2000 Indy Racing League season

The 2000 Indy Racing Northern Light Series season was another season that saw a high level of parity, as only one driver, champion Buddy Lazier, won more than a single race. It also saw the beginning of the jump from CART as Al Unser Jr. moved to the series full-time and Chip Ganassi Racing came over to run the Indy 500, which it won with driver Juan Pablo Montoya. It was also the final season for the Riley & Scott chassis, which also saw its first series win in 2000.

A planned race at Cleveland was cancelled on September 9, 2000, and reverted to a CART event.

2000 Indy Racing League schedule
All races running on Oval/Speedway.

Delphi Indy 200
This race was held January 29 at Walt Disney World Speedway. Greg Ray won the pole.

Top ten results
 * 1) 24- Robbie Buhl
 * 2) 91- Buddy Lazier
 * 3) 51- Eddie Cheever
 * 4) 4- Scott Goodyear
 * 5) 11- Eliseo Salazar
 * 6) 98- Donnie Beechler
 * 7) 14- Jeff Ward
 * 8) 12- Buzz Calkins
 * 9) 81- Billy Boat
 * 10) 55- Robby McGehee

MCI WorldCom Indy 200
This race was held March 19 at Phoenix International Raceway. Greg Ray won the pole.

Top ten results
 * 1) 91- Buddy Lazier
 * 2) 4- Scott Goodyear
 * 3) 98- Donnie Beechler
 * 4) 11- Eliseo Salazar
 * 5) 8- Scott Sharp
 * 6) 81- Billy Boat
 * 7) 24- Robbie Buhl
 * 8) 7- Stephan Gregoire
 * 9) 3- Al Unser, Jr.
 * 10) 51- Eddie Cheever

Vegas Indy 300
This race was held April 22 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Mark Dismore won the pole.

Top ten results
 * 1) 3- Al Unser, Jr.
 * 2) 28- Mark Dismore
 * 3) 18- Sam Hornish, Jr.
 * 4) 6- Jeret Schroeder
 * 5) 24- Robbie Buhl
 * 6) 5- Robby McGehee
 * 7) 81- Billy Boat
 * 8) 20- Tyce Carlson
 * 9) 1- Greg Ray
 * 10) 33- Jaques Lazier

84th Indianapolis 500
The Indy 500 was held May 28 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Greg Ray sat on pole.

Top ten results
 * 1) 9- Juan Pablo Montoya
 * 2) 91- Buddy Lazier
 * 3) 11- Eliseo Salazar
 * 4) 14- Jeff Ward
 * 5) 51- Eddie Cheever
 * 6) 32- Robby Gordon
 * 7) 10- Jimmy Vasser
 * 8) 7- Stephan Gregoire
 * 9) 4- Scott Goodyear
 * 10) 8- Scott Sharp

Casino Magic 500
This race was held June 11 at Texas Motor Speedway. Buddy Lazier won the pole.

Top ten results
 * 1) 8- Scott Sharp
 * 2) 5- Robby McGehee
 * 3) 3- Al Unser, Jr.
 * 4) 12- Buzz Calkins
 * 5) 4- Scott Goodyear
 * 6) 28- Mark Dismore
 * 7) 91- Buddy Lazier
 * 8) 55- Shigeaki Hattori
 * 9) 51- Eddie Cheever
 * 10) 88- Airton Daré

Radisson 200
This race was held June 18 at Pikes Peak International Raceway. Greg Ray won the pole.

Top ten results
 * 1) 51- Eddie Cheever
 * 2) 88- Airton Daré
 * 3) 8- Scott Sharp
 * 4) 28- Mark Dismore
 * 5) 98- Donnie Beechler
 * 6) 11- Eliseo Salazar
 * 7) 6- Jeret Schroeder
 * 8) 7- Stephan Gregoire
 * 9) 33- Jaques Lazier
 * 10) 3- Al Unser, Jr.

Midas 500 Classic
This race was held July 15 at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Greg Ray won the pole.

Top ten results
 * 1) 1- Greg Ray
 * 2) 91- Buddy Lazier
 * 3) 3- Al Unser, Jr.
 * 4) 5- Robby McGehee
 * 5) 98- Donnie Beechler
 * 6) 24- Robbie Buhl
 * 7) 7- Stephan Gregoire
 * 8) 81- Billy Boat
 * 9) 55- Shigeaki Hattori
 * 10) 11- Eliseo Salazar

Belterra Resort Indy 300
This race was held August 27 at Kentucky Speedway. Scott Goodyear won the pole.

Top ten results
 * 1) 91- Buddy Lazier
 * 2) 4- Scott Goodyear
 * 3) 15- Sarah Fisher
 * 4) 51- Eddie Cheever
 * 5) 7- Stephan Gregoire
 * 6) 14- Jeff Ward
 * 7) 1- Greg Ray
 * 8) 55- Shigeaki Hattori
 * 9) 18- Sam Hornish, Jr.
 * 10) 98- Donnie Beechler

Excite 500
This race was held October 15 at Texas Motor Speedway. Greg Ray won the pole.

Top ten results
 * 1) 4- Scott Goodyear
 * 2) 51- Eddie Cheever
 * 3) 81- Billy Boat
 * 4) 91- Buddy Lazier
 * 5) 11- Eliseo Salazar
 * 6) 98- Donnie Beechler
 * 7) 55- Shigeaki Hattori
 * 8) 14- Jeff Ward
 * 9) 12- Buzz Calkins
 * 10) 16- Jaques Lazier

Final points standings
In every race, points are awarded to drivers on the following basis: Additional points were awarded to the pole winner (3 points), the second best qualifier (2 points), the third best qualifier (1 point) and to the driver leading the most laps (2 point).
 * Ties in points broken by number of wins, followed by number of 2nds, 3rds, etc., and then by number of pole positions, followed by number of times qualified 2nd, etc.