2000 Indianapolis 500

84th Indianapolis 500
Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Indianapolis 500
Sanctioning bodyIndy Racing League
Season2000 IRL season
DateMay 28, 2000
WinnerColombia Juan Pablo Montoya
Winning teamChip Ganassi Racing
Average speed167.607 mph (269.737 km/h)
Pole positionUnited States Greg Ray
Pole speed223.471 mph (359.642 km/h)
Fastest qualifierUnited States Greg Ray
Rookie of the YearColombia Juan Pablo Montoya
Most laps ledColombia Juan Pablo Montoya (167)
Pre-race ceremonies
National anthemJessica Andrews
"Back Home Again in Indiana"Jim Nabors
Starting commandMari George
Pace carOldsmobile Aurora
Pace car driverAnthony Edwards
StarterBryan Howard
Honorary starterHoward Katz (ABC Sports)
Estimated attendance250,000 (estimated)
TV in the United States
NetworkABC
AnnouncersBob Jenkins, Tom Sneva, Arie Luyendyk
Nielsen ratings5.5 / 15
Chronology
Previous Next
1999 2001

The 84th Indianapolis 500 was held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Speedway, Indiana on Sunday, May 28, 2000. The race was sanctioned by the Indy Racing League, and was part of the 2000 Indy Racing Northern Lights Series season. After four years of an ongoing organizational dispute and "split" in Indy car racing,[1] Chip Ganassi Racing became the first major CART-based team to compete at the race since 1995.[2] The Ganassi team of Jimmy Vasser and Juan Pablo Montoya competed as a one-off entry, and were well received by fans and fellow competitors.[1] Both drivers were quickly up to speed with the IRL regulars, and were expected to be favorites in both qualifying and on race day. Also making a heralded return to Indianapolis was two-time winner Al Unser Jr.[1] who had switched full-time to the IRL in 2000.

During qualifying, defending IRL champion Greg Ray took the pole position. However, on race day, reigning CART champion Juan Pablo Montoya dominated the race.[2] Montoya led 167 laps, and cruised to victory, becoming the first rookie winner since Graham Hill in 1966.[3][4] It was the first of two Indy victories for Montoya (2000, 2015). Buddy Lazier, the 1996 winner, and eventual season champion, finished second, his second runner-up finish at Indy, and fifth consecutive top ten.

The 2000 race was the first to feature two female starters in the field, Lyn St. James and Sarah Fisher. The start of the race was delayed over three hours due to rain. The green flag dropped at 2:10 p.m. EST, and the race was completed shortly after 5 p.m. Seven minutes after the checkered flag, the rain returned, and doused the victory lane celebration.

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]

  1. ^ a b c "Shot in the arm: Ganassi, Unser providing old excitement at Indy". Sports Illustrated. 2000-05-28. Archived from the original on February 11, 2006. Retrieved 2012-03-05.
  2. ^ a b "CART's revenge: Montoya pulls away from Lazier for Indy 500 win". Sports Illustrated. 2000-05-29. Archived from the original on August 29, 2000. Retrieved 2012-03-05.
  3. ^ Robbins, Liz (2000-05-29). "AUTO RACING; Montoya's Got Milk And Victory In Indy 500". The New York Times. Retrieved 2009-10-19.
  4. ^ 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]
  5. ^ "Juan Pablo Montoya joins Penske". ESPN. 2013-09-17. Retrieved 2013-09-17.