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F2000: US F2000 Announces 2001 Racing Schedule

20 January 2001

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel

FAIRFIELD, N.J.--The U.S. F2000 National Championship Presented by Speedvision has announced its 14-race 2001 schedule, including the four-race Oval Crown Championship. The 2001 schedule features a return to three venues competed on last year, as well as the addition of four new tracks, of which two have been raced on previously in years past.

In the first year under new sanctioning from the Grand American Road Racing, the U.S. F2000 schedule once again features a good mixture of circuits. Competing on four ovals and five traditional road courses the series is geared to train the worlds best young drivers.

The 2001 U.S. F2000 season starts March 3, at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Racing at south Floridas premier motorsports complex for the first-time since 1998, the series will compete on the 2.21-mile road course in conjunction with Grand-Am. The U.S. F2000 National Championship returns to Homestead, April 7-8, for Rounds Two and Three on the 1.4-mile modified oval in conjunction with the Indy Racing Northern Light Series. Following a six-week layoff, the series returns May 19-20 for Rounds Four and Five at Watkins Glen International. The series will compete on the legendary 3.4-mile long course as part of the Sports Car Grand Prix.

On Memorial Day weekend the U.S. F2000 returns to Indianapolis to take part in the prestigious Night Before the 500. Competing on the 0.686-mile Indianapolis Raceway Park oval the series will race under the lights for the second consecutive year and sixth time in the last nine years.

Rounds Seven and Eight mark the series return to the picturesque Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course after a one-year absence. Racing in support of Grand-Am, the series will use the 2.25-mile track configuration for the June 9-10 doubleheader.

The weekend of July 7-8 the series travels to Wisconsin to race on the historic 4.0-mile Elkhart Lake circuit. The series will once again race in support of Grand-Am as part of the Road America 500.

After a three-week layoff the series makes its first-ever appearance at the Target Grand Prix. Racing in conjunction with the CART FedEx Championship, the series will contest the final round of the Oval Crown Championship on 1.029-mile Chicago Motor Speedway oval. The series follows CART August 11 for a return trip to Mid-Ohio for Round 12, as part of the Miller Lite 200. The 2001 season concludes September 15-16 at Daytona International Speedway with Rounds 13 and 14. Racing in conjunction with Grand-Am the U.S. F2000 National Championship will compete on the 3.56-mile road course for the first time in series history.

"The 2001 schedule may be our strongest ever," said series co-owner Dan Andersen. "We are very pleased to be able to race on nine high-profile weekends in support of CART, Grand-Am and the IRL. It is our belief that we not only provide the best training for the open-wheel stars of tomorrow, but also showcase some of the best racing in North America."

2001 SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

Round 1
Grand-Am Nextel 250
March 3
Homestead-Miami Speedway
2.21-mile road course
Homestead, Fla.
with Grand American Road Racing

Rounds 2-3
Infiniti Grand Prix of Miami
April 7-8
Homestead-Miami Speedway
1.4-mile modified oval
Homestead, Fla.
with Indy Racing Northern Light Series

Rounds 4-5
Sports Car Grand Prix
Watkins Glen International
3.4-mile road course
Watkins Glen, N.Y.
with Grand American Road Racing

Rounds 6
Budweiser Night Before the 500
May 26
Indianapolis Raceway Park
0.686-mile oval
Indianapolis, Ind.
with USAC Midgets

Rounds 7-8
U.S. Road Racing Classic
June 9-10
Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course
2.25-mile road course
Lexington, Ohio
with Grand American Road Racing

Rounds 9-10
Road America 500
July 7-8
Road America
4.0-mile road course
Elkhart Lake, Wis.
with Grand American Road Racing

Round 11
Target Grand Prix
July 28
Chicago Motor Speedway
1.029-mile oval
with CART FedEx Championship

Round 12
Miller Lite 200
August 11
Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course
2.25-mile road course
Lexington, Ohio
with CART FedEx Championship

Rounds 13-14
Daytona Grand Prix
September 15-16
Daytona International Speedway
3.56-mile road course
Daytona Beach, Fla.
with Grand American Road Racing

Text Provided By Allan Craighead

Editors Note: To view hundreds of hot racing photos and art, visit The Racing Photo Museum and the Visions of Speed Art Gallery.