2001 Indy Racing League

2001 Indy Racing League season
Indy Racing Northern Light Series
2001 Indy Racing League
Season
Races13
Start dateMarch 18
End dateOctober 6
Awards
Drivers' championUnited States Sam Hornish Jr.
Manufacturers' CupUnited States Oldsmobile
Rookie of the YearBrazil Felipe Giaffone
Indianapolis 500 winnerBrazil Hélio Castroneves
← 2000
2002 →
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.