Dennis Vitolo

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.

Dennis Vitolo
Born	(1956-12-18) December 18, 1956 (age 68) Massapequa, New York, U.S.
Retired	1999
CART World Series
Years active	1988–1989, 1991–1999
Teams	Bettenhausen Racing Dale Coyne Racing Walker Racing Dick Simon Racing Pagan Racing Project Indy Payton/Coyne Racing
Starts	36
Wins	0
Poles	0
Best finish	25th in 1997
Previous series
1997	Indy Racing League

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	No.	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	16	PHX	LBH	INDY	MIL	POR	CLE	TOR	MEA	MIS	POC	MDO	ROA	NZR	LS	MIA 11						33rd	2	[2]
1989	Bettenhausen Racing	16	PHX	LBH	INDY	MIL	DET DNQ	POR	CLE	MEA	TOR	MIS	POC	MDO DNQ	ROA	NZR	LS						NC	-	[3]
1991	Dale Coyne Racing	19	SRF 24	LBH 26	PHX	INDY	MIL	DET 20	POR	CLE	MEA	TOR	MIS	DEN	VAN	MDO	ROA	NZR 14	LS				37th	0	[4]
1992	Dale Coyne Racing	19	SRF	PHX 21	LBH	INDY	DET	POR	MIL	NHM 14	TOR	MIS	CLE	ROA	VAN		NZR 20	LS 17					42nd	0	[5]
	Walker Motorsport	15														MDO DNS
1993	Dale Coyne Racing	19	SRF	PHX	LBH	INDY	MIL	DET DNQ	POR	CLE	TOR	MIS	NHM	ROA	VAN	MDO	NZR	LS					NC	-	[6]
1994	Dick Simon Racing	79	SRF	PHX	LBH	INDY 26	MIL	DET	POR	CLE	TOR	MIS	MDO	NHM	VAN	ROA	NZR	LS					53rd	0	[7]
1995	Pagan Racing	21	MIA 18	SRF	PHX	LBH	NZR	INDY	MIL	DET	POR	ROA	TOR	CLE	MIS	MDO	NHM	VAN	LS				41st	0	[8]
1996	Project Indy	64	MIA	RIO	SRF	LBH 17	NZR	500	MIL	DET	POR	CLE	TOR	MIS	MDO	ROA	VAN	LS					38th	0	[9]
1997	Project Indy		MIA 23	SRF	LBH Wth	NZR DNQ	RIO	GAT	MIL	DET	POR	CLE					VAN 27	LS 20					25th	6	[10]
	Payton/Coyne Racing	34											TOR 28	MIS 7	MDO	ROA			FON 16
1998	Payton/Coyne Racing		MIA 25	MOT	LBH	NZR 25	RIO	GAT 25	MIL DNQ	DET 28	POR 18	CLE 24	TOR	MIS 26	MDO	ROA	VAN 17	LS 26	HOU 19	SRF DNQ	FON 25		33rd	0	[11]
1999	Payton/Coyne Racing		MIA 16	MOT	LBH	NZR Wth	RIO	GAT 24	MIL 22	POR	CLE	ROA	TOR 18	MIS 11	DET	MDO	CHI 15	VAN	LS	HOU	SRF	FON 15	30th	2	[12]

Indy Racing League

Year	Team	No.	Chassis	Engine	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	Rank	Points	Ref
1996-97	Beck Motorsports	54	Dallara IR7	Infiniti	NHM	LVS	WDW	PHX	INDY 15	TXS	PPIR	CHR	NH2	LV2	45th	20	[13]

Indianapolis 500

Year	Chassis	Engine	Start	Finish	Team
1994	Lola T93/00	Ford XB	15	26	Dick Simon Racing
1997	Dallara	Infiniti	28	15	Beck Motorsports