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2000 Indy Racing League
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.

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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
Team MenardDallaraOldsmobile1 Greg RayAll
32 Robby Gordon4
Galles RacingG-ForceOldsmobile3 Al Unser Jr.All
Panther RacingDallaraOldsmobile4 Scott GoodyearAll
Treadway RacingG-ForceOldsmobile5 Robby McGeheeAll
50 Jason Leffler  R 4
553
Raul Boesel4
Shigeaki Hattori  R 5–9
Tri Star MotorsportsDallaraOldsmobile6 Jeret Schroeder  R All
9 Robby Unser1
21 Dr. Jack Miller3–4
Zak Morioka  R 9
Dick Simon RacingG-ForceOldsmobile7 Stéphan GrégoireAll
90 Lyn St. James4
Kelley RacingDallaraOldsmobile8 Scott SharpAll
28 Mark DismoreAll
Target Chip Ganassi RacingG-ForceOldsmobile9 Juan Pablo Montoya  R 4
10 Jimmy Vasser4
A. J. Foyt EnterprisesG-ForceOldsmobile11 Eliseo SalazarAll
14 Jeff WardAll
41 Billy Boat4
Bradley MotorsportsDallaraOldsmobile12 Buzz CalkinsAll
Walker RacingRiley & ScottOldsmobile15 Sarah Fisher  R 2–3
Dallara4–9
Team XtremeG-ForceOldsmobile16 John Hollansworth Jr.1
Davey Hamilton2–8
Jaques Lazier9
88 Airton Daré  R All
Nienhouse MotorsportsG-ForceOldsmobile17 Niclas Jönsson  R 2
Scott Harrington3–4
PDM RacingDallaraOldsmobile18 Sam Hornish Jr.  R 1–6, 8–9
Logan RacingDallaraOldsmobile19 Billy Roe5–6
Stevie Reeves  R 7–9
Hubbard-Immke RacingDallaraOldsmobile20 Tyce Carlson1–3, 5–9
Roberto Guerrero4
Indy Regency RacingG-ForceOldsmobile22 Johnny Unser4
Dreyer & Reinbold RacingG-ForceInfiniti23 Steve Knapp4
24 Robbie Buhl1–3
Oldsmobile4–9
Blueprint RacingG-ForceOldsmobile27 Niclas Jönsson  R 1
Jimmy Kite2–9
Byrd-McCormack RacingRiley & ScottOldsmobile29 Robby Unser4
305–6
G-Force Jon Herb  R 1
Ronnie Johncox2–3
Riley & Scott4
J. J. Yeley7–9
Truscelli Team RacingG-ForceOldsmobile33 Jaques Lazier1, 3–6
Bobby Regester  R 2
Team Coulson RacingG-ForceOldsmobile40 Davy Jones4
Roberto Guerrero8
Mid America MotorsportsDallaraOldsmobile43 Doug Didero  R 1–6
Scott Harrington7
Jaques Lazier8
Davey Hamilton9
Sinden RacingDallaraOldsmobile44 Davey Hamilton1
Fast Track Racing EnterprisesDallaraOldsmobile48 Andy Hillenburg  R 4
Dan Drinan  R 4
Team CheeverRiley & ScottInfiniti51 Eddie Cheever1–2
Dallara3–9
52 Ross Cheever4
Pagan RacingDallaraOldsmobile75 Richie Hearn4
Team PelfreyDallaraOldsmobile81 Billy Boat1–3, 5–9
82 Memo Gidley4
Hemelgarn RacingRiley & ScottOldsmobile91 Buddy Lazier1–3
Dallara4–9
92 Stan Wattles4
Cahill RacingDallaraOldsmobile98 Donnie BeechlerAll

Schedule

RndRace NameTrackCityDate
1Delphi Indy 200Walt Disney World SpeedwayBay Lake, FloridaJanuary 29
2MCI WorldCom Indy 200Phoenix International RacewayPhoenix, ArizonaMarch 19
3Vegas Indy 300Las Vegas Motor SpeedwayLas Vegas, NevadaApril 22
484th Indianapolis 500Indianapolis Motor SpeedwaySpeedway, IndianaMay 28
5Casino Magic 500Texas Motor SpeedwayFort Worth, TexasJune 11
6Radisson 200Pikes Peak International RacewayFountain, ColoradoJune 18
7Midas 500 ClassicAtlanta Motor SpeedwayHampton, GeorgiaJuly 15
8Belterra Resort Indy 300Kentucky SpeedwaySparta, KentuckyAugust 27
9Excite 500Texas Motor SpeedwayFort Worth, TexasOctober 15
Sources:12

Results

Rd.RacePole positionFastest lapMost laps ledRace winner
DriverTeamChassisEngine
1Walt Disney World Greg Ray Mark Dismore Robbie Buhl Robbie BuhlDreyer & Reinbold RacingG-ForceOldsmobile
2Phoenix Greg Ray Tyce Carlson Scott Sharp Buddy LazierHemelgarn RacingRiley & ScottOldsmobile
3Las Vegas Mark Dismore Mark Dismore Mark Dismore Al Unser Jr.Galles RacingG-ForceOldsmobile
4Indianapolis Greg Ray Buddy Lazier Juan Pablo Montoya Juan Pablo MontoyaChip Ganassi RacingG-ForceOldsmobile
5Texas 1 Buddy Lazier Eddie Cheever Al Unser Jr. Scott SharpKelley RacingDallaraOldsmobile
6Pikes Peak Greg Ray Buzz Calkins Scott Sharp Eddie CheeverTeam CheeverDallaraInfiniti
7Atlanta Greg Ray Donnie Beechler Greg Ray Greg RayTeam MenardDallaraOldsmobile
8Kentucky Scott Goodyear Buddy Lazier Scott Goodyear Buddy LazierHemelgarn RacingDallaraOldsmobile
9Texas 2 Greg Ray Jaques Lazier Al Unser Jr. 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

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.  R 
  4. 6- Jeret Schroeder  R 
  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.

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  R 
  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

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  R 
  9. 51- Eddie Cheever
  10. 88- Airton Daré  R 

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  R 
  3. 8- Scott Sharp
  4. 28- Mark Dismore
  5. 98- Donnie Beechler
  6. 11- Eliseo Salazar
  7. 6- Jeret Schroeder  R 
  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  R 
  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  R 
  4. 51- Eddie Cheever
  5. 7- Stephan Gregoire
  6. 14- Jeff Ward
  7. 1- Greg Ray
  8. 55- Shigeaki Hattori  R 
  9. 18- Sam Hornish Jr.  R 
  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  R 
  8. 14- Jeff Ward
  9. 12- Buzz Calkins
  10. 16- Jaques Lazier

Points standings

Further information: List of American Championship car racing point scoring systems

PosDriverWDWPHXLSVINDYTXSPIKATLKTYTXSPts
1 Buddy Lazier21222726214290
2 Scott Goodyear42129516112*1272
3 Eddie Cheever310115912142257
4 Eliseo Salazar5418317610255210
5 Mark Dismore16162*1164181114202
6 Donnie Beechler6326122255106202
7 Scott Sharp155*271013*162413196
8 Robbie Buhl1*7526182361318190
9 Al Unser Jr.2591293*1032717*188
10 Billy Boat9671523188183181
11 Jeff Ward71121419151968176
12 Robby McGehee102462121341424174
13 Greg Ray171993315201*726172
14 Stéphan Grégoire1882881187520171
15 Buzz Calkins823251841223129145
16 Airton Daré  RY 11221425102251912142
17 Jeret Schroeder  R 1912414217242616136
18 Sarah Fisher  R 131731122514311124
19 Tyce Carlson13158Wth1311132223124
20 Jaques Lazier2310131492010112
21 Sam Hornish Jr.  R 20173242019927110
22 Shigeaki Hattori  R 817987109
23 Davey Hamilton26182020241415161998
24 Jimmy Kite261630162412172179
25 Juan Pablo Montoya1*54
26 Doug Didero  R 142519DNQ272243
27 Ronnie Johncox1413Wth33
28 J. J. Yeley17152533
29 Robby Gordon628
30 Jason Leffler  R 151728
31 Niclas Jönsson  R 122127
32 Jimmy Vasser726
33 Stevie Reeves  R 22212225
34 Robby Unser24DNQ262119
35 Scott Harrington23DNQ2017
36 Zak Morioka  R 1515
37 Raul Boesel1614
38 Steve Knapp1911
39 Bobby Regester  R 2010
40 John Hollansworth Jr.219
41 Jon Herb  R 228
42 Johnny Unser228
43 Stan Wattles237
44 Roberto GuerreroDNQ237
45 Dr. Jack Miller24DNQ6
46 Billy Roe255
47 Richie Hearn273
48 Andy Hillenburg  R 282
49 Lyn St. James321
– Dan DrinanDNQ0
– Memo GidleyDNQ0
– Davy JonesDNQ0
– Ross CheeverWth0
– Hideshi MatsudaWth0
PosDriverWDWPHXLSVINDYTXSPIKATLKTYTXSPts
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 notparticipate(DNP)
Not competing
In-line notation
BoldPole position(2 points)
ItalicsRan fastest race lap
*Led most race laps(1 point)
DNSAny driver who qualifiesbut does not start (DNS),earns all the pointshad they taken part.
 RY Rookie of the Year
 R 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.

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).

See also

References

  1. "NTT IndyCar Series Calendar 2000". Motorsport Stats. Retrieved November 17, 2023. https://motorsportstats.com/series/ntt-indycar-series/calendar/2000 ↩

  2. "2000 Schedule". Indy Racing League. Archived from the original on June 21, 2000. Retrieved November 17, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20000621004751/http://www.indyracingleague.com/schedule.html ↩