This year’s 84th Indianapolis 500 lived up to its title, “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing.”

The CART invasion triumphed. Chip Ganassi teammates, rookie Juan Montoya and Jimmy Vasser led the majority of the 500 miles. Montoya led 167 of the 200 laps. 1996 CART champion Vasser was running in second place when he ran out of fuel on lap 196, ending in seventh place.

This year’s running of the Memorial Day classic featured several interesting stories. For the first time in the history of the race, two women qualified for Indy: 19-year-old Sarah Fisher, and veteran Indy racer Lyn St. James.

On lap 74, while running with the lead cars, Fisher dove low to pass the slower car of St. James. Rookie Jaques Lazier made it three-wide into turn 2. Fisher made contact with St. James and the two women both hit the outside retaining wall. Both Fisher and St. James’ races halted. Lazier finished 13th in the race.

Two-time winner (1992 and 1994) of the race, Al Unser Jr., returned to the Indy 500 for the first time since 1994, only to experience mechanical problems. After climbing up in the field from the 18th starting spot, Unser went several laps down when debris from the accident involving 1999 IRL champion Greg Ray sliced open his radiator,

After Unser’s crew fixed the radiator, he returned to the track 12 laps down, out of contention for the win. On lap 103, Unser withdrew from the race when his engine began to overheat.

Upon seeing cheering fans after the race, Unser stated that he was incredibly happy to be back to the greatest spectacle in racing.

1999 IRL series champion Greg Ray led the first 26 laps, only to finish last. A broken right-wheel assembly sent Ray’s Team Menard Glidden entry hard into the turn two wall. Ray’s suspension was fixed and he re-entered the race several laps down, running for points. Ray wasn’t pushing the car too extreme, but on lap 143 Ray hit the turn two wall once again.

Billy Boat, 1998 500 pole-sitter, started 31st after barely qualifying for the 500. Boat moved forward until an unusual pit sequence left him two laps down. Boat finished 15th, passing 16 cars, the most of all drivers.

While Montoya celebrates his victory in the 84th Indy 500, he and others are preparing for the 85th Indy 500 in 2001.

Results from the 84th Indianapolis 500 with starting position in parentheses. r-denotes rookie

1. (2) r-Juan Montoya

2. (16) BuddyLazier

3. (3) Eliseo Salazar

4. (6) Jeff Ward

5. (10) Eddie Cheever

6. (4) Robby Gordon

7. (7) Jimmy Vasser

8. (20) Stephan Greqoire

9. (13) Scott Goodyear

10.(5) Scott Sharp

11.(11) Mark Dismore

12.(15) Donnie Beechler

13.(26) r-Jaques Lazier

14.(29) Jeret Schroeder

15.(31) Billy Boat

16.(24) Raul Boesel

17.(17) Jason Leffler

18.(22) Buzz Calkins

19.(27) Steve Knapp

20.(28) Davey Hamilton

21.(12) Robby McGehee

22.(30) Johnny Unser

23.(8) Stan Wattles

24.(14) r-Sam Hornish Jr

25.(21) r-Airton Dare

26.(9) Robbie Buhl

27.(23) Richie Hearn

28.(33) r-Andy Hillenburg

29.(18) Al Unser Jr.

30.(25) Jimmy Kite

31.(19) r-Sarah Fisher

32.(32) Lyn St. James

33.(1 ) Greg Ray