Race #4 - Indianapolis 500The Indy Racing Northern Light Series made their 4th stop of 2000 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, in Speedway, Indiana, for the Indianapolis 500.
Jimmy Vasser led the field to the green but before the race even started the start was waved off twice for two cars having mechanical, causing most drivers to drive down pit road before the third attempt, with Mark Dismore becoming the new race leader and would lead the first twenty five laps around the two and a half mile track before Eliseo Salazar would take the lead. The race would be slowed by 15 caution flags, which would cause 60 of the event's 200 laps to be run behind the pace car. Salazar would lead for much of the first half of the race before Juan Pablo Montoya worked his way into contention and began to have a race long battle with Salazar before Montoya would win the battle by having the best car on long runs, leading for 115 of the event's 200 laps and would assume the lead with 35 laps to go and would go on to win the 84th running of the Indianapolis 500.
Other Noticeables:
Juan Pablo Montoya scored his 1st win of the year,
Montoya led 5 times for 115 laps, including the final 35 laps,
It was the 1st win of his career in the Indy Racing Northern Light Series in his 1st start,
Juan Pablo Montoya(1st), Jimmy Vasser(8th) and Andy Hillenburg(30th) made their Indy Racing Northern Light Series debuts,
Buddy Lazier, who finished 6th, kept his points lead, leading Eliseo Salazar by 3 points
1.9-Juan Pablo Montoya (115 laps led)
2.11-Eliseo Salazar (41 laps led)
3.32-Robby Gordon
4.7-Stephan Gregoire (8 laps led)
5.98-Donnie Beechler
6.91-Buddy Lazier (2 laps led)
7.8-Scott Sharp (5 laps led)
8.10-Jimmy Vasser-1 lap
9.23-Steve Knapp-1 lap
10.12-Buzz Calkins-1 lap
11.41-Billy Boat-1 lap
12.50-Jason Leffler-2 laps
13.3-Al Unser Jr.-2 laps
14.16-Davey Hamilton-2 laps
15.75-Richie Hearn-2 laps
16.22-Johnny Unser-4 laps
17.15-Sarah Fisher-5 laps
18.33-Jaques Lazier-42 laps (Accident)
19.6-Jeret Schroeder-42 laps (Accident) (4 laps led)
20.90-Lyn St. James-67 laps (Camshaft)
21.28-Mark Dismore-92 laps (Accident) (25 laps led)
22.1-Greg Ray-99 laps (Accident)
23.55-Raul Boesel-149 laps (Accident)
24.27-Jimmy Kite-149 laps (Accident)
25.88-Airton Dare-150 laps (Accident)
26.18-Sam Hornish Jr.-153 laps (Accident)
27.4-Scott Goodyear-156 laps (Camshaft)
28.51-Eddie Cheever Jr.-165 laps (Accident)
29.5-Robby McGehee-167 laps (Accident)
30.48-Andy Hillenburg-181 laps (Gearbox)
31.24-Robbie Buhl-197 laps (Ignition)
32.14-Jeff Ward-200 laps (Engine)
33.92-Stan Wattles-200 laps (Engine)
Jimmy Vasser-Pole
Mark Dismore-1-25
Eliseo Salazar-26-35
Stephan Gregoire-36-40
Buddy Lazier-41-42
Eliseo Salazar-43-46
Scott Sharp-47-51
Juan Pablo Montoya-52-98
Eliseo Salazar-99
Juan Pablo Montoya-100-114
Stephan Gregoire-115-117
Juan Pablo Montoya-118-129
Eliseo Salazar-130-146
Juan Pablo Montoya-147-152
Jeret Schroeder-153-156
Eliseo Salazar-157-165
Juan Pablo Montoya-166-200
15 Lead Changes among 7 drivers
Caution Flags: 15 for 60 laps
Lap 17 (Car #50 Spin Turn 2),
Lap 28 (Car #41 Spin Turn 2),
Lap 35 (Cars #51 and 5 Accident Frontstretch),
Lap 41 (Cars #1, 18, 41 and 28 Accident Turn 4),
Lap 46 (Cars #91, 55, 7, 33, 32, 10, 6 and 18 Accident Turn 4),
Lap 52 (Cars #6, 88, 10, 55, 91, 28, 15, 27 and 33 Accident Turn 4),
Lap 73 (Car #90 Spin Frontstretch),
Lap 100 (Car #22 Spin Turn 2),
Lap 107 (Car #15 Spin Turn 4),
Lap 113 (Car #22 Spin Frontstretch),
Lap 133 (Car #15 Spin Turn 2),
Lap 141 (Car #22 Spin Turn 2),
Lap 152 (Car #15 Spin Turn 2),
Lap 158 (Cars #23, 6, 10, 15, 91 and 33 Accident Turn 4),
Lap 192 (Car #15 Spin Backstretch)
Margin of Victory: 2.629 Seconds
Time of Race: 4 Hours, 29 Minutes and 31 Seconds
Before the race starts, Stan Wattles, who was going to start 24th, retires due to a blown Engine.
Before the race starts, Jeff Ward, who was going to start 6th, retires due to a blown Engine.
Jimmy Vasser leads the field to the Green Flag.
While running in 21st, Robbie Buhl's Ignition breaks.
The first caution comes out on Lap 17 when Jason Leffler spins out in Turn 2 after contact from Jimmy Kite.
While running in 21st, Andy Hillenburg's Gearbox breaks.
Eliseo Salazar passes Mark Dismore for the lead on Lap 26.
The second caution comes out on Lap 28 when Billy Boat spins out in Turn 2.
The third caution comes out on Lap 35 when Eddie Cheever Jr. and Robby McGehee wreck on the Frontstretch.
Buddy Lazier passes Stephan Gregoire for the lead on Lap 41.
The fourth caution comes out seconds later when a four car wreck breaks out in Turn 4.
While running in 11th, Scott Goodyear's Camshaft breaks.
The fifth caution comes out on Lap 46 when a eight car wreck breaks out in Turn 4.
Juan Pablo Montoya passes Scott Sharp for the lead on Lap 52.
The sixth caution comes out seconds later when a nine car wreck breaks out in Turn 4.
The seventh caution comes out on Lap 73 when Lyn St. James spins out on the Frontstretch.
Eliseo Salazar passes Juan Pablo Montoya for the lead on Lap 99.
Juan Pablo Montoya passes Eliseo Salazar to retake the lead on Lap 100.
The eighth caution comes out seconds later when Johnny Unser spins out in Turn 2.
The ninth caution comes out on Lap 107 when Sarah Fisher spins out in Turn 4.
The tenth caution comes out on Lap 113 when Johnny Unser spins out on the Frontstretch.
Juan Pablo Montoya passes Stephan Gregoire for the lead on Lap 118.
Eliseo Salazar passes Juan Pablo Montoya for the lead on Lap 130.
The 11th caution comes out on Lap 133 when Sarah Fisher spins out in Turn 2.
While running in 18th, Lyn St. James's Camshaft breaks.
The 12th caution comes out on Lap 141 when Johnny Unser spins out in Turn 2.
Juan Pablo Montoya passes Eliseo Salazar for the lead on Lap 147.
The 13th caution comes out on Lap 152 when Sarah Fisher spins out in Turn 2.
Eliseo Salazar passes Jeret Schroeder for the lead on Lap 157.
The 14th caution comes out on Lap 158 when a six car wreck breaks out in Turn 4.
Juan Pablo Montoya passes Eliseo Salazar for the 15th and final lead change on Lap 166.
The 15th and final caution comes out on Lap 192 when Sarah Fisher spins out on the Backstretch.
Juan Pablo Montoya takes the Checkered Flag.
