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. ChassisEngine DriversRounds Team Menard Dallara Oldsmobile 1 Greg Ray All 32 Robby Gordon 4 Galles Racing G-Force Oldsmobile 3 Al Unser Jr. All Panther Racing Dallara Oldsmobile 4 Scott Goodyear All Treadway Racing G-Force Oldsmobile 5 Robby McGehee All50 Jason Leffler 4 55 3 Raul Boesel 4 Shigeaki Hattori 5–9 Tri Star Motorsports Dallara Oldsmobile 6 Jeret Schroeder All 9 Robby Unser 1 21 Dr. Jack Miller 3–4 Zak Morioka 9 Dick Simon Racing G-Force Oldsmobile 7 Stéphan Grégoire All 90 Lyn St. James 4 Kelley Racing Dallara Oldsmobile 8 Scott Sharp All 28 Mark Dismore All Target Chip Ganassi Racing G-Force Oldsmobile 9 Juan Pablo Montoya 4 10 Jimmy Vasser 4 A. J. Foyt Enterprises G-Force Oldsmobile 11 Eliseo Salazar All 14 Jeff Ward All 41 Billy Boat 4 Bradley Motorsports Dallara Oldsmobile 12 Buzz Calkins All Walker RacingRiley & ScottOldsmobile15 Sarah Fisher 2–3 Dallara 4–9 Team Xtreme G-Force Oldsmobile John Hollansworth Jr. 1 Davey Hamilton 2–8 Jaques Lazier 9 88 Airton Daré All Nienhouse Motorsports G-Force Oldsmobile 17 Niclas Jönsson 2 Scott Harrington 3–4 PDM Racing Dallara Oldsmobile 18 Sam Hornish Jr. 1–6, 8–9 Logan Racing Dallara Oldsmobile 19 Billy Roe 5–6 Stevie Reeves 7–9 Hubbard-Immke Racing Dallara Oldsmobile 20 Tyce Carlson 1–3, 5–9 Roberto Guerrero4 Indy Regency Racing G-Force Oldsmobile 22 Johnny Unser 4 Dreyer & Reinbold Racing G-Force Infiniti 23 Steve Knapp 424 Robbie Buhl1–3Oldsmobile 4–9 Blueprint Racing G-Force Oldsmobile 27 Niclas Jönsson 1 Jimmy Kite 2–9 Byrd-McCormack RacingRiley & ScottOldsmobile29 Robby Unser430 5–6 G-Force Jon Herb 1 Ronnie Johncox 2–3Riley & Scott4 J. J. Yeley 7–9 Truscelli Team Racing G-Force Oldsmobile 33 Jaques Lazier 1, 3–6 Bobby Regester 2 Team Coulson RacingG-ForceOldsmobile40 Davy Jones4 Roberto Guerrero 8 Mid America Motorsports Dallara Oldsmobile 43 Doug Didero 1–6 Scott Harrington 7 Jaques Lazier 8 Davey Hamilton 9 Sinden Racing Dallara Oldsmobile 44 Davey Hamilton 1 Fast Track Racing Enterprises Dallara Oldsmobile 48 Andy Hillenburg 4 Dan Drinan 4 Team CheeverRiley & ScottInfiniti51 Eddie Cheever1–2 Dallara 3–952 Ross Cheever4 Pagan Racing Dallara Oldsmobile 75 Richie Hearn 4 Team Pelfrey Dallara Oldsmobile 81 Billy Boat 1–3, 5–982 Memo Gidley4 Hemelgarn RacingRiley & ScottOldsmobile91 Buddy Lazier1–3 Dallara 4–9 92 Stan Wattles 4 Cahill Racing Dallara Oldsmobile 98 Donnie Beechler All
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, Kentucky9 October 15 Excite 500 Texas Motor Speedway Fort Worth, TexasSources:
Results Rd.RacePole positionFastest lapMost laps ledRace winner DriverTeamChassisEngine 1 Walt Disney World Greg Ray Mark Dismore Robbie Buhl Robbie Buhl Dreyer & Reinbold RacingG-ForceOldsmobile 2 Phoenix Greg Ray Tyce Carlson Scott Sharp Buddy LazierHemelgarn RacingRiley & ScottOldsmobile 3 Las Vegas Mark Dismore Mark Dismore Mark Dismore Al Unser Jr.Galles RacingG-ForceOldsmobile 4 Indianapolis Greg Ray Buddy Lazier Juan Pablo Montoya Juan Pablo Montoya Chip Ganassi RacingG-ForceOldsmobile 5 Texas 1 Buddy Lazier Eddie Cheever Al Unser Jr. Scott SharpKelley RacingDallaraOldsmobile 6 Pikes Peak Greg Ray Buzz Calkins Scott Sharp Eddie CheeverTeam CheeverDallaraInfiniti 7 Atlanta Greg Ray Donnie Beechler Greg Ray Greg RayTeam MenardDallaraOldsmobile 8 Kentucky Scott Goodyear Buddy Lazier Scott Goodyear Buddy LazierHemelgarn RacingDallaraOldsmobile 9 Texas 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 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 This race was held March 19 at Phoenix International Raceway. Greg Ray won the pole.
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 This race was held April 22 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Mark Dismore won the pole.
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 The Indy 500 was held May 28 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Greg Ray sat on pole.
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 (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 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 This race was held June 18 at Pikes Peak International Raceway. Greg Ray won the pole.
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 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- 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 The inaugural Indy Racing League event was held August 27 at Kentucky Speedway. Scott Goodyear won the pole.
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 This race was held October 15 at Texas Motor Speedway. Greg Ray won the pole.
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.
Points standings
Pos Driver WDW PHX LVS INDY TMS1 PPR ATL KEN TMS2 Pts 1 Buddy Lazier 2 1 22 2 7 26 2 1 4 290 2 Scott Goodyear 4 2 12 9 5 16 11 2* 1 272 3 Eddie Cheever 3 10 11 5 9 1 21 4 2 257 4 Eliseo Salazar 5 4 18 3 17 6 10 25 5 210 5 Mark Dismore 16 16 2* 11 6 4 18 11 14 202 6 Donnie Beechler 6 3 26 12 22 5 5 10 6 202 7 Scott Sharp 15 5* 27 10 1 3* 16 24 13 196 8 Robbie Buhl 1* 7 5 26 18 23 6 13 18 190 9 Al Unser Jr. 25 9 1 29 3* 10 3 27 17* 188 10 Billy Boat 9 6 7 15 23 18 8 18 3 181 11 Jeff Ward 7 11 21 4 19 15 19 6 8 176 12 Robby McGehee 10 24 6 21 2 13 4 14 24 174 13 Greg Ray 17 19 9 33 15 20 1* 7 26 172 14 Stéphan Grégoire 18 8 28 8 11 8 7 5 20 171 15 Buzz Calkins 8 23 25 18 4 12 23 12 9 145 16 Airton Daré 11 22 14 25 10 2 25 19 12 142 17 Jeret Schroeder 19 12 4 14 21 7 24 26 16 136 18 Sarah Fisher 13 17 31 12 25 14 3 11 124 19 Tyce Carlson 13 15 8 Wth 13 11 13 22 23 124 20 Jaques Lazier 23 10 13 14 9 20 10 112 21 Sam Hornish Jr. 20 17 3 24 20 19 9 27 110 22 Shigeaki Hattori 8 17 9 8 7 109 23 Davey Hamilton 26 18 20 20 24 14 15 16 19 98 24 Jimmy Kite 26 16 30 16 24 12 17 21 79 25 Juan Pablo Montoya 1* 54 26 Doug Didero 14 25 19 DNQ 27 22 43 27 Ronnie Johncox 14 13 Wth 33 28 J. J. Yeley 17 15 25 33 29 Robby Gordon 6 28 30 Jason Leffler 15 17 28 31 Niclas Jönsson 12 21 27 32 Jimmy Vasser 7 26 33 Stevie Reeves 22 21 22 25 34 Robby Unser 24 DNQ 26 21 19 35 Scott Harrington 23 DNQ 20 17 36 Zak Morioka 15 15 37 Raul Boesel 16 14 38 Steve Knapp 19 11 39 Bobby Regester 20 10 40 John Hollansworth Jr. 21 9 41 Jon Herb 22 8 42 Johnny Unser 22 8 43 Stan Wattles 23 7 44 Roberto Guerrero DNQ 23 7 45 Dr. Jack Miller 24 DNQ 6 46 Billy Roe 25 5 47 Richie Hearn 27 3 48 Andy Hillenburg 28 2 49 Lyn St. James 32 1 – Dan Drinan DNQ 0 – Memo Gidley DNQ 0 – Davy Jones DNQ 0 – Ross Cheever Wth 0 – Hideshi Matsuda Wth 0 Pos Driver WDW PHX LVS INDY TMS1 PPR ATL KEN TMS2 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 notparticipate(DNP) Not competing In-line notationBoldPole 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. Rookie of the Year 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 2000 Indianapolis 500 2000 Indy Lights season 2000 CART season