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. 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.
Drivers and teams
All teams utilized Lola T97/20 chassis with Buick V6 engines.
March 11, 2001Fundidora Park, Monterrey, MexicoPole position: Derek Higgins, 1:25.345, 88.750 mph (142.829 km/h)April 8, 2001Long Beach street circuit, Long Beach, CaliforniaPole position: Mario Domínguez, 1:15.968, 93.260 mph (150.087 km/h)April 28, 2001Texas Motor Speedway, Fort Worth, TexasPole position: Damien Faulkner, 0:29:060, 183.593 mph (295.464 km/h)The CART race that weekend was cancelled due to track incompatibility, so this was the only race completed that weekend.June 3, 2001Milwaukee Mile, West Allis, WisconsinPole position: Townsend Bell (qualifying rained out; grid determined by championship points)Portland
June 24, 2001Portland International Raceway, Portland, OregonPole position: Townsend Bell, 1:04.991, 109.067 mph (175.526 km/h)July 8, 2001Kansas Speedway, Kansas City, KansasPole position: Mario Domínguez, 0:30.252, 180.881 mph (291.100 km/h)‡Townsend Bell was penalized two positions for aggressive driving.
July 15, 2001Exhibition Place, Toronto, OntarioPole position: Townsend Bell, 1:04.202, 98.408 mph (158.372 km/h)August 12, 2001Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, Lexington, OhioPole position: Townsend Bell, 1:13.809, 110.133 mph (177.242 km/h)August 26, 2001Gateway International Raceway, Madison, IllinoisPole position: Townsend Bell (qualifying rained out; grid determined by championship points)October 5, 2001Road Atlanta, Braselton, GeorgiaPole position: Townsend Bell, 1:14.883, 122.110 mph (196.517 km/h)October 14, 2001Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, Monterey, CaliforniaPole position: Townsend Bell, 1:16.313, 105.576 mph (169.908 km/h)November 4, 2001California Speedway, Fontana, CaliforniaPole position: Townsend Bell (qualifying rained out; grid determined by championship points)This was the last CART-sanctioned Indy Lights race.Final points standings
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.
R9=retired, but classified NS=did not start
