The improvements made to the C5-R the previous year from the development of the second generation car with a wider axle track, lower weight, more power and improved aero made the 2001 season one of the most dominant years for the team. The team would win all but two races that year, which included winning the Rolex 24 Hours at Daytona overall.
In 2001 Corvette Racing would win the ALMS Championship, Daytona 24 Hours, Le Mans 24 Hours and Petit Le Mans. Most of the driver lineup remained unchanged besides Justin Bell was replaced by Johnny O’Connell. For the Rolex 24 at Daytona, Dale Earnhardt Sr and Dale Earnhardt Jr were part the #3 team.
2001 Corvette Racing Schedule & Results
Race | Race Date | Race Distance (time) | Track | Car Number | Class Position | Overall Position | Start Position | Drivers | Laps Completed | Fastest Lap | Series | Class |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Rolex 24 at Daytona | February 3 2001 – February 4 2001 | 24 Hours | Daytona International Raceway (Road Course) | 2 | 1 | 1 | 14 | Johnny O'Connell / Ron Fellows / Chris Kneifel / Franck Fréon | 656 | 1:50.954 | Grand Am | GTS |
Rolex 24 at Daytona | February 3 2001 – February 4 2001 | 24 Hours | Daytona International Raceway (Road Course) | 3 | 2 | 4 | 19 | Dale Earnhardt / Kelly Collins / Andy Pilgrim / Dale Earnhardt Jr | 642 | 1:52.089 | Grand Am | GTS |
Leather Center Grand Prix of Texas | March 4 2001 | 2 Hours 45 Minutes | Texas Motor Speedway (Road Course) | 3 | 1 | 7 | 6 | Ron Fellows / Johnny O'Connell | 108 | 1:21.550 | American Le Mans Series | GTS |
Leather Center Grand Prix of Texas | March 4 2001 | 2 Hours 45 Minutes | Texas Motor Speedway (Road Course) | 4 | 4 | 20 | 7 | Kelly Collins / Andy Pilgrim | 61 | 1:22.706 | American Le Mans Series | GTS |
49th Annual Exxon Superflo 12 Hours at Sebring Presented by Dodge | March 17 2001 | 12 Hours | Sebring International Raceway | 4 | 2 | 7 | 12 | Kelly Collins / Andy Pilgrim / Franck Fréon | 331 | 2:02.525 | American Le Mans Series | GTS |
49th Annual Exxon Superflo 12 Hours at Sebring Presented by Dodge | March 17 2001 | 12 Hours | Sebring International Raceway | 3 | 3 | 11 | 10 | Johnny O'Connell / Ron Fellows / Chris Kneifel | 322 | 2:01.207 | American Le Mans Series | GTS |
24 Heures du Mans | June 16 2001 – June 17 2001 | 24 Hours | Circuit de la Sarthe, Le Mans (France) | 63 | 1 | 8 | 27 | Ron Fellows / Johnny O'Connell / Scott Pruett | 278 | 4:05.964 | 24 Hours of Le Mans | GTS |
24 Heures du Mans | June 16 2001 – June 17 2001 | 24 Hours | Circuit de la Sarthe, Le Mans (France) | 64 | 2 | 14 | 29 | Kelly Collins / Andy Pilgrim / Franck Fréon | 271 | 4:04.342 | 24 Hours of Le Mans | GTS |
2 Hours and 45 Minutes of Sears Point | July 22 2001 | 2 Hours 45 Minutes | Sears Point International Raceway | 3 | 1 | 5 | 10 | Ron Fellows / Johnny O'Connell | 97 | 1:32.864 | American Le Mans Series | GTS |
2 Hours and 45 Minutes of Sears Point | July 22 2001 | 2 Hours 45 Minutes | Sears Point International Raceway | 4 | 2 | 6 | 11 | Kelly Collins / Andy Pilgrim | 97 | 1:33.592 | American Le Mans Series | GTS |
American Le Mans Series Grand Prix of Portland | August 4 2001 | 2 Hours 45 Minutes | Portland International Raceway | 3 | 1 | 7 | 8 | Ron Fellows / Johnny O'Connell | 122 | 1:13.232 | American Le Mans Series | GTS |
American Le Mans Series Grand Prix of Portland | August 4 2001 | 2 Hours 45 Minutes | Portland International Raceway | 4 | DQ: Underweight | DQ: Underweight | 10 | Kelly Collins / Andy Pilgrim | 122 | 1:13.993 | American Le Mans Series | GTS |
Gran Turismo 3 Grand Prix at Mosport | August 19 2001 | 2 Hours 45 Minutes | Mosport International Raceway (Canada) | 3 | 1 | 7 | 25 | Ron Fellows / Johnny O'Connell | 109 | 1:17.210 | American Le Mans Series | GTS |
Gran Turismo 3 Grand Prix at Mosport | August 19 2001 | 2 Hours 45 Minutes | Mosport International Raceway (Canada) | 4 | 3 | 9 | 13 | Kelly Collins / Andy Pilgrim | 107 | 1:17.738 | American Le Mans Series | GTS |
American Le Mans Series Grand Prix of Mid-Ohio | August 25 2001 | 2 Hours 45 Minutes | Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course | 3 | 1 | 10 | 14 | Ron Fellows / Johnny O'Connell | 109 | 1:22.674 | American Le Mans Series | GTS |
American Le Mans Series Grand Prix of Mid-Ohio | August 25 2001 | 2 Hours 45 Minutes | Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course | 4 | 2 | 11 | 15 | Kelly Collins / Andy Pilgrim | 109 | 1:23.251 | American Le Mans Series | GTS |
Monterey Sports Car Championships presented by Mazda at Laguna Seca | September 9 2001 | 2 Hours 45 Minutes | Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca | 3 | 2 | 7 | 7 | Ron Fellows / Johnny O'Connell | 111 | 1:24.276 | American Le Mans Series | GTS |
Monterey Sports Car Championships presented by Mazda at Laguna Seca | September 9 2001 | 2 Hours 45 Minutes | Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca | 4 | 3 | 8 | 8 | Kelly Collins / Andy Pilgrim | 111 | 1:24.828 | American Le Mans Series | GTS |
Audi Petit Le Mans | October 6 2001 | 1000 Miles | Road Atlanta Motor Sports Center | 4 | 1 | 6 | 15 | Kelly Collins / Andy Pilgrim / Franck Fréon | 362 | 1:19.967 | American Le Mans Series | GTS |
Audi Petit Le Mans | October 6 2001 | 1000 Miles | Road Atlanta Motor Sports Center | 3 | Electrical Short DQ: Worked on course | Electrical Short DQ: Worked on course | DNQ: Driveshaft | Ron Fellows / Johnny O'Connell / Scott Pruett | 2 | 1:59.144 | American Le Mans Series | GTS |
#3 Chevrolet Corvette C5-R Drivers 2001 (#2 used for Daytona, #63 used for Le Mans)
Ron Fellows
Ron Fellows would make his third year start for Corvette Racing in 2001. He was a fundamental part to the development and success of Corvette Racing. He was one of the original test drivers along with Andy Pilgrim during the two year testing and development period for the Corvette C5-R. Fellows would bring Corvette Racing’s first victory in September 2000 at Texas Motor Speedway and later in 2001 would help give Corvette Racing their first victories at Rolex 24 at Daytona and Le Mans 24 Hours.
Fellows drove for Corvette Racing for nine years winning the drivers championship three times and helping Corvette Racing win eight championships. In 2007 Chevrolet introduced a limited edition Corvette Z06 “Ron Fellows Championship Edition” to celebrate Fellows success with Corvette Racing.
He retired from Corvette Racing after the 2008 season and started the Ron Fellows racing school located in Nevada. In 2011 with partners Carlo Fidani and Allan Boughton, Fellows formed Canadian Motorsport Ventures Ltd., which purchased Mosport International Raceway and renamed it Canadian Tire Motorsport Park.
Vitals
- Birthdate: September 28th, 1959
- Birthplace: Windsor, Ontario, Canada
- Residence: Mississauga, Ontario, Canada
- Family: Wife Lynda, children Lindsay, Sam, Patrick
- Corvette Racing: 1999-2008
Notable Career Highlights
- Three time ALMS Drivers Champion – 2002, 2003, 2004
- Two time Le Mans 24 Hours Class Winner – 2001, 2002
- Overall winner in Rolex 24 at Daytona – 2001
- Four-time ALMS Most Popular Driver award – 2004-2007
- 19 SCCA Trans Am wins
- Five NASCAR wins
Johnny O’Connell
Johnny O’Connell made his Corvette Racing debut in 2001. O’Connell is recognized as one of North America’s most talented race drivers. He began his racing career in single-seaters competing professionally in the Formula Atlantic series in 1987 where he won five races, the championship and Rookie of the Year. O’Connell moved to sports car racing where he would scored a class victory in the 1993 12 Hours of Sebring, an overall win in 1994 and another class victory in 1995 all driving a Nissan 300ZX Turbo for Clayton Cunningham Racing. At his first outing at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1994 he achieved a class victory.
O’Connell joined the Indycar series in 1996 where he competed in 4 races including the Indianapolis 500. In 1997 O’Connell made a return to sports car racing driving a Panoz GTR-1 in the IMSA GT race at Pikes Peak where he finished third. O’Connell competed in five races in a Hawk C-8 Chevrolet in the IMSA championship for the Mandeville Auto Tech team the same year before returning to full time sports car racing with Panoz Motorsports in 1998.
O’Connell joined Corvette Racing in 2001, scoring an overall victory at the Rolex 24 at Daytona in his first race for the team. In the same year he was part of the #63 crew helping Corvette Racing achieve their first class victory at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Whilst part of Corvette Racing he helped the team capture eight straight manufacturers titles and shared the drivers championship for the GTS class with teammate Ron Fellows in 2002, 2003 and 2004. In 2008, O’Connell and teammate Jan Magnussen dominated the GT1 class in the C6.R, scoring eight wins and the class championship. O’Connell is the all-time leader in Sebring victories with his eight career wins in 2009.
Vitals
- Birthdate: July 24th, 1962
- Birthplace: Poughkeepsie, N.Y.
- Residence: Flowery Branch, Ga.
- Family: Son Canaan, daughter Kelly
- Corvette Racing: 2001 -2010
Notable Career Highlights
- Formula West Champion and Rookie of the Year 1987
- 12 Hours of Sebring GTS class winner 1993, 1994 and 1995
- Rolex 24 at Daytona Overall winner 2001
- ALMS GTS Drivers Champion 2002, 2003 and 2004
- ALMS GT1 Drivers Champion 2008
- Won class in 12 Hours of Sebring for record eighth time in 2009
- Four class victories at the 24 Hours of Le Mans – 1994 (IMSA GTS), 2001, 2002 (GTS), 2009 (GT1)
Chris Kneifel (Daytona and Sebring)
Kneifel returned for two races with Corvette Racing in 2001. He would act as the third driver in Rolex 24 at Daytona achieving an overall win and the 12 Hours of Sebring achieving a third in class finish.
Early in his career, Kneifel raced in the Formula Ford and Formula Atlantic Series to then become a driver in the 1982-1984 CART Championship Car Series. Kneifel had 19 career starts in CART including the 1983 and 1984 Indianapolis 500, bringing six top 10 finishes.
After competing in CART he won the 1985 Trans-Am Rookie of the Year. Kneifel joined Corvette Racing in 1999 teaming with Ron Fellows and later with Franck Fréon and Johnny O’Connell. He would go on to win overall the 2001 Rolex 24 at Daytona. From 2001-2004 he rejoined the CART series but this time as the Chief Steward (Race Director).
Vitals
- Birthdate: April 23rd, 1961
- Birthplace: Chicago, Illinois
- Residence: Cave Creek, Arizona
- Family: children Christian, Christina, Michael
- Corvette Racing: 1999-2001
Notable Career Highlights
- Three podiums with Corvette Racing in 1999
- Two podiums with Corvette Racing in 2000
- Two wins and three podiums with Corvette Racing in 2001
Franck Fréon (Daytona)
Fréon rejoined Corvette Racing for three endurance races in 2001. He drove the #2 car at the Rolex 24 at Daytona where he accomplished an overall win.
Fréon began his racing career in the French Renault 5 Turbo Championship in between 1986 and 1987. He then joined the French Formula Three Championship from 1988 to 1989. Fréon moved to the United States and joined the Indy Lights Championship between 1991 and 1993, where he achieved 4 wins and finished runner up in the 1992 and 1993 standings.
Despite his success in Indy Lights, he struggled to find a good team in the CART series, making only 4 starts (and 1 DNF) for 3 seperate teams in the 1994 season. His best finish was 12th in his CART debut at the Long Beach Grand Prix. In 1995 Fréon ran into the same hurdles, finishing 15th in the Long Beach season opener, to then fail to qualify for the Indianapolis 500 in a 3 year old Lola chassis.
In 1994 Franck Fréon competed in the 24 Hours of Le Mans where he achieved a second place finish in his debut, racing a Mazda RX-7 GTO for Team Artnature. In 1996 Fréon achieved a class victory in LMP2 driving a Kudzu DLM-Mazda for Mazdaspeed Co. Ltd.
In 1998, Franck Fréon leveraged his knowledge, experience and passion for cars to establish his business Pumpkin Fine Cars & Exotics.
Vitals
- Birthdate: March 16th, 1962
- Birthplace: Paris France
- Residence: New Jersey, USA
- Family: Wife Gina, children, Harrison and Isabella
- Corvette Racing: 2000-2003
Notable Career Highlights
- Second in 1992 Indy Lights standings
- Second in 1993 Indy Lights standings
- 1996 24 Hours of Le Mans LMP2 class win
- Seven 24 Hours of Le Mans class podiums – 1994 (GTS), 1995 (WSC), 1996 (LMP2), 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003 (GTS)
Scott Pruett (Le Mans and Petit Le Mans)
Pruett joined Corvette Racing as a third driver for two endurance events in 2001. He was part of the #63 crew that accomplished Corvette Racing’s first ever victory at Le Mans. Pruett was set to run the Petit Le Mans that same year but unfortunately the car was disqualified after an electrical short that caused Ron Fellows to attempt to repair on track, which was not permitted.
Throughout the 1980s, Pruett established himself as a top American sports car racer, when he won two IMSA GTO championships and three Trans-Am Series championships.
Between 1988 to 1999, Pruett made 145 starts with two wins, five pole positions and 15 top three finishes in the CART series.
Pruett made a move to the NASCAR Winston Cup Series for the 2000 season with PPI Motorsports. He achieved one top-10 and finished 37th in the points standings. After NASCAR Pruett moved back to sports car racing and won his third Trans-Am Series championship in 2003.
In 2004, Pruett joined Chip Ganassi Racing in the Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series where he accomplished five championships between 2004 and 2012. Altogether Pruett has won 11 American sports car championships.
Vitals
- Birthdate: March 24th, 1960
- Birthplace: Sacramento, California
- Residence: Northern California
- Family: Wife Judy, children Lauren, Taylor and Cameron
- Corvette Racing: 2001
Notable Career Highlights
- Two time IMSA GTO Champion – 1986, 1988
- Two time 12 Hours of Sebring winner – 1986, 2014
- Three time SCCA Trans-Am Champion – 1987, 1994, 2003
- Five time Rolex 24 at Daytona overall winner – 1994, 2007, 2008, 2011, 2013
- 24 Hours of Le Mans class winner 2001
- Five time Rolex Sports Car Series Daytona Prototype Grand Am Champion – 2004, 2006, 2008, 2010, 2012
#4 Chevrolet Corvette C5-R Drivers 2001 (#3 used at Daytona, #64 used at Le Mans)
Kelly Collins
Collins first joined Corvette Racing at the 1999 Petit Le Mans. In 2000 Collins joined Corvette Racing for four rounds of the ALMS season and two endurance races outside of the ALMS. 2001 marked the first full season for Kelly Collins with Corvette Racing.
At the age of seven Kelly Collins began racing motorcycles. He started his racing career in 1987 earning six wins in Formula Ford and Formula Mazda.
From 1993 to 1996 Collins drove a Honda in the IMSA Series earning eight wins. He then would race a Porsche in the PSCR GT Championship in 1997 and 1998. In 1999 Collins won the GT3 Class at the Rolex 24 at Daytona in a Porsche 911 RSR for Alex Job Racing finishing sixth overall. Collins continued to drive for Alex Job Racing in 1999 in the ALMS where he achieved another GT Class win at Sebring. After Sebring Collins moved to Martin Snow Racing, driving a Porsche 911 Turbo in the GTS class for four rounds.
Collins joined Corvette Racing at Petit Le Mans at Road Atlanta in 1999, to then finish the season with Martin Snow Racing for the last two rounds in the ALMS.
Vitals
- Birthdate: April 21st, 1965
- Birthplace: Sun Valley, Idaho
- Residence: Newport Beach, California
- Corvette Racing: 1999-2003
Notable Career Highlights
- 1992 Sebring 12 Hours winner
- Eight wins in the IMSA Series between 1993-1996
- 1999 Rolex 24 at Daytona GT3 class winner
- GTS class win at 2000 Petit Le Mans
- Four consecutive GTS class Le Mans 24 Hours podiums 2000, 2001, 2002 and 2003
- Three GT class wins in Grand-Am Sports Car Series – 2006
- Four GT class wins in Grand-Am Sports Car Series – 2008
Andy Pilgrim
2001 would mark the third season for Andy Pilgrim with Corvette Racing.
Pilgrim was one of the integral people involved in the development of the Corvette Racing program being the first to drive the Corvette C5-R as a test driver in its first two years of development. He would go on to race for Corvette Racing from 1999 to 2003 giving the teams first win at Texas Motor Speedway in September 2000. He became famous for the ‘Pilgrim pass’ at the 2000 Petit Le Mans where he made a difficult move to steal the win from the Team Oreca Viper in the last minutes of the race, giving Corvette Racing their first endurance race victory.
Pilgrim born in England moved to the USA in 1982 and had his first professional race in 1984. Pilgrim received his first professional victory in the IMSA Firestone Firehawk Endurance Championship in 1986 at Sears Point driving a Pontiac Firebird. Between July 1992 to September 1998, Pilgrim won 25 races and three IMSA championships, finishing a record 116 consecutive IMSA races without a DNF (did not finish). He took titles in the 1995 and 1998 IMSA Speedvision Cup championships, the 1997 IMSA GT1 championship and the 1996 Brazilian GT2 title. Pilgrim has two Rolex 24 at Daytona victories, including an overall win in 2004.
Away from the race track Andy Pilgrim is the CEO of Electronic Computer Services, a successful computer consulting and management company that employs more than 200 information technology professionals. Pilgrim also works with high school students, teaching them safe driving skills. In 2005, he created an instructional DVD on safe driving, “The Driving Zone: Essential Techniques For New Drivers,” in cooperation with Chevrolet NASCAR Nextel Cup driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. and the Dale Earnhardt Foundation.
Vitals
- Birthdate: August 18th, 1956
- Birthplace: Nottingham, England
- Residence: Delray Beach, Florida
- Family: Single
- Corvette Racing: 1999-2003
Notable Career Highlights
- Five podium finishes at Le Mans 24 Hours – 1997 (GT2), 2000 (GTS), 2001 (GTS) 2002 (GTS), 2003 (GTS)
- Third place in the 2002 ALMS driver standings
- First place overall at the 2004 Rolex 24 at Daytona
- 2005 SPEED World Challenge – GT champion
- Second place in the 2007 and 2008 SPEED World Challenge – GT championship standings
- Second place in the 2012 Pirelli World Challenge GT season standings
Franck Fréon (Sebring and Petit Le Mans)
Fréon rejoined Corvette Racing for three endurance races in 2001. He drove the #2 car at Daytona but joined the #4 C5-R crew for his last two races with the team in 2001. With the #4 crew he achieved a second place class finish at the 12 Hours of Sebring and a win in the GTS class at the Petit Le Mans.
Dale Earnhardt (Daytona)

Image used with authorization from Richard Prince
Dale Earnhardt joined Corvette Racing with his son in February 2001 for the Rolex 24 at Daytona. The C5-R sported his signature #3. Earnhardt really enjoyed driving the C5-R, claiming it was one of the best race cars he had driven. He was planning on joining Corvette Racing with his son at Le Mans the same year, but unfortunately lost his life a few weeks later February 18th 2001 at the Daytona 500 at turn four of the last lap.
Ralph Dale Earnhardt Sr was an American professional stock car driver and team owner. He raced from 1975 to 2001 in the NASCAR Winston Cup Series (now called the NASCAR Cup Series), most famous for driving the black #3 GM Goodwrench Service Plus Chevrolet for Richard Childress Racing.
Son of American stock car racer Ralph Earnhardt, Dale Earnhardt would begin his racing career in Charlotte at the World 600 in 1975. Earnhardt won a total of 76 Winston Cup races throughout his career, including four Winston 500s and the 1998 Daytona 500. He tied Richard Petty’s record of seven Winston Cup championships in 1994. His aggressive driving style earned him the nicknames “The Intimidator”, “The Man in Black”, and “Ironhead”, while his success at the restrictor plate tracks such as Daytona and Talladega Superspeedway also earned him the nickname, “Mr. Restrictor Plate”. He is regarded as one of the greatest drivers in NASCAR history.
Vitals
- Birthdate: April 29th, 1951
- Birthplace: Kannapolis, North Carolina
- Family: Wife Teresa, children Kerry, Kelly, Dale Jr, and Taylor
- Corvette Racing: 2001
Notable Career Highlights
- 1979 NASCAR Rookie of the Year
- Four time IROC Champion – 1990, 1995, 1999, 2000
- 76 NASCAR Winston Cup wins
- 428 NASCAR Winston Cup top tens
- 22 NASCAR Winston Cup Poles
- 1998 Daytona 500 winner
- Seven time NASCAR Winston Cup Champion – 1980, 1986, 1987, 1990, 1991, 1993, 1994
Dale Earnhardt Jr (Daytona)
Earnhardt Jr joined Corvette Racing with his father at the 2001 Rolex 24 at Daytona to drive the #3 Chevrolet Corvette C5-R.
Ralph Dale Earnhardt Jr is an American semi-retired professional stock car racing driver, team owner, author, and an analyst for NASCAR on NBC. He competes part-time in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, driving the #8 Chevrolet Camaro for his team JR Motorsports.
Earnhardt Jr’s success at Daytona International Speedway throughout his career earned him the nickname “Pied Piper” of Daytona.
Earnhardt Jr started his NASCAR Cup Series career driving for his father’s team DEI (Dale Earnhardt Inc) in the #8 Budweiser Chevrolet Monte Carlo. He joined Hendrick Motorsports in 2008 to drive the #88 Chevrolet where he remained until his full-time retirement in 2017. Earnhardt Jr retired with 26 Cup Series wins that tied him 30th in NASCAR history.
Vitals
- Birthdate: October 10th, 1974
- Birthplace: Kannapolis, North Carolina
- Residence: North Carolina
- Family: Wife Amy, daughter Isla
- Corvette Racing: 2001, 2004
Notable Career Highlights
- Two time NASCAR Busch Series Champion – 1998, 1999
- Two time Daytona 500 winner – 2004, 2014
- 26 NASCAR wins
- 260 NASCAR top tens
- 15 NASCAR poles