The 2001 CART PPG/Dayton Indy Lights Championship Powered By Buick consisted of 12 races. It was dominated by Townsend Bell who captured six victories on his way to the championship. It was the last Indy Lights season, as the series organizer, CART, decided to drop the Indy Lights series and concentrate its efforts on the Toyota Atlantic Championship. Most former Indy Lights teams that wished to stay in business went either to the Atlantic series, which replaced Indy Lights as the support race at most CART events, or the new Infiniti Pro Series, which ran in support of Indy Racing League events.
All teams used the Lola T97/20-Buick spec car. Each round of the championship seldom had more than 12 entries.
The scoring system was 20-16-14-12-10-8-6-5-4-3-2-1 points awarded to the first 12 (twelve) finishers, with 1 (one) extra point given to the driver who took pole-position, and another extra point given to the driver who led most laps in the race.
Team and driver chart All teams utilized Lola T97/20 chassis with Buick V6 engines. TeamDriversRound(s) Brian Stewart Racing 2 Larry Mason 2 3 Andy Booth 2Conquest Racing 11 Kristian Kolby 1–8 Matt Halliday 12 21 4–11 Nilton Rossoni 1 Dorricott Racing 30 Townsend Bell All 31 Damien Faulkner All 32 Jon Fogarty 1–4, 10–11 Geoff Boss 7–8 Indy Regency Racing 12 Cory Witherill 1–2, 4–12 Mexpro Racing 15 Rudy Junco Jr. 1–6, 8–9, 11–12 16 Derek HigginsAll PacWest Lights 1 Dan Wheldon All 17 Mario Domínguez All Roquin Motorsports 64 Rolando QuintanillaAll 65 Luis DíazAll
Schedule Rd. Date Track Location 1 March 11 Fundidora Park Monterrey, Mexico 2 April 8 Long Beach street circuit Long Beach, California 3 April 28 Texas Motor Speedway Fort Worth, Texas 4 June 3 Milwaukee Mile West Allis, Wisconsin 5 June 24 Portland International Raceway Portland, Oregon 6 July 8 Kansas Speedway Kansas City, Kansas 7 July 15 Exhibition Place Toronto, Canada 8 August 12 Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course Lexington, Ohio 9 August 26 Gateway International Raceway Madison, Illinois 10 October 5 Road Atlanta Braselton, Georgia 11 October 14 Laguna Seca Raceway Monterey, California 12 November 4 California Speedway Fontana, California
Race results RoundCircuitPole positionFastest lapMost laps ledRace winner Driver Team 1 Fundidora Park Derek Higgins Mario Domínguez Derek Higgins Derek Higgins Mexpro Racing 2 Long Beach street circuit Mario Domínguez Townsend Bell Dan Wheldon Townsend Bell Dorricott Racing 3 Texas Motor Speedway Damien Faulkner Jon Fogarty Damien Faulkner Damien Faulkner Dorricott Racing 4 Milwaukee Mile Townsend Bell Townsend Bell Townsend Bell Townsend Bell Dorricott Racing 5 Portland International Raceway Townsend Bell Townsend Bell Damien Faulkner Damien Faulkner Dorricott Racing 6 Kansas Speedway Mario Domínguez Damien Faulkner Townsend Bell Kristian Kolby Conquest Racing 7 Exhibition Place Townsend Bell Townsend Bell Townsend Bell Townsend Bell Dorricott Racing 8 Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course Townsend Bell Townsend Bell Townsend Bell Townsend Bell Dorricott Racing 9 Gateway International Raceway Townsend Bell Dan Wheldon Townsend Bell Dan Wheldon PacWest Lights 10 Road Atlanta Townsend Bell Jon Fogarty Townsend Bell Dan Wheldon PacWest Lights 11 Laguna Seca Raceway Townsend Bell Luis Díaz Townsend Bell Townsend Bell Dorricott Racing 12 California Speedway Townsend Bell Mario Domínguez Townsend Bell Townsend Bell Dorricott Racing
Race summaries
Monterrey March 11, 2001 Fundidora Park, Monterrey, Mexico Pole position: Derek Higgins, 1:25.345,
Top Five Finishers Fin.Pos St.Pos CarNo. Driver Team Laps Time LapsLed Points 1 1 16 Derek Higgins Mexpro Racing 35 54:48.128 35 22 2 3 30 Townsend Bell Dorricott Racing 35 +0.179 0 16 3 5 32 Jon Fogarty Dorricott Racing 35 +5.799 0 14 4 4 17 Mario Domínguez PacWest Lights 35 +6.334 0 12 5 10 1 Dan Wheldon PacWest Lights 35 +9.437 0 10Race average speed: Lead changes: 0Cautions: 0
Long Beach April 8, 2001 Long Beach street circuit, Long Beach, California Pole position: Mario Domínguez, 1:15.968,
Top Five Finishers Fin.Pos St.Pos CarNo. Driver Team Laps Time LapsLed Points 1 6 30 Townsend Bell Dorricott Racing 38 57:13.430 5 20 2 3 1 Dan Wheldon PacWest Lights 38 +3.775 33 17 3 5 16 Derek Higgins Mexpro Racing 38 +5.342 0 14 4 1 17 Mario Domínguez PacWest Lights 38 +5.862 0 13 5 7 11 Kristian Kolby Conquest Racing 38 +12.326 0 10Race average speed: Lead changes: 1 between 2 driversCautions: 3 for 11 laps
Texas April 28, 2001 Texas Motor Speedway, Fort Worth, Texas Pole position: Damien Faulkner, 0:29:060, The CART race that weekend was cancelled due to track incompatibility, so this was the only race completed that weekend.
Top Five Finishers Fin.Pos St.Pos CarNo. Driver Team Laps Time LapsLed Points 1 1 31 Damien Faulkner Dorricott Racing 67 39:35.632 65 22 2 4 16 Derek Higgins Mexpro Racing 67 +0.349 1 16 3 3 11 Kristian Kolby Conquest Racing 67 +0.529 0 14 4 7 65 Luis Díaz Roquin Motorsports 67 +0.737 0 12 5 10 64 Rolando Quintanilla Roquin Motorsports 67 +1.127 0 10Race average speed: Lead changes: 3 between 3 driversCautions: 2 for 8 laps
Milwaukee June 3, 2001 Milwaukee Mile, West Allis, Wisconsin Pole position: Townsend Bell (qualifying rained out; grid determined by championship points)
Top Five Finishers Fin.Pos St.Pos CarNo. Driver Team Laps Time LapsLed Points 1 1 30 Townsend Bell Dorricott Racing 100 43:27.503 100 21 2 6 17 Mario Domínguez PacWest Lights 99 -1 lap 0 16 3 5 1 Dan Wheldon PacWest Lights 98 -2 laps 0 14 4 9 65 Luis Díaz Roquin Motorsports 97 -3 laps 0 12 5 8 15 Rudy Junco Jr. Mexpro Racing 97 -3 laps 0 10Race average speed: Lead changes: noneCautions: 1 for 4 laps
Portland June 24, 2001 Portland International Raceway, Portland, Oregon Pole position: Townsend Bell, 1:04.991,
Top Five Finishers Fin.Pos St.Pos CarNo. Driver Team Laps Time LapsLed Points 1 3 31 Damien Faulkner Dorricott Racing 38 58:58.791 16 21 2 8 15 Rudy Junco Jr. Mexpro Racing 38 +16.134 0 16 3 7 13 Derek Higgins Mexpro Racing 38 +20.501 0 14 4 10 21 Matt Halliday Conquest Racing 38 28.936 0 12 5 9 64 Rolando Quintanilla Roquin Motorsports 38 +28.936 0 10Race average speed: Lead changes: 1 between 2 driversCautions: 3 for 8 laps
Kansas July 8, 2001 Kansas Speedway, Kansas City, Kansas Pole position: Mario Domínguez, 0:30.252,
Top Five Finishers Fin.Pos St.Pos CarNo. Driver Team Laps Time LapsLed Points 1 6 11 Kristian Kolby Conquest Racing 67 40:25.322 19 20 2 7 31 Damien Faulkner Dorricott Racing 67 +0.001 0 16 3 4 1 Dan Wheldon PacWest Lights 67 +0.213 0 14 4 3 21 Matt Halliday Conquest Racing 67 +0.962 3 12 5 2 30 Townsend Bell Dorricott Racing 67 +0.017‡ 27 11Race average speed: Lead changes: 9 between 4 driversCautions: 2 for 7 laps ‡Townsend Bell was penalized two positions for aggressive driving.
Toronto July 15, 2001 Exhibition Place, Toronto, Ontario Pole position: Townsend Bell, 1:04.202,
Top Five Finishers Fin.Pos St.Pos CarNo. Driver Team Laps Time LapsLed Points 1 1 30 Townsend Bell Dorricott Racing 43 51:18.593 43 22 2 1 17 Mario Domínguez PacWest Lights 43 +7.002 0 16 3 4 31 Damien Faulkner Dorricott Racing 43 ? 0 14 4 9 21 Matt Halliday Conquest Racing 43 +8.333 0 12 5 6 65 Luis Díaz Roquin Motorsports 43 +10.658 0 10Race average speed: Lead changes: noneCautions: 3 for 6 laps
Mid-Ohio August 12, 2001 Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, Lexington, Ohio Pole position: Townsend Bell, 1:13.809,
Top Five Finishers Fin.Pos St.Pos CarNo. Driver Team Laps Time LapsLed Points 1 1 30 Townsend Bell Dorricott Racing 34 50:19.940 34 22 2 2 1 Dan Wheldon PacWest Lights 34 +0.235 0 16 3 3 31 Damien Faulkner Dorricott Racing 34 +0.466 0 14 4 4 11 Kristian Kolby Conquest Racing 34 +1.771 0 12 5 5 21 Matt Halliday Conquest Racing 34 +2.148 0 10Race average speed: Lead changes: noneCautions: 3 for 9 laps
Gateway August 26, 2001 Gateway International Raceway, Madison, Illinois Pole position: Townsend Bell (qualifying rained out; grid determined by championship points)
Top Five Finishers Fin.Pos St.Pos CarNo. Driver Team Laps Time LapsLed Points 1 3 1 Dan Wheldon PacWest Lights 80 43:31.081 11 20 2 4 17 Mario Domínguez PacWest Lights 80 +23.822 0 16 3 8 21 Matt Halliday Conquest Racing 80 +624.573 0 14 4 5 16 Derek Higgins Mexpro Racing 79 -1 lap 0 12 5 2 31 Damien Faulkner Dorricott Racing 79 -1 lap 0 10Race average speed: Lead changes: 1 between 2 driversCautions: 1 for 6 laps
Road Atlanta October 5, 2001 Road Atlanta, Braselton, Georgia Pole position: Townsend Bell, 1:14.883,
Top Five Finishers Fin.Pos St.Pos CarNo. Driver Team Laps Time LapsLed Points 1 6 1 Dan Wheldon PacWest Lights 29 42:57.299 1 20 2 1 30 Townsend Bell Dorricott Racing 29 +0.256 28 18 3 3 31 Damien Faulkner Dorricott Racing 29 +2.536 0 14 4 5 17 Mario Domínguez PacWest Lights 29 +4.780 0 12 5 2 32 Jon Fogarty Dorricott Racing 29 +5.791 0 10Race average speed: Lead changes: 1 between 2 driversCautions: 1 for 4 laps
Laguna Seca October 14, 2001 Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, Monterey, California Pole position: Townsend Bell, 1:16.313,
Top Five Finishers Fin.Pos St.Pos CarNo. Driver Team Laps Time LapsLed Points 1 1 30 Townsend Bell Dorricott Racing 34 44:34.521 34 22 2 2 32 Jon Fogarty Dorricott Racing 34 +2.963 0 16 3 4 65 Luis Díaz Roquin Motorsports 34 +9.974 0 14 4 6 31 Damien Faulkner Dorricott Racing 34 +16.433 0 12 5 5 1 Dan Wheldon PacWest Lights 34 +17.532 0 10Race average speed: Lead changes: noneCautions: none
Fontana November 4, 2001 California Speedway, Fontana, California Pole position: Townsend Bell (qualifying rained out; grid determined by championship points) This was the last CART-sanctioned Indy Lights race.
Top Five Finishers Fin.Pos St.Pos CarNo. Driver Team Laps Time LapsLed Points 1 1 30 Townsend Bell Dorricott Racing 44 29:22.667 44 21 2 5 1 Dan Wheldon PacWest Lights 44 +0.051 0 16 3 7 11 Matt Halliday Conquest Racing 44 +17.354 0 14 4 8 16 Derek Higgins Mexpro Racing 44 +17.356 0 12 5 9 17 Mario Domínguez PacWest Lights 44 +17.361 0 10Race average speed: Lead changes: noneCautions: 1 for 3 laps
Championship standings
Drivers' championship
Scoring system
Position 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th 8th 9th 10th 11th 12th Points20161412108654321
The driver who qualifies on pole is awarded one additional point. An additional point is awarded to the driver who leads the most laps in a race.
Pos Driver MTY LGB TEX MIL POR KAN TOR MOH GAT ATL LAG FON Points 1 Townsend Bell 2 1 8 1*1 6 5* 1* 1* 9*1 2* 1* 1*1 192 2 Dan Wheldon 5 2* 10 3 10 3 7 2 1 1 5 2 149 3 Damien Faulkner 7 13 1* 7 1* 2 3 3 5 3 4 7 141 4 Mario Domínguez 4 4 6 2 11 10 2 6 2 4 10 5 120 5 Derek Higgins 1* 3 2 DNS 3 11 9 12 4 6 6 4 113 6 Matt Halliday 9 4 4 4 5 3 8 7 3 89 7 Luis Díaz 11 9 4 4 9 7 5 11 6 7 3 6 88 8 Kristian Kolby 6 5 3 6 8 1 10 4 80 9 Rudy Junco Jr. 8 8 7 5 2 9 7 7 9 8 67 10 10 11 5 8 5 8 8 9 8 9 8 9 62 11 Jon Fogarty 3 12 9 10 5 2 48 12 Cory Witherill 9 7 11 7 6 11 8 10 10 11 10 44 13 Geoff Boss 6 10 11 14 Andy Booth 6 8 15 Larry Mason 10 3 16 Nilton Rossoni 12 1 Pos Driver MTY LGB TEX MIL POR KAN TOR MOH GAT ATL LAG FON Points 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 Red Did not qualify(DNQ) Brown Withdrawn(Wth) Black Disqualified(DSQ) White Did not start(DNS) Blank Did notparticipate(DNP) Not competing
In-line notationBoldPole position(1 point)ItalicsRan fastest race lap*Led most race laps(1 point)1Qualifying cancelledno bonus point awarded Ties in points broken by number of wins, or best finishes.
See also 2001 CART season 2001 Formula Atlantic season
Footnotes
References
External links 2001 season data from Motorsport.com