2001 Indy Lights season

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.[2] 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.

2001 Indy Lights season
PPG/Dayton Indy Lights Championship Powered by Buick
Season
Races12
Start dateMarch 11
End dateNovember 4
Awards
Drivers' champion Townsend Bell
Teams' champion Dorricott Racing
Rookie of the Year Dan Wheldon[1]

Drivers and teams

All teams utilized Lola T97/20 chassis with Buick V6 engines.

Team No. Drivers Sponsor Notes
Brian Stewart Racing 2 Larry Mason King Taco/Trench Shoring Long Beach only
3 Andy Booth Long Beach only
Conquest Racing 11 Kristian Kolby Rounds 1–8
Matt Halliday in No. 11 for Fontana
21 Mi-Jack Rounds 4–11
Nilton Rossoni Monterrey only
Dorricott Racing 30 Townsend Bell DirecWay
31 Damien Faulkner
32 Jon Fogarty Thomas Fogarty Winery Suffered herniated disc before Portland round, returned at Road Atlanta & Laguna Seca[3][4]
Geoff Boss Injury replacement at Toronto & Mid-Ohio
Indy Regency Racing 12 Cory Witherill WSA Healthcare, Casino Morongo Missed Texas round
Mexpro Racing 15 Rudy Junco, Jr. Starlight Diamonds
16 Derek Higgins Starlight Diamonds
PacWest Lights 1 Dan Wheldon Gemstart
17 Mario Domínguez del Valle, Corona
Roquin Motorsports 64 Rolando Quintanilla Telmex
65 Luis Díaz Telmex

Calendar

Rnd Date Track Location Pole position Fastest race lap Most laps led Winning driver Winning team
1 March 11 Fundidora Park Monterrey, Mexico Derek Higgins Mario Domínguez Derek Higgins Derek Higgins Mexpro Racing
2 April 8 Long Beach street circuit Long Beach, California Mario Domínguez Townsend Bell Dan Wheldon Townsend Bell Dorricott Racing
3 April 28 Texas Motor Speedway Fort Worth, Texas Damien Faulkner Jon Fogarty Damien Faulkner Damien Faulkner Dorricott Racing
4 June 3 Milwaukee Mile West Allis, Wisconsin Townsend Bell Townsend Bell Townsend Bell Townsend Bell Dorricott Racing
5 June 24 Portland International Raceway Portland, Oregon Townsend Bell Townsend Bell Damien Faulkner Damien Faulkner Dorricott Racing
6 July 8 Kansas Speedway Kansas City, Kansas Mario Domínguez Damien Faulkner Townsend Bell Kristian Kolby Conquest Racing
7 July 15 Exhibition Place Toronto, Canada Townsend Bell Townsend Bell Townsend Bell Townsend Bell Dorricott Racing
8 August 12 Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course Lexington, Ohio Townsend Bell Townsend Bell Townsend Bell Townsend Bell Dorricott Racing
9 August 26 Gateway International Raceway Madison, Illinois Townsend Bell Dan Wheldon Townsend Bell Dan Wheldon PacWest Lights
10 October 5 Road Atlanta Braselton, Georgia Townsend Bell Jon Fogarty Townsend Bell Dan Wheldon PacWest Lights
11 October 14 Laguna Seca Raceway Monterey, California Townsend Bell Luis Díaz Townsend Bell Townsend Bell Dorricott Racing
12 November 4 California Speedway Fontana, California Townsend Bell Mario Domínguez Townsend Bell Townsend Bell Dorricott Racing

Race summaries

Monterrey

Top Five Finishers
Fin.
Pos
St.
Pos
Car
No.
DriverTeamLapsTimeLaps
Led
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 10
Race average speed: 80.625 mph (129.753 km/h)
Lead changes: 0
Cautions: 0

Long Beach

Top Five Finishers
Fin.
Pos
St.
Pos
Car
No.
DriverTeamLapsTimeLaps
Led
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 10
Race average speed: 78.412 mph (126.192 km/h)
Lead changes: 1 between 2 drivers
Cautions: 3 for 11 laps

Texas

Top Five Finishers
Fin.
Pos
St.
Pos
Car
No.
DriverTeamLapsTimeLaps
Led
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 10
Race average speed: 150.491 mph (242.192 km/h)
Lead changes: 3 between 3 drivers
Cautions: 2 for 8 laps

Milwaukee

Top Five Finishers
Fin.
Pos
St.
Pos
Car
No.
DriverTeamLapsTimeLaps
Led
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 10
Race average speed: 142.481 mph (229.301 km/h)
Lead changes: none
Cautions: 1 for 4 laps

Portland

Top Five Finishers
Fin.
Pos
St.
Pos
Car
No.
DriverTeamLapsTimeLaps
Led
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 10
Race average speed: 76.116 mph (122.497 km/h)
Lead changes: 1 between 2 drivers
Cautions: 3 for 8 laps

Kansas

Top Five Finishers
Fin.
Pos
St.
Pos
Car
No.
DriverTeamLapsTimeLaps
Led
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 11
Race average speed: 151.323 mph (243.531 km/h)
Lead changes: 9 between 4 drivers
Cautions: 2 for 7 laps

‡Townsend Bell was penalized two positions for aggressive driving.

Toronto

Top Five Finishers
Fin.
Pos
St.
Pos
Car
No.
DriverTeamLapsTimeLaps
Led
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 10
Race average speed: 88.959 mph (143.166 km/h)
Lead changes: none
Cautions: 3 for 6 laps

Mid-Ohio

Top Five Finishers
Fin.
Pos
St.
Pos
Car
No.
DriverTeamLapsTimeLaps
Led
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 10
Race average speed: 91.518 mph (147.284 km/h)
Lead changes: none
Cautions: 3 for 9 laps

Gateway

Top Five Finishers
Fin.
Pos
St.
Pos
Car
No.
DriverTeamLapsTimeLaps
Led
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 10
Race average speed: 140.080 mph (225.437 km/h)
Lead changes: 1 between 2 drivers
Cautions: 1 for 6 laps

Road Atlanta

Top Five Finishers
Fin.
Pos
St.
Pos
Car
No.
DriverTeamLapsTimeLaps
Led
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 10
Race average speed: 102.889 mph (165.584 km/h)
Lead changes: 1 between 2 drivers
Cautions: 1 for 4 laps

Laguna Seca

Top Five Finishers
Fin.
Pos
St.
Pos
Car
No.
DriverTeamLapsTimeLaps
Led
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 10
Race average speed: 102.423 mph (164.834 km/h)
Lead changes: none
Cautions: none

Fontana

Top Five Finishers
Fin.
Pos
St.
Pos
Car
No.
DriverTeamLapsTimeLaps
Led
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 10
Race average speed: 182.334 mph (293.438 km/h)
Lead changes: none
Cautions: 1 for 3 laps

Final points standings

PosNameMTY
LGB
TEX
MIL
POR
KAN
TOR
MDO
GTY
ATL
LAG
FON
Pts
1 Townsend Bell 2 1 8 1*1 6 5* 1* 1* R9*1 2* 1* 1*1 193
2 Dan Wheldon 5 2* R10 3 R10 3 7 2 1 1 5 2 149
3 Damien Faulkner 7 R13 1* 7 1* 2 3 3 5 3 4 7 141
4 Mario Domínguez 4 4 6 2 R11 R10 2 6 2 4 10 5 120
5 Derek Higgins 1* 3 2 DNS 3 R11 9 R12 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 R11 6 7 3 6 88
8 Kristian Kolby 6 5 3 6 8 1 R10 4 80
9 Rudy Junco, Jr. 8 8 7 5 2 R9 7 7 9 8 67
10 Rolando Quintanilla 10 R11 5 8 5 8 8 9 8 9 8 9 62
11 Jon Fogarty 3 R12 R9 10 5 2 48
12 Cory Witherill 9 7 R11 7 6 R11 8 R10 R10 11 R10 44
13 Geoff Boss 6 10 11
14 Andy Booth 6 8
15 Larry Mason 10 3
16 Nilton Rossoni R12 1
PosNameMTY
LGB
TEX
MIL
POR
KAN
TOR
MDO
GTY
ATL
LAG
FON
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
Red Did not qualify
(DNQ)
Brown Withdrawn
(Wth)
Black Disqualified
(DSQ)
White Did not start
(DNS)
Blank Did not
participate
(DNP)
Not competing
In-line notation
Bold Pole position
(1 point)
Italics Ran fastest race lap
* Led most race laps
(1 points)
1 Qualifying cancelled
no bonus point awarded

Note: Race 4 no additional point for the qualifying was awarded due to rain, starting grid were determined by championship points standing. Race 9 no additional point for the qualifying was awarded due to rain, starting grid were determined by championship points standing.

Complete Overview

first column of every race10= grid position
second column of every race10= race result

R9=retired, but classified NS=did not start

PlaceNameCountryTeam
1Townsend BellUSADorricott Racing32612811162511111R9121111
2Dan Wheldon United KingdomPacWest Lights105325R10532R1043372231615552
3Damien Faulkner IrelandDorricott Racing674R1311773172433325336467
4Mario Domínguez MexicoPacWest Lights441466625R111R102276427431095
5Derek Higgins IrelandMexpro Racing1153423NS739R11599R1254867684
6Matt Halliday New ZealandConquest Racing11910434945583488773
7Luis Díaz MexicoRoquin Motorsports1111119749449117656R11765743106
8Kristian Kolby DenmarkConquest Racing7675334668617R1044
9Rudy Junco, Jr. MexicoMexpro Racing881289785828R9107679938
10Rolando Quintanilla MexicoRoquin Motorsports121010R1110510895581181299810910829
11Jon FogartyUSADorricott Racing532R128R92102522
12Cory WitherillUSAIndy Regency Racing998712R1111710610R1111810R109R1011114R10
13Geoff BossUSADorricott Racing86810
14Andy Booth New ZealandBrian Stewart Racing96
15Larry MasonUSABrian Stewart Racing1310
16Nilton Rossoni BrazilConquest Racing2R12

See also

References

  1. "Dan Wheldon wins Rookie of the Year award". Press release. DanWheldon.com. November 5, 2001. Retrieved June 10, 2011.
  2. "CART to drop Indy Lights, focus on Atlantic". Press release. CART. September 10, 2001. Retrieved June 10, 2011.
  3. "Jon Fogarty out for remainder of 2001". Press release. Dorricott Racing. August 13, 2001. Retrieved June 10, 2011.
  4. "Dorricott Racing season finale Fontana preview". Press release. Dorricott Racing. November 1, 2001. Retrieved June 10, 2011.
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