December 4, 2023

In 2000, the CART Racing Series was becoming a mess with the Indy Racing League trying to take control of the series.

Only one CART team showed up at the Indy 500 in 2000 and it was Chip Gannasi Racing with Juan Pablo Montoya in an IRL car. He easily won the Indy 500.

CART tried to have their own Indy 500 with the Michigan 500 in July but it wasn't anything like the famed Indianapolis 500.

Fresh from his Indy 500 win, the following weekend on June 6, 2000 Juan Pablo Montoya put his car on pole position in Milwaukee.  For the Miller Lite 225 presented by Kmart race, Juan Pablo had the fastest laps during the race and won.

DailmerChrysler/Mercedes would withdraw their engine program and the series was becoming a mess thanks to Tony George and his Indy Racing League trying to take over.

Helio Castroneves was in his first of many successful years in a Penske Indy Car. That car was to be Greg Moore's ride but Greg died tragically in 1999 at the California race.

Greg was missed and we can only imagine what he would have done during his racing career.

Helio would go on to win many races through the years including 4 Indy 500's! Maybe Helio can get Indy win number five next year!

Gil de Ferran would win the championship in 2000 and Kenny Brack was the rookie of the year in 2000.

Enjoy a look at the Milwaukee Mile where the Indy Cars are coming back in 2024 after missing the last 8 years there.

Thanks,

Rich Zimmermann