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F2000: US F2000 Alumni Named CART All Stars

18 January 2001

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel

FAIRFIELD, N.J.--Former U.S. F2000 National Championship drivers Buddy Rice and Dan Wheldon have been named to the CART Toyota Atlantic All-Star Team.

The duo was named to the team at the CART All-Star Extravaganza, part of the three-day "Sneak Preview" at Fontanas California Speedway. Rice and Wheldon earned the honors after finishing first and second in the championship respectively. Joining them on the All-Star Team was Rocky Moran Jr.

Rice, who finished fourth in the 1997 National Championship with one win, had a breakout season in 2000. Driving for the newly formed DSTP team, which he ran with in U.S. F2000, Rice won five races and three poles en route to capturing the championship.

The 1999 U.S. F2000 National Champion, Wheldon had a superb rookie season in the CART Toyota Atlantic Championship. The Englishman won two races, had two poles and captured the Rookie of the Year Award.

In 2001, Wheldon will race in the Dayton Indy Lights Series with PacWest, while Rice is pursuing various options, including Formula 3000 in Europe.

The U.S. F2000 National Championship will host a two-day winter test session January 26-27, 2001, at Homestead-Miami Speedway in preparation for the upcoming season. The 2001 season begins Saturday March 3, 2001, at Homestead in conjunction with the Grand-American Road Racing Association on the 2.21-mile road course.

Text Provided By Allan Craighead

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