Changes For 2001
In the seventh year of the IRL/CART split, Team Penske and Team Green broke ranks and returned to race at Indianapolis. Ganassi, who had returned in 2000, entered as well. After one year of retirement, two-time winner Arie Luyendyk returned to the cockpit. CART did not schedule any races the weekend of Indy 500 pole qualifying, nor the race itself, to allow teams the opportunity to participate without penalty.
Because of his move to Formula One for the 2001 season, reigning Indianapolis 500 champion Juan Pablo Montoya did not return to defend his title.
After an experimental two-week schedule was used for the Indy 500 from 1998–2000, the Speedway reverted back to the more traditional three-week schedule for practice, time trials, and the race. Rookie orientation was held April 13–14. Time trials were set at three days.
Due to the MSA, tobacco brand sponsorship was an issue during the month of May. Penske Racing drivers Hélio Castroneves and Gil de Ferran were sponsored by Marlboro full-time in the CART series. The MSA, however, allows brand sponsorship in only one sport per season. To skirt the regulations, CART sanctioned the participation of its teams in the race. The Penske cars practiced and qualified with Marlboro logos during the first week of activity. By mid-month, however, they were required to remove the logos when the state attorneys general objected to their use.
Read more about this topic: 2001 Indianapolis 500