2000 Indianapolis 500
Nielsen ratings | 5.5 / 15 | ||||
Chronology | |||||
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The 84th Indianapolis 500 was held at the
During qualifying,
The 2000 race was the first to feature two female starters in the field,
The first 65 laps of the race were run caution-free, a new Indy 500 record at the time. Montoya became only the fourth winner to complete the race in under three hours, and at 167.607 mph, it was the fastest Indy 500 since 1991. At the end of the season, Montoya promptly departed Indy car racing for Formula One, then went to NASCAR. He would not return for his second Indy start until 2014.[5]
Race schedule
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Rule changes
During a yellow flag caution period, when the field is one lap away from going back to green flag conditions, the pace car would now drop off the track in turn one, and the race leader would pace the field back to the green flag and the ensuing restart. This was an effort to prevent any chance of the leader(s) accidentally passing the pace car on a restart (which happened to Scott Goodyear in the 1995 race).
A year later, this would be combined with the "wave around" rule.
Time trials
Time trials were scheduled for two days in 2000, May 20–21. During practice, IRL regulars generally topped the speed charts, with different names leading nearly each day. Jimmy Vasser and Juan Pablo Montoya were quickly up to speed in the IRL machines, and each managed to lead one day of practice. Both were considered contenders for the front row. Greg Ray (223.948 mph) set the fastest lap of the week on "Fast Friday".
Pole day - Saturday May 20
Pole qualifying began at 11 a.m. The weather was cool and cloudy. Al Unser Jr. (220.293 mph) was the first car in the field. At 12:07 p.m., Eliseo Salazar took over the top spot with a run of 223.231 mph. Salazar remained on top for over an hour, as most cars waved off, awaiting better conditions.
At 1:19 p.m., Juan Pablo Montoya took to the track. His run of 223.372 mph took over the provisional pole position. Greg Ray pulled his car out of line due to handling issues, and Team Menard announced they would go out later. Jimmy Vasser went out next, and at 221.976 mph, he was not able to join his Ganassi teammate on the front row.
Later in the day, conditions improved slightly, and several cars returned to the track. At 3:49 p.m.,
A total of 23 cars qualified for the field. Lyn St. James wrecked on her first attempt, flipping the car up on its side in the south chute. Also into the wall were Jimmy Kite, Scott Harrington, rookie Memo Gidley and veteran Hideshi Matsuda. None of the drivers were injured.
Sarah Fisher (220.237 mph) qualified 19th, becoming the third female driver in Indy history.
Bump day - Sunday May 21
The second and final day of time trials opened with ten spots remaining. Raul Boesel was the first car out, and at 222.113 mph, he would be the fastest driver of the afternoon. After two wave-offs on Saturday, Billy Boat wrecked on his first attempt on Sunday. He would be forced to find a backup car.
The field was filled to 33 cars by 5:30 p.m.. Among the drivers who completed attempts were Jimmy Kite, Davey Hamilton, and popular hometown rookie Andy Hillenburg. Independent driver and co-owner Hillenburg was fielding a "throwback" entry named the Sumar Special, a gesture to the car driven by Pat O'Connor which won the pole position in 1957.
Lyn St. James and Dick Simon Racing reorganized after Saturday's crash, and she qualified comfortably. She bumped Boat with 25 minutes left in the day. With less than a minute until the 6 o'clock gun, Billy Boat climbed into another Foyt backup, (#11) a car that had not been driven all week. Boat managed a run of 218.872 mph out of the unproven machine. He shockingly bumped his way into the field as time expired.
Davy Jones attempted a comeback after breaking his neck in 1997, but he was bumped.[6]
Starting grid
Fila | Inside | Middle | Outside |
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1 | 1 - Greg Ray Team Conseco/Quaker State/Menards Team Menard Dallara-Oldsmobile Aurora 223.471 mph |
9 - Juan Pablo Montoya R Target Chip Ganassi Racing G-Force-Oldsmobile Aurora 223.372 mph |
11 - Eliseo Salazar Rio A. J. Foyt Racing G-Force-Oldsmobile Aurora 223.231 mph |
2 | 32 - Robby Gordon Turtle Wax/Burger King/Moen/Johns Manville/Menards Team Menard Dallara-Oldsmobile Aurora 222.885 mph |
8 - Scott Sharp Delphi Automotive Systems/MCI Worldcom Kelley Racing Dallara-Oldsmobile Aurora 222.810 mph |
14 - Jeff Ward Harrah's A. J. Foyt Racing G-Force-Oldsmobile Aurora 222.639 mph |
3 | 10 - Jimmy Vasser Target Chip Ganassi Racing G-Force-Oldsmobile Aurora 221.976 mph |
92 - Stan Wattles Metro Racing Hemelgarn Racing Dallara-Oldsmobile Aurora 221.508 mph |
24 - Robbie Buhl Team Purex Dreyer & Reinbold Racing G-Force-Oldsmobile Aurora 221.357 mph |
4 | Team Cheever Dallara-Infiniti 221.270 mph |
28 - Mark Dismore On Star/GM BuyPower/Bryant Heating & Cooling Kelley Racing Dallara-Oldsmobile Aurora 220.970 mph |
5 - Robby McGehee Meijer / Energizer Advanced Formula Treadway Racing G-Force-Oldsmobile Aurora 220.611 mph |
5 | 4 - Scott Goodyear Pennzoil Panther Racing Dallara-Oldsmobile Aurora 220.496 mph |
18 - Sam Hornish Jr. R Hornish Trucking / Advantage Powder Coating PDM Racing Dallara-Oldsmobile Aurora 220.496 mph |
98 - Donnie Beechler Cahill Racing Dallara-Oldsmobile Aurora 220.482 mph |
6 | 91 - Buddy Lazier W Delta Faucet/Coors Light/Tae -Bo Hemelgarn Racing Dallara-Oldsmobile Aurora 220.482 mph |
50 - Jason Leffler R United Auto Group Special Treadway Racing G-Force Oldsmobile 220.417 mph |
3 - Al Unser Jr. W ECR / RacingTickets.com Galles Racing G-Force Oldsmobile Aurora 220.293 mph |
7 | 15 - Sarah Fisher R Cummins Walker Racing Dallara-Oldsmobile Aurora 220.237 mph |
7 - Stéphan Grégoire Mexmil/Tokheim/Viking Air Tools Dick Simon Racing G-Force Oldsmobile Aurora 219.970 mph |
88 - Airton Daré R USACredit.com Team Xtreme G-Force-Oldsmobile Aurora 219.970 mph |
8 | 12 - Buzz Calkins Bradley Motorsports / Team CAN Bradley Motorsports Dallara-Oldsmobile Aurora 219.862 mph |
75 - Richie Hearn NetZero Pagan Racing Dallara-Oldsmobile Aurora 219.816 mph |
55 - Raul Boesel EPSON Treadway Racing G-Force-Oldsmobile Aurora 222.113 mph |
9 | 27 - Jimmy Kite Big Daddy's BBQ/Founders Bank Blueprint Racing G-Force-Oldsmobile Aurora 220.718 mph |
33 - Jaques Lazier R Miles of Hope Truscelli Team Racing G-Force-Oldsmobile Aurora 220.675 mph |
23 - Steve Knapp Dreyer & Reinbold Racing G-Force-Nissan Infiniti 220.290 mph |
10 | 16 - Davey Hamilton FreeInternet.com Team Xtreme G-Force-Oldsmobile Aurora 219.878 mph |
6 - Jeret Schroeder Kroger Tri Star Motorsports Dallara-Oldsmobile Aurora 219.322 mph |
22 - Johnny Unser Delco-Remy/Microdigicom/Homier Tools Indy Regency Racing G-Force-Oldsmobile Aurora 219.066 mph |
11 | 41 - Billy Boat Harrah's A. J. Foyt Racing G-Force-Oldsmobile Aurora 218.872 mph |
90 - Lyn St. James Yellow Freight System Dick Simon Racing G-Force-Oldsmobile Aurora 218.826 mph |
48 - Andy Hillenburg R The Sumar Special By Irwindale Speedway Fast Track Racing Dallara-Oldsmobile Aurora 218.285 mph |
Alternates
- First alternate: Dr. Jack Miller(#21) - Bumped
- Second alternate: Scott Harrington (#17) - Bumped
Failed to qualify
- Davy Jones (#40) - Bumped
- Robby Unser (#30) - Bumped
- Dan Drinan R (#48) - Waved off
- Roberto Guerrero (#41/20T) - Waved off
- Doug Didero R (#43) - Wrecked qualifying
- Memo Gidley R (#82) - Wrecked qualifying
- Hideshi Matsuda (#20) - Wrecked qualifying & practice
- Ross Cheever R (#52) - Entered and tested but did not attempt a qualifying lap
Race recap
Pre-race and rain delay
On Saturday May 27, the day before the Indy 500,
. The race had been scheduled for April 11, but snow postponed it until the Saturday of Memorial Day weekend. Montoya finished 4th, and Vasser 7th.On race day, Sunday May 28, the morning dawned warm and sunny, but rain was in the forecast. At 10:07 a.m., rain started to fall, and the start of the race was delayed. After three brief periods of showers, at approximately 12:40 p.m., the rain stopped and held off just long enough to complete the race. Track-drying efforts began, and at 2:01 p.m. EST, Mari Hulman George gave the command to start engines, and the field pulled away.
First half
At the start, polesitter Greg Ray took the lead. Juan Pablo Montoya settled into second, and Robby Gordon third. A fast pace over the first 20 laps saw Ray dominate, with Montoya aggressively dicing through traffic, holding a close second place.
On lap 27, the leaders went four-wide through traffic, and Montoya took the lead for the first time. There would only be 6 laps that he would not be in front for the rest of the race. A few laps later, all the leaders were into the pits for the first round of green flag pit stops. On lap 33 Montoya emerged with the lead, and began to flex some strength. His lead grew from 11.9 seconds on lap 34 to over 21 seconds on lap 55.
A blistering pace over the first 60 laps saw thus far zero yellow flags. The average speed at lap 60 (150 miles) was an all-time record 207.101 mph. Montoya held a 30-second lead over second place
Montoya now led Robby Gordon and Buddy Lazier. After the restart, however, Lyn St. James crashed into the outside wall in turn 1. Sarah Fisher was collected in the incident, and also crashed.
At the halfway point, Montoya still led. Vasser was second, about 5 seconds behind.
Second half
In the second half Juan Pablo Montoya continued to dominate. His teammate Jimmy Vasser, however, started to drop down the top ten. Buddy Lazier and Jeff Ward were now in the top three, all chasing Montoya.
On lap 143, Greg Ray returned to the track after lengthy repairs. His return did not last long, as he smacked the outside wall in turn two - close to the same place he crashed earlier - and he was finally out of the race. Ray became the fourth polesitter (Woodbury, Carter, and Guerrero) to finish last.
The green came back out on lap 150, with Montoya first and Lazier close behind in second. Rookie Sam Hornish Jr. crashed on lap 158, but most of the leaders did not pit. On the restart on lap 162, Lazier made a run for the lead in turn one, but Montoya held him off.
Finish
Stan Wattles brought out the final yellow flag on lap 174 for a blown engine. Montoya and Lazier pitted, which allowed Jimmy Vasser to take over the lead. The green came out with 23 laps to go.
Vasser's lead did not last long, as Montoya got by him on lap 180. Lazier caught up to Vasser and passed him for second. Lazier set the fastest lap of the race (218.494 mph) on lap 198, but Montoya was too far ahead. Montoya pulled away and won the Indianapolis 500 in his first start by 7.1839 seconds over 1996 winner Buddy Lazier.
Box score
W = former Indianapolis 500 winner; R = Indianapolis 500 rookie
All entrants utilized Firestone tires.
Race statistics
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Legacy
After the
The 2000 Indy 500 marked a turning point in the ongoing, five-year "split" between
Statistics
Juan Pablo Montoya won the race from the 2nd starting position. It was the first time a driver had won from the middle of the front row since Mario Andretti in 1969. From 1911 to 1969, the second starting position statistically produced the most race winners (ten total), more so than even the pole position (which had produced only seven winners at that time), a reflection of the Andretti curse. Montoya broke a thirty-year streak of losses by the second starting position, including many years where the no. 2 starter failed to even finish the race. As of 2022 the second starting position has not produced any additional race winners, a win–loss record of 1–52.
Second place finisher
Greg Ray (67 laps) fell just seven laps short of breaking Bill Homeier's record of 74 laps for the last place finisher.
With Goodyear announcing in October 1999 that it was leaving the sport of open wheel racing indefinitely, the Speedway lost one of its fixtures in 2000. The Goodyear Blimp had flown over the Indy 500 in most years from 1925 to 1999, but was absent in 2000, in what was believed to be the first time in decades.
Broadcasting
Radio
The race was carried live on the Indy Racing Radio Network. Mike King served as chief announcer. The broadcast was moved into a brand new studio on the 9th floor of the newly completed Pagoda control tower. The race was heard on 549 affiliates. Due to the rain delay, the broadcast came on-air for one hour, then signed off to wait out the delay. Hourly updates were aired, then the broadcast came back to cover the pre-race ceremonies and race in its entirety.
Several minor changes were made to the crew. Ken Double worked his final 500 on the network. Mark Jaynes moved from the pits to take over the turn three location vacated by one-year member Kevin O'Neal. Larry Rice and Mike Lewis joined the crew as pit reporters. This would be Rice's only year on the network. Vince Welch, formerly a pit reporter, left the crew and eventually would join ABC television. This was the last year of the Statistician position. Starting on 2001 there were no more full field rundowns every 25 laps.
Bob Lamey who joined the crew in 1988, and had become a fixture in turn 4, would be on the crew for the final time in 2000. Guests interviewed in the broadcast booth included Secretary of Defense William Cohen, John F. Fielder (BorgWarner), David Seuss (Northern Light), Kevin Forbes (IMS), Mark Miller (Nokia), and Ira Kisver (Pennzoil).
Indy Racing Radio Network | ||
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Booth Announcers | Turn Reporters | Pit/garage reporters
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Turn 1: Jerry Baker |
Mike Lewis (north pits) Chris Denari (center pits) Larry Rice (south pits) Chuck Marlowe (garages) |
Television
The race was carried live flag-to-flag coverage in the United States on ABC Sports. Al Michaels returned as host, with Bob Jenkins as announcer. Arie Luyendyk, who had announced his first retirement, joined the broadcast as analyst, alongside Tom Sneva.
After a one-year absence,
ABC Television | |
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Booth Announcers | Pit/garage reporters
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Host: Al Michaels |
Jack Arute Dr. Jerry Punch Vince Welch Leslie Gudel |
Notes
References
- ^ a b c d "Shot in the arm: Ganassi, Unser providing old excitement at Indy". Sports Illustrated. 2000-05-28. Retrieved 2012-03-05.
- ^ a b c d "CART's revenge: Montoya pulls away from Lazier for Indy 500 win". Sports Illustrated. 2000-05-29. Retrieved 2012-03-05.
- ^ Robbins, Liz (2000-05-29). "AUTO RACING; Montoya's Got Milk And Victory In Indy 500". The New York Times. Retrieved 2009-10-19.
- ^ Harris, Mike (2000-05-30). "Montoya makes it look easy". The Independent. London. Archived from the original on 2022-05-01. Retrieved 2009-10-19.[dead link]
- ^ "Juan Pablo Montoya joins Penske". ESPN. 2013-09-17. Retrieved 2013-09-17.
- ^ a b Glick, Shav (2000-05-22). "Qualifying Turns Into a Boat Race". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2012-03-05.
- ^ Pruett, Marshall (August 22, 2020). "The most important Indy 500 Penske missed wasn't in 1995". Racer.com. Retrieved August 26, 2020.
- ^ Callahan, Terry (2000-05-30). "Quick work in the pits pivotal in Montoya's victory". The Auto Channel. Retrieved 2012-04-06.
Works cited
- 2000 Indianapolis 500 Daily Trackside Report for the Media
- Indianapolis 500 History: Race & All-Time Stats - Official Site
- 2000 Indianapolis 500 Radio Broadcast, Indianapolis Motor Speedway Radio Network