CART: Dixon, Toyota Win Lehigh Valley GP Presented by Toyota

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel

May 7, 2001

- Scott Dixon's drove his Nextel Toyota to victory Sunday and in the process became the youngest winner in major open-wheel (CART, F1, IRL) history at 20 years, 9 months and 14 days.

- By winning in just his third race, Scott Dixon matches Juan Montoya as the second-quickest driver in CART history to win his first Champ Car race. Only Nigel Mansell won a race quicker when winning his CART debut at Australia in 1993.

- Today's victory is the second for the 2001 Toyota RV8F engine in three Champ Car races this season and moves Toyota into the lead for the CART Manufacturer's Championship. In addition, the victory is the seventh overall for Toyota in CART competition.

- Today's victory by the Toyota RV8F is the eighth by an American designed, built-and-developed engine in CART competition. Two have come from the Costa Mesa, Calif.-based RV8F, five from the previous generation Toyota RV8E - also designed, built and developed in California - and one by a Gurney stock-block Chevy at Milwaukee in 1981.

- Today's victory at Nazareth is Toyota's fifth in the last six CART oval races (Milwaukee-Montoya, Michigan-Montoya, Chicago-da Matta and St. Louis-Montoya were the others). A Toyota-powered car also has won the pole at six of the last eight Champ Car events.

- By leading 36 laps today on his way to victory, Scott Dixon has now led two of his first three Champ Car races after also leading in his debut at Monterrey, Mexico.

- With his victory today, Scott Dixon moves to the top of the Jim Trueman Rookie of the Year point standings with 20 points. Dixon is currently seventh overall.

- Three Toyota-powered cars finished in the top five today, with four of the eight Toyota-powered entries finishing in the top-10.

- Cristiano da Matta's 10th place finish is his third consecutive top-10 finish of the season. With the finish, da Matta continues to lead the FedEx Championship Series points standings with 40 points.

- Jimmy Vasser's fourth-place finish is his third consecutive top-six finish of the season. Today's result marks the sixth straight year that Vasser has finished in the points at Nazareth. He currently sits fourth in the FedEx Championship Series point standings.

- Christian Fittipaldi's fifth place finish marks his best finish of the season his first time in the points during the 2001 campaign.

- Bruno Junqueira earned a career-best seventh today - his second top-10 finish in three races this season.

- Three Toyota-powered drivers currently rank in the top seven in the FedEx Championship Series drivers championship standings. Cristiano da Matta is first with 40 points, Jimmy Vasser is fourth with 30 points and Scott Dixon is seventh with 20.

NEXT RACE: FIRESTONE FIREHAWK 500, May 19, ESPN - 11:30 p.m. (EDT)

Text provided by John Prodica

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