2000 Indy Racing League
The 2000 Indy Racing Northern Light Series was another season that 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 Indy 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 was cancelled on September 9, 2000, and reverted to a CART event.
Team and driver chart
Season Summary
Schedule
Rnd | Date | Race Name | Track | City |
1 | January 29 | Delphi Indy 200 | Walt Disney World Speedway | Bay Lake, Florida |
2 | March 19 | MCI WorldCom Indy 200 | Phoenix International Raceway | Phoenix, Arizona |
3 | April 22 | Vegas Indy 300 | Las Vegas Motor Speedway | Las Vegas, Nevada |
4 | May 28 | 84th Indianapolis 500 | Indianapolis Motor Speedway | Speedway, Indiana |
5 | June 11 | Casino Magic 500 | Texas Motor Speedway | Fort Worth, Texas |
6 | June 18 | Radisson 200 | Pikes Peak International Raceway | Fountain, Colorado |
7 | July 15 | Midas 500 Classic | Atlanta Motor Speedway | Hampton, Georgia |
8 | August 27 | Belterra Resort Indy 300 | Kentucky Speedway | Sparta, Kentucky |
- | September 9 | Cleveland | Burke Lakefront Airport | Cleveland, Ohio |
9 | October 15 | Excite 500 | Texas Motor Speedway | Fort Worth, Texas |
Race results
Note: All races running on Oval/Speedway.Race summaries
Delphi Indy 200
This race was held January 29 at Walt Disney World Speedway. Greg Ray won the pole.Top ten results
- 24- Robbie Buhl
- 91- Buddy Lazier
- 51- Eddie Cheever
- 4- Scott Goodyear
- 11- Eliseo Salazar
- 98- Donnie Beechler
- 14- Jeff Ward
- 12- Buzz Calkins
- 81- Billy Boat
- 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
Top ten results
- 91- Buddy Lazier
- 4- Scott Goodyear
- 98- Donnie Beechler
- 11- Eliseo Salazar
- 8- Scott Sharp
- 81- Billy Boat
- 24- Robbie Buhl
- 7- Stephan Gregoire
- 3- Al Unser, Jr.
- 51- Eddie Cheever
- This was the first victory for the Riley & Scott chassis
Vegas Indy 300
Top ten results
- 3- Al Unser, Jr.
- 28- Mark Dismore
- 18- Sam Hornish, Jr. '
- 6- Jeret Schroeder '
- 24- Robbie Buhl
- 5- Robby McGehee
- 81- Billy Boat
- 20- Tyce Carlson
- 1- Greg Ray
- 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">2000 Indianapolis 500">84th Indianapolis 500
Top ten results
- 9- Juan Pablo Montoya
- 91- Buddy Lazier
- 11- Eliseo Salazar
- 14- Jeff Ward
- 51- Eddie Cheever
- 32- Robby Gordon
- 10- Jimmy Vasser
- 7- Stephan Gregoire
- 4- Scott Goodyear
- 8- Scott Sharp
- Juan Pablo Montoya was the 1st rookie since Graham Hill 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
Top ten results
- 8- Scott Sharp
- 5- Robby McGehee
- 3- Al Unser, Jr.
- 12- Buzz Calkins
- 4- Scott Goodyear
- 28- Mark Dismore
- 91- Buddy Lazier
- 55- Shigeaki Hattori '
- 51- Eddie Cheever
- 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
Top ten results
- 51- Eddie Cheever
- 88- Airton Daré '
- 8- Scott Sharp
- 28- Mark Dismore
- 98- Donnie Beechler
- 11- Eliseo Salazar
- 6- Jeret Schroeder '
- 7- Stephan Gregoire
- 33- Jaques Lazier
- 3- Al Unser, Jr.
- This was the Infinity engine's 1st victory.
Midas 500 Classic
Top ten results
- 1- Greg Ray
- 91- Buddy Lazier
- 3- Al Unser, Jr.
- 5- Robby McGehee
- 98- Donnie Beechler
- 24- Robbie Buhl
- 7- Stephan Gregoire
- 81- Billy Boat
- 55- Shigeaki Hattori
- 11- Eliseo Salazar
Belterra Resort Indy 300
Top ten results
- 91- Buddy Lazier
- 4- Scott Goodyear
- 15- Sarah Fisher '
- 51- Eddie Cheever
- 7- Stephan Gregoire
- 14- Jeff Ward
- 1- Greg Ray
- 55- Shigeaki Hattori '
- 18- Sam Hornish, Jr.
- 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
Top ten results
- 4- Scott Goodyear
- 51- Eddie Cheever
- 81- Billy Boat
- 91- Buddy Lazier
- 11- Eliseo Salazar
- 98- Donnie Beechler
- 55- Shigeaki Hattori
- 14- Jeff Ward
- 12- Buzz Calkins
- 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.
Final points standings
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