NASCAR 2001 for the PlayStation 2 takes full advantage of the console's graphic horsepower and the game features the best graphics in EA SPORTS NASCAR franchise history. Improved car physics and computer driver AI allows EA SPORTS to add greater depth to real-life driver tendencies in the game. Each driver is rated in five categories that translate his real-life abilities and tendencies onto the 'living racetrack' that exists in each game session. Thus, all 19 of the computer drivers that compete with the player's car in a given race have an independent AI model making constant decisions: Draft behind the player's car and try to get to the front? Fake high and then dive low? Bump the driver who spun him the lap before? Because of the AI model's complexity, the computer drivers may work with or against the human player and other computer drivers at different times in the race, even causing wrecks with each other.