# 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. 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 |
| 1988 | Bettenhausen Racing | PHX | LBH | INDY | MIL | POR | CLE | TOR | MEA | MIS | POC | MDO | ROA | NZR | LS | MIA 11 | | | | | | 33rd | 2 |
| 1989 | Bettenhausen Racing | PHX | LBH | INDY | MIL | DET DNQ | POR | CLE | MEA | TOR | MIS | POC | MDO DNQ | ROA | NZR | LS | | | | | | NC | - |
| 1991 | Dale Coyne Racing | SRF 24 | LBH 26 | PHX | INDY | MIL | DET 20 | POR | CLE | MEA | TOR | MIS | DEN | VAN | MDO | ROA | NZR 14 | LS | | | | 37th | 0 |
| 1992 | Dale Coyne Racing | SRF | PHX 21 | LBH | INDY | DET | POR | MIL | NHM 14 | TOR | MIS | CLE | ROA | VAN | | NZR 20 | LS 17 | | | | | 42nd | 0 |
| 1992 | Walker Motorsport | | | | | | | | | | | | | | MDO DNS | | | | | | | 42nd | 0 |
| 1993 | Dale Coyne Racing | SRF | PHX | LBH | INDY | MIL | DET DNQ | POR | CLE | TOR | MIS | NHM | ROA | VAN | MDO | NZR | LS | | | | | NC | - |
| 1994 | Dick Simon Racing | SRF | PHX | LBH | INDY 26 | MIL | DET | POR | CLE | TOR | MIS | MDO | NHM | VAN | ROA | NZR | LS | | | | | 53rd | 0 |
| 1995 | Pagan Racing | MIA 18 | SRF | PHX | LBH | NZR | INDY | MIL | DET | POR | ROA | TOR | CLE | MIS | MDO | NHM | VAN | LS | | | | 41st | 0 |
| 1996 | Project Indy | MIA | RIO | SRF | LBH 17 | NZR | 500 | MIL | DET | POR | CLE | TOR | MIS | MDO | ROA | VAN | LS | | | | | 38th | 0 |
| 1997 | Project Indy | MIA 23 | SRF | LBH Wth | NZR DNQ | RIO | GAT | MIL | DET | POR | CLE | | | | | VAN 27 | LS 20 | | | | | 25th | 6 |
| 1997 | Payton/Coyne Racing | | | | | | | | | | | TOR 28 | MIS 7 | MDO | ROA | | | FON 16 | | | | 25th | 6 |
| 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 |
| 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 |

#### Indy Racing League

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

#### 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 |