2001 zMax 500

Indycar race held in Hampton, Georgia July 2025 USA zMax 500 200px April 28 2001 zMax 500 3rd 2001 Infiniti Grand Prix of Miami 2001 Indianapolis 500 Indy Racing League Atlanta Motor Speedway, Hampton, Georgia Permanent racing facility 1.54 2.478 200 308 495.678 Greg Ray Team Menard 24.741 USA Greg Ray Team Menard 25.0331 155 USA Greg Ray Team Menard USA Scott Sharp Kelley Racing USA Buzz Calkins Bradley Motorsports USA 2000 — The 2001 zMax 500 was the 3rd round of the 2001 Indy Racing League season. The race was held on April 28, 2001, at Atlanta Motor Speedway in Hampton, Georgia. The race took the scheduled 200 laps to complete. Greg Ray won the race. Scott Sharp finished 2nd, and Buzz Calkins finished 3rd. Sam Hornish Jr. and Eliseo Salazar rounded out the top five, and Buddy Lazier, Jeff Ward, Shigeaki Hattori, Airton Daré, and Felipe Giaffone rounded out the top ten. This race is notable for a crash that occurred on lap 53 which involved eleven drivers. Jack Miller, who was among the eleven drivers involved, suffered injuries that led him to retire from Indy Racing League Competition.April 28, 2001 Eleven drivers knocked out of zMAX 500 https://www.espn.com/rpm/irl/2001/0428/1188198.html July 3, 2025 RPM.ESPN.comHoughton Zachary May 10, 2012 An Interview With Dr. Jack Miller https://www.indycaradvocate.com/2012/05/interview-with-dr-jack-miller.html live https://web.archive.org/web/20120515065232/http://www.indycaradvocate.com/2012/05/interview-with-dr-jack-miller.html May 15, 2012 July 3, 2025 IndyCar Advocate This race also marked Greg Ray's final win in the Indy Racing League, and the final time that the Indy Racing League ever raced at Atlanta. Cory Witherill, who made his IRL debut in this race and finished 22nd, became the first Native American driver to race in the Indy Racing League. Entry list 2001 Indy Racing League#Confirmed entries KeyMeaningorange R silverRookiegold W silverPast winner No. Car Number Driver Team Chassis Engine 2 USA Greg Ray gold W silver Team Menard Dallara Chevrolet 3 USA Al Unser Jr. Galles Racing G-Force Oldsmobile 4 USA Sam Hornish Jr. Panther Racing Dallara Oldsmobile 6 USA Jon Herb orange R silver Tri-Star Motorsports Dallara Oldsmobile 7 FRA Stéphan Grégoire Dick Simon Racing Dallara Oldsmobile 8 USA Scott Sharp gold W silver Kelley Racing Dallara Oldsmobile 9 USA Jeret Schroeder PDM Racing G-Force Oldsmobile 10 USA Robby McGehee Cahill Racing Dallara Oldsmobile 11 USA Jack Miller Cahill Racing Dallara Oldsmobile 12 USA Buzz Calkins Bradley Motorsports Dallara Oldsmobile 14 CHI Eliseo Salazar A. J. Foyt Enterprises Dallara Oldsmobile 15 USA Sarah Fisher Walker Racing Dallara Oldsmobile 16 USA Cory Witherill orange R silver Indy Regenecy Racing G-Force Oldsmobile 21 BRA Felipe Giaffone orange R silver Treadway-Hubbard Racing G-Force Oldsmobile 24 USA Robbie Buhl Dreyer & Reinbold Racing G-Force Infiniti 28 USA Mark Dismore Kelley Racing Dallara Oldsmobile 30 USA Brandon Erwin McCormack Motorsports G-Force Oldsmobile 31 USA Casey Mears orange R silver Galles Racing G-Force Oldsmobile 32 FRA Didier André orange R silver Galles Racing G-Force Oldsmobile 35 USA Jeff Ward Heritage Motorsports G-Force Oldsmobile 51 USA Eddie Cheever Team Cheever Dallara Infiniti 55 JAP Shigeaki Hattori Vertex-Cunningham Racing Dallara Oldsmobile 88 BRA Airton Daré Team Xtreme G-Force Oldsmobile 91 USA Buddy Lazier Hemelgarn Racing Dallara Oldsmobile 92 USA Stan Wattles Hemelgarn Racing Dallara Oldsmobile 98 USA Billy Boat Curb-Agajanian-Beck Motorsports Dallara Oldsmobile 99 USA Davey Hamilton Sam Schmidt Motorsports Dallara Oldsmobile Source:NTT IndyCar Series 2001 zMAX 500 Information https://motorsportstats.com/results/ntt-indycar-series/2001/zmax-500/info July 6, 2025 motorsportstats.com Qualifying Qualifying was held on April 27, 2001. Greg Ray won the pole, the eleventh of his career.April 27, 2001 Ray nabs second pole of season https://www.espn.com/rpm/irl/2001/0427/1187814.html July 3, 2025 RPM.ESPN.com Qualifying classification Pos PositionNo. Car NumberDriverTeamChassisEngineTimeFinalgrid Final starting grid position for race12USA Greg Ray gold W silverTeam MenardDallaraChevrolet24.7411235USA Jeff WardHeritage MotorsportsG-ForceOldsmobile24.9832351USA Eddie CheeverTeam CheeverDallaraInfiniti25.0263428USA Mark DismoreKelley RacingDallaraOldsmobile25.1094555JAP Shigeaki HattoriVertex-Cunningham RacingDallaraOldsmobile25.249564USA Sam Hornish Jr.Panther RacingDallaraOldsmobile25.2816714CHI Eliseo SalazarA. J. Foyt EnterprisesDallaraOldsmobile25.3087812USA Buzz CalkinsBradley MotorsportsDallaraOldsmobile25.3128991USA Buddy LazierHemelgarn RacingDallaraOldsmobile25.31591010USA Robby McGeheeCahill RacingDallaraOldsmobile25.411101188BRA Airton DaréTeam XtremeG-ForceOldsmobile25.412111299USA Davey HamiltonSam Schmidt MotorsportsDallaraOldsmobile25.41412138USA Scott Sharp gold W silverKelley RacingDallaraOldsmobile25.42213143USA Al Unser Jr.Galles RacingG-ForceOldsmobile25.459141521BRA Felipe Giaffone orange R silverTreadway-Hubbard RacingG-ForceOldsmobile25.466151692USA Stan WattlesHemelgarn RacingDallaraOldsmobile25.466161798USA Billy BoatCurb-Agajanian-Beck MotorsportsDallaraOldsmobile25.468171815USA Sarah FisherWalker RacingDallaraOldsmobile25.478181924USA Robbie BuhlDreyer & Reinbold RacingG-ForceInfiniti25.526192032FRA Didier André orange R silverGalles RacingG-ForceOldsmobile25.64320217FRA Stéphan GrégoireDick Simon RacingDallaraOldsmobile25.70421229USA Jeret SchroederPDM RacingG-ForceOldsmobile25.789222311USA Jack MillerCahill RacingDallaraOldsmobile25.790232416USA Cory Witherill orange R silverIndy Regenecy RacingG-ForceOldsmobile25.79324256USA Jon Herb orange R silverTri-Star MotorsportsDallaraOldsmobile25.799252630USA Brandon ErwinMcCormack MotorsportsG-ForceOldsmobile26.066262731USA Casey Mears orange R silverGalles RacingG-ForceOldsmobile26.09427 Source:2001 Atlanta Indycars https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/database/races/2001-atlanta-indycars/ July 3, 2025 motorsportmagazine.com Race An estimated 40,000 fans attended the race.April 28, 2001 Ray equals IRL career-wins record https://www.espn.com/rpm/irl/2001/0428/1188225.html July 3, 2025 RPM.ESPN.com The grand marshal was Regina Kauffman, a U.S. Navy lieutenant.April 27, 2001 Kite will be a spectator at Atlanta https://www.espn.com/rpm/irl/2001/0427/1187805.html July 3, 2025 RPM.ESPN.com The race was held back thirty minutes due to rain showers prior to the race. As the race began, Jeff Ward took the lead from pole sitter Greg Ray and led the first two laps before Ray took back the lead. On lap 5, the first caution came out after Brandon Erwin crashed in turn 3. After the caution, Ray grew a sizable lead over the rest of the field. Mark Dismore and Eddie Cheever, both of whom qualified inside the top 5, retired early due to engine issues. The second caution came out on lap 46 after oil was reported in turn 2. The race went back to green on lap 51, with Sam Hornish Jr. in hot pursuit of Greg Ray. On lap 53, Cory Witherill's car slowed in turn 4 due to an engine problem. Al Unser Jr., who slammed the brakes to avoid Witherill, was hit from behind, which sparked a fiery eleven-car pileup. While most drivers suffered minor, if any, injuries, Jack Miller suffered a concussion and was taken to Atlanta Medical Center for further evaluation. He later withdrew his entry in the Indianapolis 500 and retired from racing in IRL. The remaining drivers drove under caution for 22 laps as track workers cleaned up the debris. After pit stops finally began, Buddy Lazier's left-front tire was not properly secured, causing it to come off of Lazier's car. As it happened, Lazier is heard on the radio, bluntly saying: "Oh, shit." During the caution, Ray lost the lead to Jeff Ward again, though Ray quickly passed him on the restart. The fourth and final caution came out on lap 91, as Jon Herb's car lost power in turn 2. Under the caution, Jeff Ward went to pit road for a battery issue. He returned to the track 1 lap down, a lap that he never regained. After the caution, Greg Ray would continue dominating. He briefly gave up the lead to Scott Sharp on lap 147 during green-flag pit stops, though he regained the lead five laps later. As the race wound down, Sam Hornish Jr. was again in hot pursuit of Greg Ray. However, Hornish's chances of winning were thwarted when he was forced to pit for a splash of fuel with 10 laps to go. Greg Ray, who slowed down over 20 mph in the closing laps, managed to stretch his fuel and earn his 5th Indy Racing League win, tying him with Scott Sharp for the most wins in the series. Race classification Pos Position No. Car Number Driver Team Chassis Engine Laps Time/Retired Grid LapsLed Pts. Points 1 2 USA Greg Ray gold W silver Team MenardDallaraChevrolet 200 2:14:40.989 1 184 52 2 8 USA Scott Sharp gold W silver Kelley RacingDallaraOldsmobile 200 +19.857 13 5 40 3 12 USA Buzz Calkins Bradley MotorsportsDallaraOldsmobile 200 +24.890 8 0 35 4 4 USA Sam Hornish Jr. Panther Racing Dallara Oldsmobile 199 +1 Lap 6 1 32 5 14 CHI Eliseo Salazar A. J. Foyt Enterprises Dallara Oldsmobile 199 +1 Lap 7 0 30 6 91 USA Buddy Lazier Hemelgarn Racing Dallara Oldsmobile 199 +1 Lap 9 0 28 7 35 USA Jeff Ward Heritage Motorsports G-Force Oldsmobile 199 +1 Lap 2 10 26 8 55 JAP Shigeaki Hattori Vertex-Cunningham Racing Dallara Oldsmobile 198 +2 Laps 5 0 24 9 88 BRA Airton Daré Team Xtreme G-Force Oldsmobile 197 +3 Laps 11 0 22 10 21 BRA Felipe Giaffone orange R silver Treadway-Hubbard Racing G-Force Oldsmobile 182 +18 Laps 15 0 20 11 15 USA Sarah Fisher Walker Racing Dallara Oldsmobile 178 +22 Laps 18 0 19 12 92 USA Stan Wattles Hemelgarn Racing Dallara Oldsmobile 147 +53 Laps 16 0 18 13 32 FRA Didier André orange R silver Galles Racing G-Force Oldsmobile 139 Clutch 20 0 17 14 98 USA Billy Boat Curb-Agajanian-Beck Motorsports Dallara Oldsmobile 109 +91 Laps 17 0 16 15 7 FRA Stéphan Grégoire Dick Simon Racing Dallara Oldsmobile 95 Mechanical 21 0 15 16 6 USA Jon Herb orange R silver Tri-Star Motorsports Dallara Oldsmobile 77 Engine 25 0 14 17 3 USA Al Unser Jr. Galles Racing G-Force Oldsmobile 52 Crash 14 0 13 18 99 USA Davey Hamilton Sam Schmidt Motorsports Dallara Oldsmobile 52 Crash 12 0 12 19 9 USA Jeret Schroeder PDM Racing G-Force Oldsmobile 52 Crash 22 0 11 20 24 USA Robbie Buhl Dreyer & Reinbold Racing G-Force Infiniti 52 Crash 19 0 10 21 10 USA Robby McGehee Cahill Racing Dallara Oldsmobile 52 Crash 10 0 9 22 16 USA Cory Witherill orange R silver Indy Regenecy Racing G-Force Oldsmobile 51 Crash 24 0 8 23 31 USA Casey Mears orange R silver Galles Racing G-Force Oldsmobile 51 Crash 27 0 7 24 51 USA Eddie Cheever Team Cheever Dallara Infiniti 34 Engine 3 0 6 25 11 USA Jack Miller Cahill Racing Dallara Oldsmobile 28 Crash 23 0 5 26 28 USA Mark Dismore Kelley Racing Dallara Oldsmobile 15 Engine 4 0 4 27 30 USA Brandon Erwin McCormack Motorsports G-Force Oldsmobile 3 Crash 26 0 3Fastest lap: USA Greg Ward (Team Menard) – 25.0331 (lap 155) Source:2001 zMAX Atlanta 500 Classic https://www.racing-reference.info/race-results/2001_zMAX_Atlanta_500_Classic/O July 3, 2025 racing-reference.com Championship standings after the race Drivers' Championship standings Pos. Position Driver Points10px|alt=Unchanged1 USA Sam Hornish Jr. 13610px2 CHI Eliseo Salazar 105 (–31)10px 13 USA Scott Sharp 96 (–40)10px 14 USA Jeff Ward 82 (–54)10px 25 BRA Felipe Giaffone 80 (–56) Source: References zMax 500 2001 2001 Infiniti Grand Prix of Miami 2001 Indianapolis 500 2000 Midas 500 Classic — Category:2001 in IndyCar Category:2001 in sports in Georgia (U.S. state) Category:April 2001 sports events in the United States