Skip to content
Surf Wiki
Save to docs
sports

From Surf Wiki (app.surf) — the open knowledge base

2000 Indy Racing League

Auto racing season


Auto racing season

The 2000 Indy Racing Northern Light Series was the fifth season of the Indy Racing League. The season consisted of nine races, all on oval circuits. The showcase event of the season was the 84th running of the Indianapolis 500.

The season saw a high level of parity, as only one driver, champion Buddy Lazier, won more than a single race. It also saw the beginning of the jump from CART as Al Unser Jr. moved to the series full-time and Chip Ganassi Racing came over to run the Indianapolis 500, which it won with driver Juan Pablo Montoya. It was also the final season for the Riley & Scott chassis, which also saw its first series win in 2000.

A planned race at Cleveland – which would have been the Indy Racing League's first road course event – was cancelled on September 9, 1999, and reverted to a CART event.

Confirmed entries

The 5 year tire war between Goodyear and Firestone in both CART and the IRL ended after Goodyear left both series as a tire supplier in 1999. This meant from this season onward all teams used Firestone tires.

ChassisEngineNo.DriversRounds
USA Team MenardDallaraOldsmobile1USA Greg Ray
32USA Robby Gordon4
USA Galles RacingG-ForceOldsmobile3USA Al Unser Jr.
USA Panther RacingDallaraOldsmobile4CAN Scott Goodyear
USA Treadway RacingG-ForceOldsmobile5USA Robby McGehee
50USA Jason Leffler ****4
553
BRA Raul Boesel4
JPN Shigeaki Hattori ****5–9
USA Tri Star MotorsportsDallaraOldsmobile6USA Jeret Schroeder ****
9USA Robby Unser1
21USA Dr. Jack Miller3–4
BRA Zak Morioka ****9
USA Dick Simon RacingG-ForceOldsmobile7FRA Stéphan Grégoire
90USA Lyn St. James4
USA Kelley RacingDallaraOldsmobile8USA Scott Sharp
28USA Mark DismoreAll
USA Target Chip Ganassi RacingG-ForceOldsmobile9COL Juan Pablo Montoya ****
10USA Jimmy Vasser4
USA A. J. Foyt EnterprisesG-ForceOldsmobile11CHL Eliseo Salazar
14USA Jeff WardAll
41USA Billy Boat4
USA Bradley MotorsportsDallaraOldsmobile12USA Buzz Calkins
USA Walker RacingRiley & ScottOldsmobile15USA Sarah Fisher ****
Dallara4–9
USA Team XtremeG-ForceOldsmobile16USA John Hollansworth Jr.
USA Davey Hamilton2–8
USA Jaques Lazier9
88BRA Airton Daré ****All
USA Nienhouse MotorsportsG-ForceOldsmobile17SWE Niclas Jönsson ****
USA Scott Harrington3–4
USA PDM RacingDallaraOldsmobile18USA Sam Hornish Jr. ****
USA Logan RacingDallaraOldsmobile19USA Billy Roe
USA Stevie Reeves ****7–9
USA Hubbard-Immke RacingDallaraOldsmobile20USA Tyce Carlson
COL Roberto Guerrero4
USA Indy Regency RacingG-ForceOldsmobile22USA Johnny Unser
USA Dreyer & Reinbold RacingG-ForceInfiniti23USA Steve Knapp
24USA Robbie Buhl1–3
Oldsmobile4–9
USA Blueprint RacingG-ForceOldsmobile27SWE Niclas Jönsson ****
USA Jimmy Kite2–9
USA Byrd-McCormack RacingRiley & ScottOldsmobile29USA Robby Unser
305–6
G-ForceUSA Jon Herb ****1
USA Ronnie Johncox2–3
Riley & Scott4
USA J. J. Yeley7–9
USA Truscelli Team RacingG-ForceOldsmobile33USA Jaques Lazier
USA Bobby Regester ****2
USA Team Coulson RacingG-ForceOldsmobile40USA Davy Jones
COL Roberto Guerrero8
CAN Mid America MotorsportsDallaraOldsmobile43CAN Doug Didero ****
USA Scott Harrington7
USA Jaques Lazier8
USA Davey Hamilton9
USA Sinden RacingDallaraOldsmobile44USA Davey Hamilton
USA Fast Track Racing EnterprisesDallaraOldsmobile48USA Andy Hillenburg ****
USA Dan Drinan ****4
USA Team CheeverRiley & ScottInfiniti51USA Eddie Cheever
Dallara3–9
52USA Ross Cheever4
USA Pagan RacingDallaraOldsmobile75USA Richie Hearn
USA Team PelfreyDallaraOldsmobile81USA Billy Boat
82USA Memo Gidley4
USA Hemelgarn RacingRiley & ScottOldsmobile91USA Buddy Lazier
Dallara4–9
92USA Stan Wattles4
USA Cahill RacingDallaraOldsmobile98USA Donnie Beechler

Schedule

RndDateRace NameTrackCity123456789
January 29Delphi Indy 200Walt Disney World SpeedwayBay Lake, Florida
March 19MCI WorldCom Indy 200Phoenix International RacewayPhoenix, Arizona
April 22Vegas Indy 300Las Vegas Motor SpeedwayLas Vegas, Nevada
May 2884th Indianapolis 500Indianapolis Motor SpeedwaySpeedway, Indiana
June 11Casino Magic 500Texas Motor SpeedwayFort Worth, Texas
June 18Radisson 200Pikes Peak International RacewayFountain, Colorado
July 15Midas 500 ClassicAtlanta Motor SpeedwayHampton, Georgia
August 27Belterra Resort Indy 300Kentucky SpeedwaySparta, Kentucky
October 15Excite 500Texas Motor SpeedwayFort Worth, Texas
Sources:

Results

Rd.RacePole positionFastest lapMost laps ledRace winnerDriverTeamChassisEngine123456789
Walt Disney WorldUSA Greg RayUSA Mark DismoreUSA Robbie BuhlUSA Robbie BuhlDreyer & Reinbold RacingG-ForceOldsmobile
PhoenixUSA Greg RayUSA Tyce CarlsonUSA Scott SharpUSA Buddy LazierHemelgarn RacingRiley & ScottOldsmobile
Las VegasUSA Mark DismoreUSA Mark DismoreUSA Mark DismoreUSA Al Unser Jr.Galles RacingG-ForceOldsmobile
IndianapolisUSA Greg RayUSA Buddy LazierCOL Juan Pablo MontoyaCOL Juan Pablo MontoyaChip Ganassi RacingG-ForceOldsmobile
Texas 1USA Buddy LazierUSA Eddie CheeverUSA Al Unser Jr.USA Scott SharpKelley RacingDallaraOldsmobile
Pikes PeakUSA Greg RayUSA Buzz CalkinsUSA Scott SharpUSA Eddie CheeverTeam CheeverDallaraInfiniti
AtlantaUSA Greg RayUSA Donnie BeechlerUSA Greg RayUSA Greg RayTeam MenardDallaraOldsmobile
KentuckyCAN Scott GoodyearUSA Buddy LazierCAN Scott GoodyearUSA Buddy LazierHemelgarn RacingDallaraOldsmobile
Texas 2USA Greg RayUSA Jaques LazierUSA Al Unser Jr.CAN Scott GoodyearPanther RacingDallaraOldsmobile

Note: All races running on Oval/Speedway.

Race summaries

Delphi Indy 200

The final Delphi Indy 200 race was held January 29 at Walt Disney World Speedway. Greg Ray won the pole.

Top ten results

  1. 24- Robbie Buhl
  2. 91- Buddy Lazier
  3. 51- Eddie Cheever
  4. 4- Scott Goodyear
  5. 11- Eliseo Salazar
  6. 98- Donnie Beechler
  7. 14- Jeff Ward
  8. 12- Buzz Calkins
  9. 81- Billy Boat
  10. 55- Robby McGehee
  • This was Robbie Buhl's 2nd and final IndyCar victory.
  • This was the final Indy Racing League event at the track.

MCI WorldCom Indy 200

This race was held March 19 at Phoenix International Raceway. Greg Ray won the pole.

Top ten results

  1. 91- Buddy Lazier
  2. 4- Scott Goodyear
  3. 98- Donnie Beechler
  4. 11- Eliseo Salazar
  5. 8- Scott Sharp
  6. 81- Billy Boat
  7. 24- Robbie Buhl
  8. 7- Stephan Gregoire
  9. 3- Al Unser Jr.
  10. 51- Eddie Cheever
  • This was the first victory for the Riley & Scott chassis

Vegas Indy 300

This race was held April 22 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Mark Dismore won the pole.

Top ten results

  1. 3- Al Unser Jr.
  2. 28- Mark Dismore
  3. 18- Sam Hornish Jr. ****
  4. 6- Jeret Schroeder ****
  5. 24- Robbie Buhl
  6. 5- Robby McGehee
  7. 81- Billy Boat
  8. 20- Tyce Carlson
  9. 1- Greg Ray
  10. 33- Jaques Lazier
  • This was Al Unser Jr.'s 1st victory since the 1995 CART Molson Indy Vancouver and his 1st IRL victory.

[[2000 Indianapolis 500|84th Indianapolis 500]]

The Indy 500 was held May 28 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Greg Ray sat on pole.

Top ten results

  1. 9- Juan Pablo Montoya ****
  2. 91- Buddy Lazier
  3. 11- Eliseo Salazar
  4. 14- Jeff Ward
  5. 51- Eddie Cheever
  6. 32- Robby Gordon
  7. 10- Jimmy Vasser
  8. 7- Stephan Gregoire
  9. 4- Scott Goodyear
  10. 8- Scott Sharp
  • Juan Pablo Montoya was the 1st rookie since Graham Hill (1966) to win the Indianapolis 500 as a rookie.
  • Buddy Lazier took over the points lead after this race by 26 points over Robbie Buhl.

Casino Magic 500

This race was held June 11 at Texas Motor Speedway. Qualifying was rained out and Buddy Lazier was on the pole based on points standings.

Top ten results

  1. 8- Scott Sharp
  2. 5- Robby McGehee
  3. 3- Al Unser Jr.
  4. 12- Buzz Calkins
  5. 4- Scott Goodyear
  6. 28- Mark Dismore
  7. 91- Buddy Lazier
  8. 55- Shigeaki Hattori ****
  9. 51- Eddie Cheever
  10. 88- Airton Daré ****
  • This was Robby McGehee's best ever finish.
  • Shigeaki Hattori debuts after a disappointing 1999 CART season which ended after his CART competition license was revoked at Laguna Seca.

Radisson 200

This race was held June 18 at Pikes Peak International Raceway. Greg Ray won the pole.

Top ten results

  1. 51- Eddie Cheever
  2. 88- Airton Daré ****
  3. 8- Scott Sharp
  4. 28- Mark Dismore
  5. 98- Donnie Beechler
  6. 11- Eliseo Salazar
  7. 6- Jeret Schroeder ****
  8. 7- Stephan Gregoire
  9. 33- Jaques Lazier
  10. 3- Al Unser Jr.
  • This was the Infiniti engine's 1st victory.
  • This was Cheevers penultimate IndyCar victory.

Midas 500 Classic

This race was held July 15 at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Greg Ray won the pole.

Top ten results

  1. 1- Greg Ray
  2. 91- Buddy Lazier
  3. 3- Al Unser Jr.
  4. 5- Robby McGehee
  5. 98- Donnie Beechler
  6. 24- Robbie Buhl
  7. 7- Stephan Gregoire
  8. 81- Billy Boat
  9. 55- Shigeaki Hattori ****
  10. 11- Eliseo Salazar

Belterra Resort Indy 300

The inaugural Indy Racing League event was held August 27 at Kentucky Speedway. Scott Goodyear won the pole.

Top ten results

  1. 91- Buddy Lazier
  2. 4- Scott Goodyear
  3. 15- Sarah Fisher ****
  4. 51- Eddie Cheever
  5. 7- Stephan Gregoire
  6. 14- Jeff Ward
  7. 1- Greg Ray
  8. 55- Shigeaki Hattori ****
  9. 18- Sam Hornish Jr. ****
  10. 98- Donnie Beechler
  • This was Roberto Guerrero's final IndyCar race he qualified for. He would blow an engine after completing 48 laps and would finish 23rd.
  • Sarah Fisher becomes the first woman to lead laps and finish on the Podium in an IRL race.

Excite 500

This race was held October 15 at Texas Motor Speedway. Greg Ray won the pole.

Top ten results

  1. 4- Scott Goodyear
  2. 51- Eddie Cheever
  3. 81- Billy Boat
  4. 91- Buddy Lazier
  5. 11- Eliseo Salazar
  6. 98- Donnie Beechler
  7. 55- Shigeaki Hattori ****
  8. 14- Jeff Ward
  9. 12- Buzz Calkins
  10. 16- Jaques Lazier
  • This was the final race victory for Scott Goodyear as he lost his ride to Sam Hornish Jr. in the off-season, then during the 2001 Indianapolis 500 he would suffer career ending injuries after a huge accident during that race.

Points standings

PosDriverWDW
PHX
LVS
INDY
TMS1
PPR
ATL
KEN
TMS2
Pts129022723257421052026202719681909188101811117612174131721417115145161421713618124191242011221110221092398247925542643273328332928302831273226332534193517361537143811391040941842843744745646547348249100000PosDriverWDW
PHX
LVS
INDY
TMS1
PPR
ATL
KEN
TMS2
Pts
USA Buddy Lazier21222726214
CAN Scott Goodyear42129516112*1
USA Eddie Cheever310115912142
CHL Eliseo Salazar5418317610255
USA Mark Dismore1616*2**1164181114
USA Donnie Beechler6326122255106
USA Scott Sharp155*271013*162413
USA Robbie Buhl1*7526182361318
USA Al Unser Jr.2591293*1032717*
USA Billy Boat9671523188183
USA Jeff Ward71121419151968
USA Robby McGehee102462121341424
USA Greg Ray171993315201*726
FRA Stéphan Grégoire1882881187520
USA Buzz Calkins823251841223129
BRA Airton Daré11221425102251912
USA Jeret Schroeder1912414217242616
USA Sarah Fisher131731122514311
USA Tyce Carlson13158Wth1311132223
USA Jaques Lazier2310131492010
USA Sam Hornish Jr.20173242019927
JPN Shigeaki Hattori817987
USA Davey Hamilton261820202414151619
USA Jimmy Kite2616301624121721
COL Juan Pablo Montoya1*
CAN Doug Didero142519DNQ2722
USA Ronnie Johncox1413Wth
USA J. J. Yeley171525
USA Robby Gordon6
USA Jason Leffler1517
SWE Niclas Jönsson1221
USA Jimmy Vasser7
USA Stevie Reeves222122
USA Robby Unser24DNQ2621
USA Scott Harrington23DNQ20
BRA Zak Morioka15
BRA Raul Boesel16
USA Steve Knapp19
USA Bobby Regester20
USA John Hollansworth Jr.21
USA Jon Herb22
USA Johnny Unser22
USA Stan Wattles23
COL Roberto GuerreroDNQ23
USA Dr. Jack Miller24DNQ
USA Billy Roe25
USA Richie Hearn27
USA Andy Hillenburg28
USA Lyn St. James32
USA Dan DrinanDNQ
USA Memo GidleyDNQ
USA Davy JonesDNQ
USA Ross CheeverWth
JPN Hideshi MatsudaWth
ColorResult
GoldWinner
Silver2nd place
Bronze3rd place
Green4th & 5th place
Light Blue6th–10th place
Dark BlueFinished
(Outside Top 10)
PurpleDid not finish
(Ret)
RedDid not qualify
(DNQ)
BrownWithdrawn
(Wth)
BlackDisqualified
(DSQ)
WhiteDid not start
(DNS)
BlankDid not
participate
(DNP)
Not competing

|- |

In-line notation
Bold
Italics
*
DNS

|} |}

  • 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. Additional points were awarded to the pole winner (3 points), the second best qualifier (2 points), the third best qualifier (1 point) and to the driver leading the most laps (2 point).

References

References

  1. "NTT IndyCar Series Calendar 2000". Motorsport Stats.
  2. "2000 Schedule". [[Indy Racing League]].
Info: Wikipedia Source

This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page.

Want to explore this topic further?

Ask Mako anything about 2000 Indy Racing League — get instant answers, deeper analysis, and related topics.

Research with Mako

Free with your Surf account

Content sourced from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This content may have been generated or modified by AI. CloudSurf Software LLC is not responsible for the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of AI-generated content. Always verify important information from primary sources.

Report