2003 Chevy 500

Last updated
Flag of the United States.svg 2003 Chevy 500
Race details
16 round of the 2003 IndyCar Series season
TexasMotorSpeedway.svg
Texas Motor Speedway
DateOctober 12, 2003
Official name Chevy 500
Location Texas Motor Speedway
CourseOval
1.5 mi / 2.4 km
Distance195 laps
292.5 mi / 470.3 km
Scheduled Distance200 laps
300 mi / 482.8 km
Pole position
Driver Gil de Ferran  (Marlboro Team Penske)
Time23.503
Fastest lap
Driver Tony Kanaan  (Andretti Green Racing)
Time23.441 (on lap 185 of 195)
Podium
First Gil de Ferran  (Marlboro Team Penske)
Second Scott Dixon  (Target Chip Ganassi Racing)
Third Dan Wheldon  (Andretti Green Racing)

The 2003 Chevy 500 was a race held at Texas Motor Speedway on Sunday, October 12, 2003. The race was the last race of the season for the 2003 IndyCar Series. The race was won by Gil de Ferran in what would be his last race in IndyCar with Scott Dixon winning his first of 6 IndyCar Series championships. The race was shortened by 195 of the scheduled 200 laps and was most remembered for a horrific crash by Kenny Bräck that nearly cost him his life.

Contents

Background

Texas Motor Speedway is a 1.5 miles (2.4 km) oval located in Fort Worth, Texas. The track has been hosting IndyCar Series races since 1997. [1]

Scott Dixon and Hélio Castroneves were tied for the points lead after the last race at California Speedway. Behind the 2 were Tony Kanaan (7 back), Sam Hornish Jr., (19 back), and Gil de Ferran (30 back) rounded out the top 5 in points.

Entry List

No.DriverTeamManufactour
2 Flag of Brazil.svg Vítor Meira Team Menard Chevrolet
3 Flag of Brazil.svg Hélio Castroneves Marlboro Team Penske Toyota
4 Flag of the United States.svg Sam Hornish Jr. Panther Racing Chevrolet
6 Flag of Brazil.svg Gil de Ferran Marlboro Team Penske Toyota
7 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Dan Wheldon (R) Andretti Green Racing Honda
8 Flag of the United States.svg Scott Sharp Kelley Racing Toyota
9 Flag of New Zealand.svg Scott Dixon Target Chip Ganassi Racing Toyota
10 Flag of South Africa.svg Tomas Scheckter Target Chip Ganassi Racing Toyota
11 Flag of Brazil.svg Tony Kanaan Andretti Green Racing Honda
12 Flag of Japan.svg Tora Takagi Mo Nunn Racing Toyota
13 Flag of the United States.svg Greg Ray Access Motorsports Honda
14 Flag of the United States.svg A. J. Foyt IV (R) A. J. Foyt Enterprises Toyota
15 Flag of Sweden.svg Kenny Bräck Team Rahal Honda
18 Flag of the United States.svg Ed Carpenter (R) PDM Racing Chevrolet
21 Flag of Brazil.svg Felipe Giaffone Mo Nunn Racing Toyota
23 Flag of the United States.svg Sarah Fisher Dreyer & Reinbold Racing Chevrolet
24 Flag of the United States.svg Robbie Buhl Dreyer & Reinbold Racing Chevrolet
27 Flag of the United States.svg Bryan Herta Andretti Green Racing Honda
31 Flag of the United States.svg Al Unser Jr. Kelley Racing Toyota
52 Flag of the United States.svg Alex Barron Red Bull Cheever Racing Chevrolet
55 Flag of the United States.svg Roger Yasukawa (R) Fernández Racing Honda
91 Flag of the United States.svg Richie Hearn Hemelgarn Racing Chevrolet
Official Entry List

Qualifying

Gil de Ferran won the pole with Scott Dixon on the outside of Ferran in 2nd. [2]

PositionNo.DriverTeamManufacturerTime
16Gil de FerranMarlboro Team PenskeToyota23.503
29Scott DixonTarget Chip Ganassi RacingToyota23.504
310Tomas ScheckterTarget Chip Ganassi RacingToyota23.598
421Felipe GiaffoneMo Nunn RacingToyota23.599
53Hélio CasteronevesMarlboro Team PenskeToyota23.607
62Vítor MeiraTeam MenardChevrolet23.609
715Kenny BräckTeam RahalHonda23.649
827Bryan HertaAndretti Green RacingHonda23.692
911Tony KanaanAndretti Green RacingHonda23.718
1024Robbie BuhlDreyer & Reinbold RacingChevrolet23.724
1112Tora TagokiMo Nunn RacingToyota23.756
124Sam Hornish Jr.Panther RacingChevrolet23.761
1313Greg RayAccess MotorsportsHonda23.813
1452Alex BarronRed Bull Cheever RacingChevrolet23.844
1555Roger Yasukawa (R)Fernández RacingHonda23.854
167Dan Wheldon (R)Andretti Green RacingHonda23.867
1731Al Unser Jr.Kelley RacingToyota23.969
1891Richie HearnHemelgarn RacingChevrolet23.976
1914A. J. Foyt IV (R)A. J. Foyt EnterprisesToyota24.078
208Scott SharpKelley RacingToyota24.079
2123Sarah FisherDreyer & Reinbold RacingChevrolet24.147
2218Ed Carpenter (R)PDM RacingChevrolet24.496
Official qualifying results

Race

Pole sitter Gil de Ferran led the first lap of the race. Scott Dixon pulled to his outside and edged out Ferran for the next 3 laps before Dixon fully surrendered it on lap 5. The first caution flew on lap 30 for debris. Tony Kanaan won the race off of pit road and was the new race leader. On lap 51, the second caution flew when rookie Ed Carpenter's car stalled and needed a tow back to the pit lane. Kanaan was still the race leader on the restart. On lap 82, the third caution flew for the same result as the previous caution when Ed Carpenter's car stalled for a second time and needed another tow back to the pit lane. Scott Dixon won the race off of pit road and was the new leader of the race. On the restart, Kanaan tried to challenge Dixon for the lead but failed to get in front of him. On lap 98, the fourth caution flew for a 3 car crash on the frontstretch involving Alex Barron, Felipe Giaffone, and Gil de Ferran. Ferran had some minor damage after going through the grass but was still able to continue on. The race restarted on lap 107 and Dixon still held on to the lead. On lap 138, Dixon began to battle for the lead with Sam Hornish Jr. who led that lap. Dixon was able to lead the next 2 laps before Hornish got in front of Dixon and took the lead. Green flag pitstops began with 50 laps to go in the race. After pit stops cycled through, Gil de Ferran was the new race leader. With 26 laps to go, the 5th caution flew when Richie Hearn crashed in turn 3. The race restarted with 22 laps to go and Ferran held on to his lead. On the restart, Tony Kanaan attempted to pass Ferran for the lead when he blew a left rear tire in turn 3 which caused Kanaan to slow down and ending his chances of winning.

Kenny Bräck crash

Kenny Brack's crash into the catchfence. Kenny Brack crash.jpg
Kenny Bräck's crash into the catchfence.

With 13 laps to go and on lap 187, a horrifying crash occurred. Down the backstretch, Tomas Scheckter was on the inside of Kenny Bräck racing for third place when Scheckter came up and made contact with Bräck. Bräck's car ramped on top of Scheckter's car, became airborne, and hit the catch fence with such force, it ripped everything out of the car except the cockpit disintegrating his car. Fortunately, no other cars were involved and Scheckter was alright, but Bräck was feared to be unconscious. Bräck was attended to by many track personnel trying to get him out of the car as the red flag flew out for the crash. Bräck was conscious and talking to everyone as he was lifted to Parkland Hospital in Dallas. Bräck had suffered multiple fractures, breaking his sternum, femur, shattering a vertebra in his spine and crushing his ankles. Thankfully, Bräck survived. [3] With just 6 laps remaining in the race, officials decided to call the race and Gil de Ferran was the race winner. Scott Dixon and Dan Wheldon rounded out the podium and Dixon won the Series championship by 18 points over Ferran.

A study showed that Bräck's crash measured a g-force of 214 g. It is believed to be the highest recorded g-forces ever by a crash that was survived by a driver. Bräck would make his comeback in the 2005 Indianapolis 500 replacing Buddy Rice starting 23rd and finishing 26th retiring with a mechanical problem. [4] [5]

Results

Pos.CarDriverTeamManufacturerLaps RunledStatusPoints
16Gil de FerranMarlboro Team PenskeToyota19568running52
29Scott DixonTarget Chip Ganassi RacingToyota19557running40
37Dan Wheldon (R)Andretti Green RacingHonda1951running35
42Vítor MeiraTeam MenardChevrolet1950running32
527Bryan HertaAndretti Green RacingHonda1950running30
68Scott SharpKelley RacingToyota1955running28
712Tora TakagiMo Nunn RacingToyota1950running26
813Greg RayAccess MotorsportsHonda1950running24
931Al Unser Jr.Kelley RacingToyota1950running22
1055Roger Yasukawa (R)Fernández RacingHonda1950running20
1124Robbie BuhlDreyer & Reinbold RacingChevrolet1950running19
1223Sarah FisherDreyer & Reinbold RacingChevrolet1940running18
133Hélio CastronevesMarlboro Team PenskeToyota1940running17
1411Tony KanaanAndretti Green RacingHonda19352running16
1510Tomas ScheckterTarget Chip Ganassi RacingToyota1870crash15
1615Kenny BräckTeam RahalHonda1870crash14
174Sam Hornish Jr.Panther RacingChevrolet17612spray13
1891Richie HearnHemelgarn RacingChevrolet1720crash12
1921Felipe GíffoneMo Nunn RacingToyota980crash11
2052Alex BarronRed Bull Cheever RacingChevrolet980crash10
2118Ed Carpenter (R)PDM RacingChevrolet690alternator9
2214A. J. Foyt IV (R)A. J. Foyt EnterprisesToyota620engine8
Official Race Results

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tony Kanaan</span> Brazilian racing driver

Antoine Rizkallah "Tony" Kanaan Filho, nicknamed TK, is a Brazilian racing driver. He competes full-time in the Brazilian Stock Car Pro Series, driving the No. 6 Toyota Corolla E210 for Full Time Bassani and part-time for Arrow McLaren, driving the No. 66 Dallara Chevrolet for the 2023 IndyCar Series season.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2005 IndyCar Series</span> Sports season

The 2005 IRL IndyCar Series began on Sunday, March 6 and ended on Sunday, October 16. The season, which consisted of 17 races, was the 10th season of the IRL IndyCar Series since it split from CART in 1995.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2006 IndyCar Series</span> Season of the IndyCar Series

The 2006 IRL IndyCar Series began on March 26 and concluded on September 10. Sam Hornish Jr. won his third IndyCar Series championship. Hornish also won the 90th Indianapolis 500, passing rookie Marco Andretti on the final lap less than 500 feet (150 m) from the finish line. The title chase was very dramatic between Penske drivers Hornish and Hélio Castroneves battling Ganassi drivers Dan Wheldon and Scott Dixon. The four drivers occupied the first four positions in the final race at Chicagoland Speedway, with Wheldon leading Dixon home for a Ganassi 1–2, but Hornish finishing third, edging out reigning champion Wheldon on a tiebreak. Third would have been enough to catapult fourth-place finisher Castroneves to take the title, but he instead ended up two points behind Hornish and Wheldon. Dixon was also in strong title contention, finishing a mere 15 points adrift of the championship.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Panther Racing</span> American open wheel auto racing team

Panther Racing was an American open wheel auto racing team. It was one of the oldest continually operating teams in the IndyCar Series.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2004 IndyCar Series</span> Sports season

The 2004 IRL IndyCar Series was dominated by two teams, Andretti Green Racing and Rahal Letterman Racing. While there was great parity in 2003 between Honda and Toyota powered teams, in 2004 Honda began to outshine Toyota bringing their teams Penske Racing and Chip Ganassi Racing down with it, leaving Scott Dixon winless and in 10th place in his attempt to defend his 2003 championship.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2003 IndyCar Series</span> Sports season

The 2003 IRL IndyCar Series brought some of the biggest changes in its history. The league adopted the name IndyCar Series, after a settlement with CART prohibiting its use had expired. Several former CART teams brought their full operations to the IRL, most notably major squads Chip Ganassi Racing and Andretti Green Racing, as well as former CART engine manufacturers Toyota and Honda, replacing Infiniti who shifted its efforts to the new feeder series Infiniti Pro Series. Many of the IRL's old guard including Robbie Buhl, Greg Ray, and Buddy Lazier had difficulty competing in this new manufacturer-driven landscape. The league also added its first international race this year, taking over the CART date at Twin Ring Motegi.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2005 Indianapolis 500</span> 89th running of the Indianapolis 500 motor race

The 89th Indianapolis 500 was held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Speedway, Indiana on Sunday, May 29, 2005. It was the premier event of the 2005 IndyCar Series season and the tenth Indy 500 sanctioned by the Indy Racing League. Dan Wheldon won the race, his first of two Indy victories. Wheldon became the first British-born winner since Graham Hill in 1966. It was the second consecutive Indy victory for Honda, and the first victory for the Dallara chassis since 2002. It was also the long-awaited first Indianapolis 500 victory for car owner Michael Andretti of Andretti-Green Racing. After many years of failing to win the race as a driver, Andretti finally achieved victory at Indianapolis as an owner. As of 2022, it is the first of his five Indy victories as an owner.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2004 Indianapolis 500</span> 88th running of the Indianapolis 500 motor race

The 88th Indianapolis 500 was held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Speedway, Indiana on Sunday, May 30, 2004. It was part of the 2004 IndyCar Series season and the ninth Indy 500 sanctioned by the Indy Racing League. Buddy Rice won the pole position, the pit stop contest, led the most laps, and won the race for team owners Bobby Rahal and David Letterman.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2003 Indianapolis 500</span> 87th running of the Indianapolis 500 motor race

The 87th Indianapolis 500 was held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Speedway, Indiana on Sunday, May 25, 2003. Two-time defending champion Hélio Castroneves won the pole position and was trying to become the first driver in Indy history to win three in a row. With 31 laps to go, however, Castroneves was passed by his Penske teammate Gil de Ferran, and the duo finished 1st–2nd, with de Ferran winning his first Indy 500. The race was sanctioned by the Indy Racing League and was part of the 2003 IndyCar Series season.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2007 IndyCar Series</span> Season of the IndyCar Series

The 2007 IRL IndyCar Series began with a night race on Saturday March 24 at Homestead-Miami Speedway. The season's premiere event, the 91st Indianapolis 500 was held May 27. The season finale was held at Chicagoland Speedway on September 9. Dario Franchitti, who won four races during the season, including the Indy 500, clinched the 2007 IndyCar Series championship after he won the final race of the season at Chicagoland Speedway, after points leader Scott Dixon ran out of fuel in turn 3 of the final lap.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2008 IndyCar Series</span> 13th season of the IndyCar Series

The 2008 IndyCar Series was the 13th season of the IndyCar Series. It was the 97th recognized season of top-level American open wheel racing. On February 26, 2008, the managements of Indy Racing League and Champ Car came to an agreement to become a single entity, ending a twelve-year split and resulting in the cancellation of the 2008 Champ Car World Series.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Desert Diamond West Valley Phoenix Grand Prix</span> Former IndyCar Series

The Desert Diamond West Valley Phoenix Grand Prix was an IndyCar Series race held at the Phoenix Raceway in Avondale, Arizona, United States. USAC moved the fall race and added a spring race to the newly built Phoenix International Raceway in 1964. The race became a CART event in 1979, and joined the Indy Racing League in 1996. It was held continuously through 2005.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2001 American Memorial</span> Motor race held in 2001

The 2001 American Memorial was a Championship Auto Racing Teams (CART) motor race held on September 15, 2001, at the EuroSpeedway Lausitz, in Klettwitz, Germany. It was the 16th round of the 2001 CART season and the first race in the series to be held in Europe. Originally known as the German 500, the race's name was changed by CART in the aftermath of the September 11 attacks. Kenny Bräck won the race for Team Rahal after starting from second position; his teammate Max Papis finished in second place, and Patrick Carpentier was third.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2001 Honda Grand Prix of Monterey</span> Motor car race

The 2001 Honda Grand Prix of Monterey was a CART motor race held on October 14, 2001 at the Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca in California, United States. It was the 19th round of the 2001 CART season.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2001 Molson Indy Toronto</span> Motor car race

The 2001 Molson Indy Toronto was a Championship Auto Racing Teams (CART) motor race held on July 15, 2001, at the Exhibition Place circuit in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It was the tenth round of the 2001 CART season, the 16th annual edition of the Molson Indy Toronto, and the first of two events that were held in Canada. The 95-lap race was won by Team Motorola driver Michael Andretti, who started from the 13th position. Alex Tagliani finished second for the Forsythe Racing team, and Fernandez Racing driver Adrián Fernández came in third.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2007 Indy Japan 300</span> Motor car race

The 2007 Indy Japan 300 was an IndyCar Series motor race held on April 21, 2007, at the Twin Ring Motegi in Motegi, Tochigi, Japan. It was the third race of the 2007 IndyCar Series season, the fifth annual edition of the Indy Japan 300 in the IndyCar Series, and the tenth anniversary running of the race. Andretti Green Racing driver Tony Kanaan won the race with a 0.4828 second margin of victory over Chip Ganassi Racing's Dan Wheldon. Dario Franchitti, Scott Dixon, and Sam Hornish Jr. rounded out the top five.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2014 IndyCar Series</span> 19th season of the IndyCar Series

The 2014 Verizon IndyCar Series was the 19th season of the IndyCar Series and the 103rd season of American open wheel racing. Its premier event was the 98th Indianapolis 500, held on Sunday, May 25. Scott Dixon entered the season as the defending IndyCar Champion, while Chevrolet entered as the reigning Manufacturers' champion.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2015 IndyCar Series</span> 20th season of the IndyCar Series

The 2015 Verizon IndyCar Series was the 20th season of the IndyCar Series and the 104th season of American open wheel racing. Its premier event was the 99th Indianapolis 500, which was held on May 24. Will Power returned as the reigning champion, while Ryan Hunter-Reay was the defending Indy 500 champion. Chevrolet entered the season as the reigning Manufacturers' champion. Indianapolis 500 and the season finale counted for double points.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2001 Lehigh Valley Grand Prix</span> Motor car race

The 2001 Lehigh Valley Grand Prix, known informally as the 2001 Nazareth 225, was a Championship Auto Racing Teams (CART) motor race held on May 6, 2001 at Nazareth Speedway in Nazareth, Pennsylvania, USA. It was the 4th round of the 2001 CART season. Rookie Scott Dixon won the race by just four tenths of a second over Kenny Bräck, while Paul Tracy took third.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2002 Delphi Indy 300</span> Motor car race

The 2002 Delphi Indy 300 was an Indy Racing League (IRL) motor race that took place on September 8, 2002, at Chicagoland Speedway in Joliet, Illinois, in front of approximately 50,000 spectators. It was the 14th of 15 scheduled rounds of the 2002 Indy Racing League and the second annual running of the event. Panther Racing driver Sam Hornish Jr. won the 200-lap race from pole position with the closest margin of victory in the IRL of 0.0024 seconds over Al Unser Jr. of Kelley Racing. Third place was Hemelgarn Racing's Buddy Lazier.

References

  1. "2003 Chevy 500 at Texas" . Retrieved October 11, 2003.
  2. "Gil de Ferran on pole for his final race" . Retrieved October 10, 2003.
  3. "Kenny Brack almost fatal crash". 28 November 2017. Retrieved March 10, 2018.
  4. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 18 July 2013. Retrieved 23 July 2013.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  5. Feel the G's: The Science of Gravity and G-Forces - by Suzanne Slade (page 37)
Previous race:
2003 Toyota Indy 400
IndyCar Series
2003 season
Next race:
None
Previous race:
2002 Chevy 500
Chevy 500 Next race:
2004 Chevy 500