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| 2001 Indy Racing League season | |
|---|---|
| Indy Racing Northern Light Series | |
 2001 Indy Racing League | |
| Season | |
| Races | 13 |
| Start date | March 18 |
| End date | October 6 |
| Awards | |
| Drivers' champion |  Sam Hornish Jr. |
| Manufacturers' Cup | Oldsmobile |
| Rookie of the Year |  Felipe Giaffone |
| Indianapolis 500 winner | Hélio Castroneves |
Sam Hornish Jr. (left) won his first Drivers' Championship while Buddy Lazier (right) finished second in the championship.
The 2001 Indy Racing Northern Light Series saw the addition of five races and loss of one to bring the total to 13. Chip Ganassi Racing returned to the Indy 500 with four cars and were joined on the grid by Penske Racing and Team Kool Green. Sam Hornish Jr. won 3 races on his way to the championship while the less consistent Buddy Lazier won four races on his way to second place in his title defense.