Dennis Vitolo

Last updated
Dennis Vitolo
Born (1956-12-18) December 18, 1956 (age 68)
Massapequa, New York, U.S.
Retired1999
CART World Series
Years active1988–1989, 1991–1999
Teams Bettenhausen Racing
Dale Coyne Racing
Walker Racing
Dick Simon Racing
Pagan Racing
Project Indy
Payton/Coyne Racing
Starts36
Wins0
Poles0
Best finish25th in 1997
Previous series
1997 Indy Racing League

Dennis Vitolo (born December 18, 1956) is an American former race driver who competed in the CART series. He raced in the 1988 and 1991-1999 seasons with 36 career starts, including the 1994 Indianapolis 500. He was involved in a crash in that race, taking out reigning CART champion Nigel Mansell in an incident that occurred under caution. The field had slowed and Vitolo ran into the rear of John Andretti's car, launched into the air, and landed on Mansell's car on the warm-up lane between turns 1 and 2. [1] He also raced in the 1997 Indianapolis 500, which by then had become part of the Indy Racing League. His best career CART finish was seventh, in the U.S. 500 at Michigan International Speedway.

Contents

Vitolo also mentored NASCAR driver Mike Senica as the two met back in 1994 after the Indianapolis 500.

Racing record

American Open Wheel racing results

(key)

CART

YearTeamNo.1234567891011121314151617181920RankPointsRef
1988 Bettenhausen Racing 16PHXLBH INDY MILPORCLETORMEAMISPOCMDOROANZRLSMIA
11
33rd2 [2]
1989 Bettenhausen Racing 16PHXLBH INDY MILDET
DNQ
PORCLEMEATORMISPOCMDO
DNQ
ROANZRLSNC- [3]
1991 Dale Coyne Racing 19 SRF
24
LBH
26
PHX INDY MILDET
20
PORCLEMEATORMISDENVANMDOROANZR
14
LS37th0 [4]
1992 Dale Coyne Racing 19 SRF PHX
21
LBH INDY DETPORMILNHM
14
TORMISCLEROAVANNZR
20
LS
17
42nd0 [5]
Walker Motorsport 15MDO
DNS
1993 Dale Coyne Racing 19 SRF PHXLBH INDY MILDET
DNQ
PORCLETORMISNHMROAVANMDONZRLSNC- [6]
1994 Dick Simon Racing 79 SRF PHXLBH INDY
26
MILDETPORCLETORMISMDONHMVANROANZRLS53rd0 [7]
1995 Pagan Racing 21MIA
18
SRF PHXLBHNZR INDY MILDETPORROATORCLEMISMDONHMVANLS41st0 [8]
1996 Project Indy 64 MIA RIO SRF LBH
17
NZR 500 MIL DET PORCLETORMISMDOROAVANLS38th0 [9]
1997 Project Indy MIA
23
SRF LBH
Wth
NZR
DNQ
RIOGATMILDETPORCLE VAN
27
LS
20
25th6 [10]
Payton/Coyne Racing 34TOR
28
MIS
7
MDOROA FON
16
1998 Payton/Coyne Racing MIA
25
MOT LBHNZR
25
RIO GAT
25
MIL
DNQ
DET
28
POR
18
CLE
24
TOR MIS
26
MDOROAVAN
17
LS
26
HOU
19
SRF
DNQ
FON
25
33rd0 [11]
1999 Payton/Coyne Racing MIA
16
MOTLBHNZR
Wth
RIOGAT
24
MIL
22
PORCLEROA TOR
18
MIS
11
DETMDOCHI
15
VANLSHOU SRF FON
15
30th2 [12]

Indy Racing League

YearTeamNo.ChassisEngine12345678910RankPointsRef
1996-97 Beck Motorsports 54 Dallara IR7 Infiniti NHM LVS WDW PHX INDY
15
TXS PPIR CHR NH2 LV2 45th20 [13]

Indianapolis 500

YearChassisEngineStartFinishTeam
1994 Lola T93/00 Ford XB 1526 Dick Simon Racing
1997 Dallara Infiniti 2815 Beck Motorsports

References

  1. Reed, Terry. id=uahb3ND5jxwC&pg=PA176&lpg=PA176&dq=1994+indianapolis+500+dennis+vitolo&source=web&ots=lNAfy_RI4-&sig=vZk79hPo481bQwbNWEWXrKwFi-A#PPA176,M1 Indy: The Race and Ritual of the Indianapolis 500
  2. "Dennis Vitolo – 1988 CART Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved August 15, 2023.
  3. "Dennis Vitolo – 1989 CART Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved August 15, 2023.
  4. "Dennis Vitolo – 1991 CART Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved August 15, 2023.
  5. "Dennis Vitolo – 1992 CART Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved August 15, 2023.
  6. "Dennis Vitolo – 1993 CART Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved August 15, 2023.
  7. "Dennis Vitolo – 1994 CART Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved August 15, 2023.
  8. "Dennis Vitolo – 1995 CART Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved August 15, 2023.
  9. "Dennis Vitolo – 1996 CART Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved August 15, 2023.
  10. "Dennis Vitolo – 1997 CART Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved August 15, 2023.
  11. "Dennis Vitolo – 1998 CART Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved August 15, 2023.
  12. "Dennis Vitolo – 1999 CART Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved August 15, 2023.
  13. "Dennis Vitolo – 1997 Indy Racing League Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved August 7, 2023.