Dennis Vitolo Explained

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 7th, in the U.S. 500 at Michigan International Speedway. 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

Year	Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20	Rank	Points	Ref
1988	Bettenhausen Racing	PHX	LBH	INDY	MIL	POR	CLE	TOR	MEA	MIS	POC	MDO	ROA	NZR	LS	MIA						33rd	2	[2]
1989	Bettenhausen Racing	PHX	LBH	INDY	MIL	DET	POR	CLE	MEA	TOR	MIS	POC	MDO	ROA	NZR	LS						NC	-	[3]
1991	Dale Coyne Racing	SRF	LBH	PHX	INDY	MIL	DET	POR	CLE	MEA	TOR	MIS	DEN	VAN	MDO	ROA	NZR	LS				37th	0	[4]
1992	Dale Coyne Racing	SRF	PHX	LBH	INDY	DET	POR	MIL	NHM	TOR	MIS	CLE	ROA	VAN		NZR	LS					42nd	0	[5]
	Walker Motorsport														MDO
1993	Dale Coyne Racing	SRF	PHX	LBH	INDY	MIL	DET	POR	CLE	TOR	MIS	NHM	ROA	VAN	MDO	NZR	LS					NC	-	[6]
1994	Dick Simon Racing	SRF	PHX	LBH	INDY	MIL	DET	POR	CLE	TOR	MIS	MDO	NHM	VAN	ROA	NZR	LS					53rd	0	[7]
1995	Pagan Racing	MIA	SRF	PHX	LBH	NZR	INDY	MIL	DET	POR	ROA	TOR	CLE	MIS	MDO	NHM	VAN	LS				41st	0	[8]
1996	Project Indy	MIA	RIO	SRF	LBH	NZR	500	MIL	DET	POR	CLE	TOR	MIS	MDO	ROA	VAN	LS					38th	0	[9]
1997	Project Indy	MIA	SRF	LBH Wth	NZR	RIO	GAT	MIL	DET	POR	CLE					VAN	LS					25th	6	[10]
	Payton/Coyne Racing											TOR	MIS	MDO	ROA			FON
1998	Payton/Coyne Racing	MIA	MOT	LBH	NZR	RIO	GAT	MIL	DET	POR	CLE	TOR	MIS	MDO	ROA	VAN	LS	HOU	SRF	FON		33rd	0	[11]
1999	Payton/Coyne Racing	MIA	MOT	LBH	NZR Wth	RIO	GAT	MIL	POR	CLE	ROA	TOR	MIS	DET	MDO	CHI	VAN	LS	HOU	SRF	FON	30th	2	[12]

Indianapolis 500

Year	Chassis	Engine	Start	Finish	Team
1994	Lola T93/00	Ford XB	15	align=center style="background:#EFCFFF;"	26	Dick Simon Racing
1997	Dallara	Infiniti	28	align=center style="background:#CFCFFF;"	15	Beck Motorsports

External links

• Biography of Dennis Vitolo

Notes and 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. Web site: Dennis Vitolo – 1988 CART Results. Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. August 15, 2023.
3. Web site: Dennis Vitolo – 1989 CART Results. Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. August 15, 2023.
4. Web site: Dennis Vitolo – 1991 CART Results. Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. August 15, 2023.
5. Web site: Dennis Vitolo – 1992 CART Results. Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. August 15, 2023.
6. Web site: Dennis Vitolo – 1993 CART Results. Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. August 15, 2023.
7. Web site: Dennis Vitolo – 1994 CART Results. Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. August 15, 2023.
8. Web site: Dennis Vitolo – 1995 CART Results. Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. August 15, 2023.
9. Web site: Dennis Vitolo – 1996 CART Results. Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. August 15, 2023.
10. Web site: Dennis Vitolo – 1997 CART Results. Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. August 15, 2023.
11. Web site: Dennis Vitolo – 1998 CART Results. Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. August 15, 2023.
12. Web site: Dennis Vitolo – 1999 CART Results. Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. August 15, 2023.
13. Web site: Dennis Vitolo – 1997 Indy Racing League Results. Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. August 7, 2023.