2000 Indy Racing League
| 2000 Indy Racing League season | |
|---|---|
| Indy Racing Northern Light Series | |
2000 Indy Racing League | |
| Season | |
| Races | |
| Start date | January 29 |
| End date | October 15 |
| Awards | |
| Drivers' champion | Buddy Lazier |
| Manufacturers' Cup | Oldsmobile |
| Rookie of the Year | Airton Daré |
| Indianapolis 500 winner | Juan Pablo Montoya |
The 2000 Indy Racing Northern Light Series was the fifth season of the Indy Racing League. The season consisted of nine races, all on oval circuits. The showcase event of the season was the 84th running of the Indianapolis 500.
The season 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 Indianapolis 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 – which would have been the Indy Racing League's first road course event – was cancelled on September 9, 1999, and reverted to a CART event.