CART celebrated in Night of Champions.
Marlboro Team Penske drivers Gil de Ferran and Helio Castroneves participated in the first-ever Sports Illustrated's Night of Champions, a tribute to the sports world's top performers of 2001. The ceremony, hosted by Bob Costas and held at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles on Monday, December 10, featured the presentation of the 2001 Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the Year award to Randy Johnson and Curt Schilling of the World Champion Arizona Diamondbacks. Past winners of the award include Michael Jordan, Wayne Gretzky, Tiger Woods and Muhammad Ali.
Marlboro Team Penske drivers Gil de Ferran and Helio Castroneves participated in the first-ever Sports Illustrated's Night of Champions, a tribute to the sports world's top performers of 2001. The ceremony, hosted by Bob Costas and held at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles on Monday, December 10, featured the presentation of the 2001 Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the Year award to Randy Johnson and Curt Schilling of the World Champion Arizona Diamondbacks. Past winners of the award include Michael Jordan, Wayne Gretzky, Tiger Woods and Muhammad Ali.
The evening culminated in a special segment saluting the champions of 2001 and honouring many of the heroes of September 11. Sixteen athletes were brought on stage including two-time CART FedEx Champion Gil de Ferran and 2001 Indianapolis 500 winner Helio Castroneves, as well as representatives from the New York City Fire Department.
The event also featured a tribute to Muhammad Ali and musical performances by Alan Jackson and R. Kelly. Guests included Magic Johnson, Matthew Perry, Anthony Edwards, Ray Bourque, Lennox Lewis, Randy Johnson, Curt Schilling, Gil de Ferran, Helio Castroneves, Michael Waltrip, Steve Park, Deacon Jones, Lynn Swan, Todd Zeile and Brandi Chastain to name a few.
