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On This Day: Penske makes final CART appearance as longest season ends | Brief

Twenty-five years ago today, the 2001 CART season concluded with its 21st race at Fontana, marking the end of the series’ longest campaign. Cristiano da Matta secured the victory in the final event, but the season was overshadowed by controversy, including a canceled race in Texas due to safety concerns and a devastating crash at the Lausitzring that left Alex Zanardi fighting for his life.

The season also saw a pivotal shift as the dominant Penske team announced its departure from CART to join the rival Indy Racing League, a move that accelerated the series’ decline and ultimately led to its bankruptcy. The split between CART and the IRL would persist for years before the two series reunited in 2008, with Penske later acquiring the merged IndyCar series in 2019.

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