2001 zMax 500

{{Short description|Indycar race held in Hampton, Georgia}} {{Use mdy dates|date=July 2025}} {{Infobox American championship car race report | Country = USA | Race = zMax 500 | Image = 200px | Caption = | Date = April 28 | Year = 2001 | Official name = zMax 500 | Round_No = 3rd | Previous_Round = 2001 Infiniti Grand Prix of Miami | Next_Round = 2001 Indianapolis 500 | Series = Indy Racing League | Location = Atlanta Motor Speedway, Hampton, Georgia | Course = Permanent racing facility | Course_mi = 1.54 | Course_km = 2.478 | Distance_laps = 200 | Distance_mi = 308 | Distance_km = 495.678 | Scheduled_laps = | Scheduled_mi = | Scheduled_km = | Pole_Driver = Greg Ray | Pole_Team = Team Menard | Pole_Time = 24.741 | Pole_Country = USA | Fast_Driver = Greg Ray | Fast_Team = Team Menard | Fast_Time = 25.0331 | Fast_Lap = 155 | Fast_Country = USA | First_Driver = Greg Ray | First_Team = Team Menard | First_Country = USA | Second_Driver = Scott Sharp | Second_Team = Kelley Racing | Second_Country = USA | Third_Driver = Buzz Calkins | Third_Team = Bradley Motorsports | Third_Country = USA | Previous = 2000 | Next = — }} The '''2001 zMax 500''' was the 3rd round of the 2001 Indy Racing League season. The race was held on April 28, 2001, at Atlanta Motor Speedway in Hampton, Georgia. The race took the scheduled 200 laps to complete. Greg Ray won the race. Scott Sharp finished 2nd, and Buzz Calkins finished 3rd. Sam Hornish Jr. and Eliseo Salazar rounded out the top five, and Buddy Lazier, Jeff Ward, Shigeaki Hattori, Airton Daré, and Felipe Giaffone rounded out the top ten.

This race is notable for a crash that occurred on lap 53 which involved eleven drivers. Jack Miller, who was among the eleven drivers involved, suffered injuries that led him to retire from Indy Racing League Competition.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=April 28, 2001 |title=Eleven drivers knocked out of zMAX 500 |url=https://www.espn.com/rpm/irl/2001/0428/1188198.html |access-date=July 3, 2025 |website=RPM.ESPN.com}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Houghton |first=Zachary |date=May 10, 2012 |title=An Interview With Dr. Jack Miller |url=https://www.indycaradvocate.com/2012/05/interview-with-dr-jack-miller.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120515065232/http://www.indycaradvocate.com/2012/05/interview-with-dr-jack-miller.html |archive-date=May 15, 2012 |access-date=July 3, 2025 |website=IndyCar Advocate}}</ref> This race also marked Greg Ray's final win in the Indy Racing League, and the final time that the Indy Racing League ever raced at Atlanta.

Cory Witherill, who made his IRL debut in this race and finished 22nd, became the first Native American driver to race in the Indy Racing League.<ref name=":2" />

== Entry list == {{further|2001 Indy Racing League#Confirmed entries}}

{| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%;" !Key !Meaning |- | align="center" |'''{{Color box|orange|R|border=silver}}''' |Rookie |- | align="center" |'''{{Color box|gold|W|border=silver}}''' |Past winner |}

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size: 85%;" |- !align=center | {{abbr|No.|Car Number}} !! class="unsortable" | Driver !! Team !! Chassis !! Engine |- |align="center"| 2 || {{flagicon|USA}} Greg Ray {{Color box|gold|W|border=silver}} || Team Menard || Dallara || Chevrolet |- |align="center"| 3 || {{flagicon|USA}} Al Unser Jr. || Galles Racing || G-Force || Oldsmobile |- |align="center"| 4 || {{flagicon|USA}} Sam Hornish Jr. || Panther Racing || Dallara || Oldsmobile |- |align="center"| 6 || {{flagicon|USA}} Jon Herb {{Color box|orange|R|border=silver}} || Tri-Star Motorsports || Dallara || Oldsmobile |- |align="center"| 7 || {{flagicon|FRA}} Stéphan Grégoire || Dick Simon Racing || Dallara || Oldsmobile |- |align="center"| 8 || {{flagicon|USA}} Scott Sharp {{Color box|gold|W|border=silver}} || Kelley Racing || Dallara || Oldsmobile |- |align="center"| 9 || {{flagicon|USA}} Jeret Schroeder || PDM Racing || G-Force || Oldsmobile |- |align="center"| 10 || {{flagicon|USA}} Robby McGehee || Cahill Racing || Dallara || Oldsmobile |- |align="center"| 11 || {{flagicon|USA}} Jack Miller || Cahill Racing || Dallara || Oldsmobile |- |align="center"| 12 || {{flagicon|USA}} Buzz Calkins || Bradley Motorsports || Dallara || Oldsmobile |- |align="center"| 14 || {{flagicon|CHI}} Eliseo Salazar || A. J. Foyt Enterprises || Dallara || Oldsmobile |- |align="center"| 15 || {{flagicon|USA}} Sarah Fisher || Walker Racing || Dallara || Oldsmobile |- |align="center"| 16 || {{flagicon|USA}} Cory Witherill {{Color box|orange|R|border=silver}}|| Indy Regenecy Racing || G-Force || Oldsmobile |- |align="center"| 21 || {{flagicon|BRA}} Felipe Giaffone {{Color box|orange|R|border=silver}} || Treadway-Hubbard Racing || G-Force || Oldsmobile |- |align="center"| 24 || {{flagicon|USA}} Robbie Buhl || Dreyer & Reinbold Racing || G-Force || Infiniti |- |align="center"| 28 || {{flagicon|USA}} Mark Dismore || Kelley Racing || Dallara || Oldsmobile |- |align="center"| 30 || {{flagicon|USA}} Brandon Erwin || McCormack Motorsports || G-Force || Oldsmobile |- |align="center"| 31 || {{flagicon|USA}} Casey Mears {{Color box|orange|R|border=silver}} || Galles Racing || G-Force || Oldsmobile |- |align="center"| 32 || {{flagicon|FRA}} Didier André {{Color box|orange|R|border=silver}} || Galles Racing || G-Force || Oldsmobile |- |align="center"| 35 || {{flagicon|USA}} Jeff Ward || Heritage Motorsports || G-Force || Oldsmobile |- |align="center"| 51 || {{flagicon|USA}} Eddie Cheever || Team Cheever || Dallara || Infiniti |- |align="center"| 55 || {{flagicon|JAP}} Shigeaki Hattori || Vertex-Cunningham Racing || Dallara || Oldsmobile |- |align="center"| 88 || {{flagicon|BRA}} Airton Daré || Team Xtreme || G-Force || Oldsmobile |- |align="center"| 91 || {{flagicon|USA}} Buddy Lazier || Hemelgarn Racing || Dallara || Oldsmobile |- |align="center"| 92 || {{flagicon|USA}} Stan Wattles || Hemelgarn Racing || Dallara || Oldsmobile |- |align="center"| 98 || {{flagicon|USA}} Billy Boat || Curb-Agajanian-Beck Motorsports || Dallara || Oldsmobile |- |align="center"| 99 || {{flagicon|USA}} Davey Hamilton || Sam Schmidt Motorsports || Dallara || Oldsmobile |- |- class="sortbottom" ! colspan="8" | Source:<ref>{{Cite web|title=NTT IndyCar Series 2001 zMAX 500 Information |url=https://motorsportstats.com/results/ntt-indycar-series/2001/zmax-500/info|access-date=July 6, 2025|website=motorsportstats.com}}</ref> |}

== Qualifying == Qualifying was held on April 27, 2001. Greg Ray won the pole, the eleventh of his career.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |date=April 27, 2001 |title=Ray nabs second pole of season |url=https://www.espn.com/rpm/irl/2001/0427/1187814.html |access-date=July 3, 2025 |website=RPM.ESPN.com}}</ref>

=== Qualifying classification === {| class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size: 95%;" ! rowspan="2" |{{abbr|Pos|Position}} ! rowspan="2" |{{abbr|No.|Car Number}} ! rowspan="2" |Driver ! rowspan="2" |Team ! rowspan="2" |Chassis ! rowspan="2" |Engine ! rowspan="2" |Time ! rowspan="2" |{{Tooltip|Final<br>grid|Final starting grid position for race}} |- |- !1 | align="center" |2 |{{flagicon|USA}} Greg Ray {{Color box|gold|W|border=silver}} |Team Menard |Dallara |Chevrolet | align="center" |24.741 | align="center" |1 |- !2 | align="center" |35 |{{flagicon|USA}} Jeff Ward |Heritage Motorsports |G-Force |Oldsmobile | align="center" |24.983 | align="center" |2 |- !3 | align="center" |51 |{{flagicon|USA}} Eddie Cheever |Team Cheever |Dallara |Infiniti | align="center" |25.026 | align="center" |3 |- !4 | align="center" |28 |{{flagicon|USA}} Mark Dismore |Kelley Racing |Dallara |Oldsmobile | align="center" |25.109 | align="center" |4 |- !5 | align="center" |55 |{{flagicon|JAP}} Shigeaki Hattori |Vertex-Cunningham Racing |Dallara |Oldsmobile | align="center" |25.249 | align="center" |5 |- !6 | align="center" |4 |{{flagicon|USA}} Sam Hornish Jr. |Panther Racing |Dallara |Oldsmobile | align="center" |25.281 | align="center" |6 |- !7 | align="center" |14 |{{flagicon|CHI}} Eliseo Salazar |A. J. Foyt Enterprises |Dallara |Oldsmobile | align="center" |25.308 | align="center" |7 |- !8 | align="center" |12 |{{flagicon|USA}} Buzz Calkins |Bradley Motorsports |Dallara |Oldsmobile | align="center" |25.312 | align="center" |8 |- !9 | align="center" |91 |{{flagicon|USA}} Buddy Lazier |Hemelgarn Racing |Dallara |Oldsmobile | align="center" |25.315 | align="center" |9 |- !10 | align="center" |10 |{{flagicon|USA}} Robby McGehee |Cahill Racing |Dallara |Oldsmobile | align="center" |25.411 | align="center" |10 |- !11 | align="center" |88 |{{flagicon|BRA}} Airton Daré |Team Xtreme |G-Force |Oldsmobile | align="center" |25.412 | align="center" |11 |- !12 | align="center" |99 |{{flagicon|USA}} Davey Hamilton |Sam Schmidt Motorsports |Dallara |Oldsmobile | align="center" |25.414 | align="center" |12 |- !13 | align="center" |8 |{{flagicon|USA}} Scott Sharp {{Color box|gold|W|border=silver}} |Kelley Racing |Dallara |Oldsmobile | align="center" |25.422 | align="center" |13 |- !14 | align="center" |3 |{{flagicon|USA}} Al Unser Jr. |Galles Racing |G-Force |Oldsmobile | align="center" |25.459 | align="center" |14 |- !15 | align="center" |21 |{{flagicon|BRA}} Felipe Giaffone {{Color box|orange|R|border=silver}} |Treadway-Hubbard Racing |G-Force |Oldsmobile | align="center" |25.466 | align="center" |15 |- !16 | align="center" |92 |{{flagicon|USA}} Stan Wattles |Hemelgarn Racing |Dallara |Oldsmobile | align="center" |25.466 | align="center" |16 |- !17 | align="center" |98 |{{flagicon|USA}} Billy Boat |Curb-Agajanian-Beck Motorsports |Dallara |Oldsmobile | align="center" |25.468 | align="center" |17 |- !18 | align="center" |15 |{{flagicon|USA}} Sarah Fisher |Walker Racing |Dallara |Oldsmobile | align="center" |25.478 | align="center" |18 |- !19 | align="center" |24 |{{flagicon|USA}} Robbie Buhl |Dreyer & Reinbold Racing |G-Force |Infiniti | align="center" |25.526 | align="center" |19 |- !20 | align="center" |32 |{{flagicon|FRA}} Didier André {{Color box|orange|R|border=silver}} |Galles Racing |G-Force |Oldsmobile | align="center" |25.643 | align="center" |20 |- !21 | align="center" |7 |{{flagicon|FRA}} Stéphan Grégoire |Dick Simon Racing |Dallara |Oldsmobile | align="center" |25.704 | align="center" |21 |- !22 | align="center" |9 |{{flagicon|USA}} Jeret Schroeder |PDM Racing |G-Force |Oldsmobile | align="center" |25.789 | align="center" |22 |- !23 | align="center" |11 |{{flagicon|USA}} Jack Miller |Cahill Racing |Dallara |Oldsmobile | align="center" |25.790 | align="center" |23 |- !24 | align="center" |16 |{{flagicon|USA}} Cory Witherill {{Color box|orange|R|border=silver}} |Indy Regenecy Racing |G-Force |Oldsmobile | align="center" |25.793 | align="center" |24 |- !25 | align="center" |6 |{{flagicon|USA}} Jon Herb {{Color box|orange|R|border=silver}} |Tri-Star Motorsports |Dallara |Oldsmobile | align="center" |25.799 | align="center" |25 |- !26 | align="center" |30 |{{flagicon|USA}} Brandon Erwin |McCormack Motorsports |G-Force |Oldsmobile | align="center" |26.066 | align="center" |26 |- !27 | align="center" |31 |{{flagicon|USA}} Casey Mears {{Color box|orange|R|border=silver}} |Galles Racing |G-Force |Oldsmobile | align="center" |26.094 | align="center" |27 |- |- class="sortbottom" ! colspan="8" | Source:<ref>{{Cite web|title=2001 Atlanta Indycars |url=https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/database/races/2001-atlanta-indycars/|access-date=July 3, 2025|website=motorsportmagazine.com}}</ref> |}

== Race == An estimated 40,000 fans attended the race.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |date=April 28, 2001 |title=Ray equals IRL career-wins record |url=https://www.espn.com/rpm/irl/2001/0428/1188225.html |access-date=July 3, 2025 |website=RPM.ESPN.com}}</ref> The grand marshal was Regina Kauffman, a U.S. Navy lieutenant.<ref>{{Cite web |date=April 27, 2001 |title=Kite will be a spectator at Atlanta |url=https://www.espn.com/rpm/irl/2001/0427/1187805.html |access-date=July 3, 2025 |website=RPM.ESPN.com}}</ref> The race was held back thirty minutes due to rain showers prior to the race.<ref name=":3" />

As the race began, Jeff Ward took the lead from pole sitter Greg Ray and led the first two laps before Ray took back the lead.<ref name=":3" /> On lap 5, the first caution came out after Brandon Erwin crashed in turn 3. After the caution, Ray grew a sizable lead over the rest of the field. Mark Dismore and Eddie Cheever, both of whom qualified inside the top 5, retired early due to engine issues.<ref name=":3" /> The second caution came out on lap 46 after oil was reported in turn 2. The race went back to green on lap 51, with Sam Hornish Jr. in hot pursuit of Greg Ray.

On lap 53, Cory Witherill's car slowed in turn 4 due to an engine problem. Al Unser Jr., who slammed the brakes to avoid Witherill, was hit from behind, which sparked a fiery eleven-car pileup. While most drivers suffered minor, if any, injuries, Jack Miller suffered a concussion and was taken to Atlanta Medical Center for further evaluation.<ref name=":0" /> He later withdrew his entry in the Indianapolis 500 and retired from racing in IRL.<ref name=":1" /> The remaining drivers drove under caution for 22 laps as track workers cleaned up the debris.<ref name=":3" /> After pit stops finally began, Buddy Lazier's left-front tire was not properly secured, causing it to come off of Lazier's car. As it happened, Lazier is heard on the radio, bluntly saying: "Oh, shit."

During the caution, Ray lost the lead to Jeff Ward again, though Ray quickly passed him on the restart. The fourth and final caution came out on lap 91, as Jon Herb's car lost power in turn 2. Under the caution, Jeff Ward went to pit road for a battery issue. He returned to the track 1 lap down, a lap that he never regained.

After the caution, Greg Ray would continue dominating. He briefly gave up the lead to Scott Sharp on lap 147 during green-flag pit stops, though he regained the lead five laps later. As the race wound down, Sam Hornish Jr. was again in hot pursuit of Greg Ray. However, Hornish's chances of winning were thwarted when he was forced to pit for a splash of fuel with 10 laps to go.<ref name=":3" /> Greg Ray, who slowed down over 20 mph in the closing laps, managed to stretch his fuel and earn his 5th Indy Racing League win, tying him with Scott Sharp for the most wins in the series.<ref name=":3" />

=== Race classification === {| class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size:95%;" ! scope="col" | {{Tooltip|Pos|Position}} ! scope="col" | {{Tooltip|No.|Car Number}} ! scope="col" | Driver ! scope="col" | Team ! scope="col" | Chassis ! scope="col" | Engine ! class="unsortable" scope="col" | Laps ! class="unsortable" scope="col" | Time/Retired ! scope="col" | Grid ! scope="col" | Laps<br />Led ! scope="col" | {{Tooltip|Pts.|Points}} |- ! 1 | align="center"| 2 | {{flagicon|USA}} Greg Ray {{Color box|gold|W|border=silver}} | Team Menard |Dallara |Chevrolet | align="center"| 200 | align="center"| 2:14:40.989 | align="center"| 1 | align="center"| 184 | align="center"| 52 |- ! 2 | align="center"| 8 | {{flagicon|USA}} Scott Sharp {{Color box|gold|W|border=silver}} | Kelley Racing |Dallara |Oldsmobile | align="center"| 200 | align="center"| +19.857 | align="center"| 13 | align="center"| 5 | align="center"| 40 |- ! 3 | align="center"| 12 | {{flagicon|USA}} Buzz Calkins | Bradley Motorsports |Dallara |Oldsmobile | align="center"| 200 | align="center"| +24.890 | align="center"| 8 | align="center"| 0 | align="center"| 35 |- ! 4 | align="center"| 4 | {{flagicon|USA}} Sam Hornish Jr. | Panther Racing | Dallara | Oldsmobile | align="center"| 199 | align="center"| +1 Lap | align="center"| 6 | align="center"| 1 | align="center"| 32 |- ! 5 | align="center"| 14 | {{flagicon|CHI}} Eliseo Salazar | A. J. Foyt Enterprises | Dallara | Oldsmobile | align="center"| 199 | align="center"| +1 Lap | align="center"| 7 | align="center"| 0 | align="center"| 30 |- ! 6 | align="center"| 91 | {{flagicon|USA}} Buddy Lazier | Hemelgarn Racing | Dallara | Oldsmobile | align="center"| 199 | align="center"| +1 Lap | align="center"| 9 | align="center"| 0 | align="center"| 28 |- ! 7 | align="center"| 35 | {{flagicon|USA}} Jeff Ward | Heritage Motorsports | G-Force | Oldsmobile | align="center"| 199 | align="center"| +1 Lap | align="center"| 2 | align="center"| 10 | align="center"| 26 |- ! 8 | align="center"| 55 | {{flagicon|JAP}} Shigeaki Hattori | Vertex-Cunningham Racing | Dallara | Oldsmobile | align="center"| 198 | align="center"| +2 Laps | align="center"| 5 | align="center"| 0 | align="center"| 24 |- ! 9 | align="center"| 88 | {{flagicon|BRA}} Airton Daré | Team Xtreme | G-Force | Oldsmobile | align="center"| 197 | align="center"| +3 Laps | align="center"| 11 | align="center"| 0 | align="center"| 22 |- ! 10 | align="center"| 21 | {{flagicon|BRA}} Felipe Giaffone {{Color box|orange|R|border=silver}} | Treadway-Hubbard Racing | G-Force | Oldsmobile | align="center"| 182 | align="center"| +18 Laps | align="center"| 15 | align="center"| 0 | align="center"| 20 |- ! 11 | align="center"| 15 | {{flagicon|USA}} Sarah Fisher | Walker Racing | Dallara | Oldsmobile | align="center"| 178 | align="center"| +22 Laps | align="center"| 18 | align="center"| 0 | align="center"| 19 |- ! 12 | align="center"| 92 | {{flagicon|USA}} Stan Wattles | Hemelgarn Racing | Dallara | Oldsmobile | align="center"| 147 | align="center"| +53 Laps | align="center"| 16 | align="center"| 0 | align="center"| 18 |- ! 13 | align="center"| 32 | {{flagicon|FRA}} Didier André {{Color box|orange|R|border=silver}} | Galles Racing | G-Force | Oldsmobile | align="center"| 139 | align="center"| Clutch | align="center"| 20 | align="center"| 0 | align="center"| 17 |- ! 14 | align="center"| 98 | {{flagicon|USA}} Billy Boat | Curb-Agajanian-Beck Motorsports | Dallara | Oldsmobile | align="center"| 109 | align="center"| +91 Laps | align="center"| 17 | align="center"| 0 | align="center"| 16 |- ! 15 | align="center"| 7 | {{flagicon|FRA}} Stéphan Grégoire | Dick Simon Racing | Dallara | Oldsmobile | align="center"| 95 | align="center"| Mechanical | align="center"| 21 | align="center"| 0 | align="center"| 15 |- ! 16 | align="center"| 6 | {{flagicon|USA}} Jon Herb {{Color box|orange|R|border=silver}} | Tri-Star Motorsports | Dallara | Oldsmobile | align="center"| 77 | align="center"| Engine | align="center"| 25 | align="center"| 0 | align="center"| 14 |- ! 17 | align="center"| 3 | {{flagicon|USA}} Al Unser Jr. | Galles Racing | G-Force | Oldsmobile | align="center"| 52 | align="center"| Crash | align="center"| 14 | align="center"| 0 | align="center"| 13 |- ! 18 | align="center"| 99 | {{flagicon|USA}} Davey Hamilton | Sam Schmidt Motorsports | Dallara | Oldsmobile | align="center"| 52 | align="center"| Crash | align="center"| 12 | align="center"| 0 | align="center"| 12 |- ! 19 | align="center"| 9 | {{flagicon|USA}} Jeret Schroeder | PDM Racing | G-Force | Oldsmobile | align="center"| 52 | align="center"| Crash | align="center"| 22 | align="center"| 0 | align="center"| 11 |- ! 20 | align="center"| 24 | {{flagicon|USA}} Robbie Buhl | Dreyer & Reinbold Racing | G-Force | Infiniti | align="center"| 52 | align="center"| Crash | align="center"| 19 | align="center"| 0 | align="center"| 10 |- ! 21 | align="center"| 10 | {{flagicon|USA}} Robby McGehee | Cahill Racing | Dallara | Oldsmobile | align="center"| 52 | align="center"| Crash | align="center"| 10 | align="center"| 0 | align="center"| 9 |- ! 22 | align="center"| 16 | {{flagicon|USA}} Cory Witherill {{Color box|orange|R|border=silver}} | Indy Regenecy Racing | G-Force | Oldsmobile | align="center"| 51 | align="center"| Crash | align="center"| 24 | align="center"| 0 | align="center"| 8 |- ! 23 | align="center"| 31 | {{flagicon|USA}} Casey Mears {{Color box|orange|R|border=silver}} | Galles Racing | G-Force | Oldsmobile | align="center"| 51 | align="center"| Crash | align="center"| 27 | align="center"| 0 | align="center"| 7 |- ! 24 | align="center"| 51 | {{flagicon|USA}} Eddie Cheever | Team Cheever | Dallara | Infiniti | align="center"| 34 | align="center"| Engine | align="center"| 3 | align="center"| 0 | align="center"| 6 |- ! 25 | align="center"| 11 | {{flagicon|USA}} Jack Miller | Cahill Racing | Dallara | Oldsmobile | align="center"| 28 | align="center"| Crash | align="center"| 23 | align="center"| 0 | align="center"| 5 |- ! 26 | align="center"| 28 | {{flagicon|USA}} Mark Dismore | Kelley Racing | Dallara | Oldsmobile | align="center"| 15 | align="center"| Engine | align="center"| 4 | align="center"| 0 | align="center"| 4 |- ! 27 | align="center"| 30 | {{flagicon|USA}} Brandon Erwin | McCormack Motorsports | G-Force | Oldsmobile | align="center"| 3 | align="center"| Crash | align="center"| 26 | align="center"| 0 | align="center"| 3 |- class="sortbottom" |colspan="11" style="text-align:center"|''Fastest lap: {{flagicon|USA}} Greg Ward'' ''(Team Menard) – 25.0331 (lap 155)'' |- class="sortbottom" ! colspan="11" | Source:<ref name=":4">{{Cite web|title=2001 zMAX Atlanta 500 Classic|url=https://www.racing-reference.info/race-results/2001_zMAX_Atlanta_500_Classic/O|access-date=July 3, 2025|website=racing-reference.com}}</ref> |}

== Championship standings after the race == ;Drivers' Championship standings {|class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%;" ! scope="col" | ! scope="col" | {{Tooltip|Pos.|Position}} ! scope="col" | Driver ! scope="col" | Points |- |align="left"|10px|alt=Unchanged |align="center"|1 | {{flagicon|USA}} Sam Hornish Jr. |align="left"| 136 |- |align="left"|10px |align="center"|2 | {{flagicon|CHI}} Eliseo Salazar |align="left"| 105 (–31) |- |align="left"|10px '''1''' |align="center"|3 | {{flagicon|USA}} Scott Sharp |align="left"| 96 (–40) |- |align="left"|10px '''1''' |align="center"|4 | {{flagicon|USA}} Jeff Ward |align="left"| 82 (–54) |- |align="left"|10px '''2''' |align="center"|5 | {{flagicon|BRA}} Felipe Giaffone |align="left"| 80 (–56) |- !colspan=4| Source:<ref name=":4" /> |}

== References == <references /> {{IndyCar Series race report |Name_of_race = zMax 500 |Year_of_race = 2001 |Previous_race_in_season = 2001 Infiniti Grand Prix of Miami |Next_race_in_season = 2001 Indianapolis 500 |Previous_year's_race = 2000 Midas 500 Classic |Next_year's_race = — }}

Category:2001 in IndyCar Category:2001 in sports in Georgia (U.S. state) Category:April 2001 sports events in the United States