ward
8. 8- Scott Sharp
9. 88- Airton Daré
10. 10- Robby McGehee

Inaugural Delphi Indy 300

This race was held September 2 at Chicagoland Speedway. Jaques Lazier won the pole.

Top ten results

1. 2- Jaques Lazier
2. 4- Sam Hornish Jr.
3. 51- Eddie Cheever
4. 35- Jeff Ward
5. 11- Donnie Beechler
6. 99- Richie Hearn
7. 34- Laurent Redon
8. 3- Al Unser Jr.
9. 12- Buzz Calkins
10. 21- Felipe Giaffone

Chevy 500

This race was held October 6 at Texas Motor Speedway. Sam Hornish Jr. won the pole.

Top ten results

1. 4- Sam Hornish Jr.
2. 8- Scott Sharp
3. 24- Robbie Buhl
4. 14- Eliseo Salazar
5. 5- Rick Treadway
6. 3- Al Unser Jr.
7. 88- Airton Daré
8. 11- Greg Ray
9. 18- Jon Herb
10. 12- Buzz Calkins

Final points standings

Pos Driver PHX HOM ATL INDY TXS PIK RIR KAN NSH KTY GAT CHI TX2 Pts 1 Sam Hornish Jr. 1* 1* 4 14 3 2* 2 2 6* 3 3* 2 1* 503 2 Buddy Lazier 3 20 6 18 4 1 1* 5 1 1 13 11 17 398 3 Scott Sharp 4 8 2 33 1 8 5 17 5 2* 8 25 2 355 4 Billy Boat 5 13 14 9 5 4 18 9 2 6 6 12 12 313 5 Eliseo Salazar 2 3 5 7 7 14 12 7 11 15 17 18 4 308 6 6 4 10 10 2 7 11 4 8 8 20 10 21 304 7 Al Unser Jr. 23 6 17 30 8 11 3 20 14 4 1 8 6 287 8 Eddie Cheever 19 9 24 26 12 6 13 1* 15 21 4 3 18 261 9 Buzz Calkins 9 16 3 12 15 15 10 13 9 16 22 9 10 242 10 Airton Daré 10 23 9 8 19 5 15 6 17 20 9 19 7 239 11 Jeff Ward 7 5 7 24 16 12 8 20 10 7 4 24 238 12 Robbie Buhl 11 24 20 15 21 3 9 21 13 9 5 22 3 237 13 Shigeaki Hattori 13 15 8 DNQ 10 DNS 14 8 7 7 15 21 16 215 14 Mark Dismore 25 7 26 16 20 13 6 11 16 22 2 17 23 205 15 Donnie Beechler 25 6 16 7 3 10 5 14 5 204 16 Robby McGehee 8 12 21 11 14 10 4 18 10 20 14 196 17 Jaques Lazier 22 9 17 19 18 3 12 16 1* 20 195 18 Greg Ray 22 21 1* 17 11* 18 Wth 14 18 13 8 193 19 Sarah Fisher 17 2 11 31 18 10 17 12 19 19 11 24 25 188 20 27 10 13 DNQ 17 19 4 16 21 11 12 13 15 188 21 Billy Roe 13 20 20 22 12 14 23 23 22 101 22 Jeret Schroeder 26 14 19 20 23 16 15 77 23 25 16 27 19 15 9 70 24 Hélio Castroneves 18 1* 64 25 17 14 5 59 26 Davey Hamilton 12 19 18 23 24 54 27 Richie Hearn DNQ 9 6 50 28 Gil de Ferran 24 2 46 29 7 11 45 30 14 17 27 Wth 22 40 31 20 11 23 DNQ 36 32 Stan Wattles 16 26 12 Wth 36 33 19 16 19 36 34 Michael Andretti 3 35 35 Stéphan Grégoire 21 22 15 28 34 36 Jimmy Vasser 4 32 37 Bruno Junqueira 5 30 38 18 13 29 39 Tony Stewart 6 28 40 22 19 19 41 Arie Luyendyk 13 17 42 Tyce Carlson 15 Wth 15 43 John Hollansworth Jr. 18 12 44 Alex Barron 21 9 45 Robby Gordon 21 9 46 Dr. Jack Miller 25 5 47 Nicolas Minassian 29 1 48 Scott Goodyear 32 1 – Raul Boesel Wth 0 – Memo Gidley DNQ 0 – Roberto Guerrero DNQ 0 – Jim Guthrie DNQ 0 – Jimmy Kite DNQ 0 – Steve Knapp DNQ 0 – John Paul Jr. DNQ 0 Pos Driver PHX HOM ATL INDY TXS PIK RIR KAN NSH KTY GAT CHI TXS Pts

Color Result Gold Winner Silver 2nd place Bronze 3rd place Green 4th & 5th place Light Blue 6th–10th place Dark Blue Finished (Outside Top 10) Purple Did not finish (Ret) Red Did not qualify (DNQ) Brown Withdrawn (Wth) Black Disqualified (DSQ) White Did not start (DNS) Blank Did not participate (DNP) Not competing align=center colspan=2 In-line notation Bold Pole position (2 points) Italics Ran fastest race lap *| align=center|Led most race laps (1 point)|-| align=center|DNS| align=center|Any driver who qualifies but does not start (DNS), earns all the points had they taken part.|-|style="text-align:center"| |align=center|Rookie of the Year|-|style="text-align:center"| |align=center|Rookie|}|}|} Ties in points broken by number of wins, followed by number of 2nds, 3rds, etc., and then by number of pole positions, followed by number of times qualified 2nd, etc. See also 2001 Indianapolis 500 2001 Indy Lights season 2001 CART season 2001 Toyota Atlantic Championship season http://www.champcarstats.com/year/2001i.htm http://media.indycar.com/pdf/2011/IICS_2011_Historical_Record_Book_INT6.pdf (p. 125–126) References ]

Notes and References

1. Web site: NTT IndyCar Series Calendar 2001. Motorsport Stats. November 17, 2023.
2. News: Indy Racing League. Kenosha News. B4. October 26, 2001. November 17, 2023. .