2001 Indy Racing League season

2001 Indy Racing League season
Indy Racing Northern Light Series
Season
Races	13
Start date	March 18
End date	October 6
Awards
Drivers' champion	Sam Hornish, Jr.
Indianapolis 500 winner	Hélio Castroneves
Chronology
Previous season	Next season
2000	2002

The 2001 Indy Racing Northern Light Series season 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. Many other CART teams made clear their intention to enter the IRL given their series' financial difficulties. 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.

2001 Indy Racing League schedule

All races running on Oval/Speedway.

Rnd	Date	Race Name	Track	Location	Pole position	Fastest lap	Most Laps Led	Winner
1	March 18	Pennzoil Copper World Indy 200	Phoenix International Raceway	Phoenix, Arizona	Greg Ray	Billy Boat	Sam Hornish, Jr.	Sam Hornish, Jr.
2	April 8	Infiniti Grand Prix of Miami	Homestead-Miami Speedway	Homestead, Florida	Jeff Ward	Sam Hornish, Jr.	Sam Hornish, Jr.	Sam Hornish, Jr.
3	April 29	zMax 500	Atlanta Motor Speedway	Hampton, Georgia	Greg Ray	Greg Ray	Greg Ray	Greg Ray
4	May 27	85th Indianapolis 500	Indianapolis Motor Speedway	Speedway, Indiana	Scott Sharp	Sam Hornish, Jr.	Hélio Castroneves	Hélio Castroneves
5	June 9	Casino Magic 500	Texas Motor Speedway	Fort Worth, Texas	Mark Dismore	Eddie Cheever	Greg Ray	Scott Sharp
6	June 17	Radisson Indy 200	Pikes Peak International Raceway	Fountain, Colorado	Greg Ray	Billy Boat	Sam Hornish, Jr.	Buddy Lazier
7	June 30	SunTrust Indy Challenge	Richmond International Raceway	Richmond, Virginia	Jaques Lazier	Buddy Lazier	Buddy Lazier	Buddy Lazier
8	July 8	Ameristar Casino Indy 200	Kansas Speedway	Kansas City, Kansas	Scott Sharp	Mark Dismore	Eddie Cheever	Eddie Cheever
9	July 21	Harrah's 200	Nashville Superspeedway	Lebanon, Tennessee	Greg Ray	Buddy Lazier	Sam Hornish, Jr.	Buddy Lazier
10	August 12	Belterra Resort Indy 300	Kentucky Speedway	Sparta, Kentucky	Scott Sharp	Mark Dismore	Scott Sharp	Buddy Lazier
11	August 26	Gateway Indy 250	Gateway International Raceway	Madison, Illinois	Sam Hornish, Jr.	Robbie Buhl	Sam Hornish, Jr.	Al Unser, Jr.
12	September 2	Delphi Indy 200	Chicagoland Speedway	Joliet, Illinois	Jaques Lazier	Robbie Buhl	Jaques Lazier	Jaques Lazier
13	October 6	Chevy 500	Texas Motor Speedway	Fort Worth, Texas	Sam Hornish, Jr.	Felipe Giaffone	Sam Hornish, Jr.	Sam Hornish, Jr.

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

Infiniti Grand Prix of Miami

This race was held April 8 at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Jeff Ward won the pole.

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.

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.

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. The race was marred by a severe crash involving 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.

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

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 Andre
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

Harrah's 200

This race was held July 21 at Nashville Superspeedway. Greg Ray won the pole.

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.

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

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

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 Rédon
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 TXS 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 Felipe Giaffone 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 Wth 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 DNS 14 18 13 8 193 19 Sarah Fisher 17 2 11 31 18 10 17 12 19 19 11 24 25 188 20 Didier André 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 Jon Herb 25 16 27 DNS 19 15 9 70 24 Hélio Castroneves 18 1* 64 25 Rick Treadway 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 Laurent Rédon 7 11 45 30 Brandon Erwin 14 17 27 DNQ 22 40 31 Casey Mears 20 11 23 DNQ 36 32 Stan Wattles 16 26 12 DNQ 36 33 Chris Menninga 19 16 19 36 34 Michael Andretti 3 35 35 Stéphane Grégoire 21 22 15 28 DNQ 34 36 Jimmy Vasser 4 32 37 Bruno Junqueira 5 30 38 Anthony Lazzaro 18 13 29 39 Tony Stewart 6 28 40 Cory Witherill 22 19 19 41 Arie Luyendyk 13 17 42 Tyce Carlson 15 DNQ 15 43 John Hollansworth, Jr. 18 12 44 Alex Barron 21 9 45 Robby Gordon 21 9 46 Dr. Jack Miller 25 DNQ 5 47 Nicolas Minassian 29 1 48 Scott Goodyear 32 1 - Raul Boesel DNQ 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 - Lyn St. James DNQ 0 - Johnny Unser DNP 0 - Johnny Herbert DNP 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 In-line notation Bold Pole position Italics Ran fastest race lap * Led most race laps (2 points) DNS Any driver who qualifies but does not start (DNS), earns all the points had they taken part. Rookie of the Year Rookie

In every race, points are awarded to drivers on the following basis:

Position	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20	21	22	23	24	25	26	27	28	29	30	31	32	33
Points	50	40	35	32	30	28	26	24	22	20	19	18	17	16	15	14	13	12	11	10	9	8	7	6	5	4	3	2	1	1	1	1	1

• 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)

American Championship car racing (IndyCar) seasons AAA 1905 1906–1908 1909 1910 1911 1912 1913 1914 1915 1916 1917 1918 1919 1920 1921 1922 1923 1924 1925 1926 1927 1928 1929 1930 1931 1932 1933 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 1939 1940 1941 1942–1945 1946 1947 1948 1949 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 NASCAR 1952 1953 USAC 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981–82 1982–83 1983–84 1984–85 1985-86 1986-87 1987-88 1988-89 1989-90 1990-91 1991-92 1992-93 1993-94 1994-95 CART / CCWS 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 INDYCAR 1996 1996–97 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 Years marked in italics are not official championship years.

Verizon IndyCar Series Seasons 1996 1996–97 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 Indianapolis 500 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 Champions Kenny Bräck Buzz Calkins Scott Dixon (Three time) Dario Franchitti (Four time) Sam Hornish, Jr. (Three time) Ryan Hunter-Reay Tony Kanaan Buddy Lazier Will Power Greg Ray Scott Sharp Tony Stewart Dan Wheldon Tracks Ovals Fontana Indianapolis Iowa Milwaukee Pocono Texas Road Courses Barber Indianapolis Mid-Ohio NOLA Sonoma Street Courses Detroit Long Beach St. Petersburg Toronto Former Atlanta Baltimore Charlotte Chicagoland Dover Edmonton Gateway Homestead Houston Kentucky Las Vegas Michigan Motegi Nashville Nazareth Phoenix Pikes Peak Richmond São Paulo Surfers Paradise Walt Disney World Watkins Glen Road to Indy Indy Lights Pro Mazda U.S. F2000 History of IndyCar Racing • All-Time Winners • Races • Drivers • Teams