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 six IndyCar Series championships. The race was shortened to 195 of the scheduled 200 laps and was most remembered for a horrific crash by Kenny Bräck that nearly cost him his life.

United States 2003 Chevy 500
Race details
16 round of the 2003 IndyCar Series season
Texas Motor Speedway
DateOctober 12, 2003
Official nameChevy 500
LocationTexas 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
DriverGil de Ferran (Marlboro Team Penske)
Time23.503
Fastest lap
DriverTony Kanaan (Andretti Green Racing)
Time23.441 (on lap 185 of 195)
Podium
FirstGil de Ferran (Marlboro Team Penske)
SecondScott Dixon (Target Chip Ganassi Racing)
ThirdDan Wheldon (Andretti Green Racing)

Background

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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

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

Qualifying

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

Position No. Driver Team Manufacturer Time
1 6 Gil de Ferran Marlboro Team Penske Toyota 23.503
2 9 Scott Dixon Target Chip Ganassi Racing Toyota 23.504
3 10 Tomas Scheckter Target Chip Ganassi Racing Toyota 23.598
4 21 Felipe Giaffone Mo Nunn Racing Toyota 23.599
5 3 Hélio Casteroneves Marlboro Team Penske Toyota 23.607
6 2 Vítor Meira Team Menard Chevrolet 23.609
7 15 Kenny Bräck Team Rahal Honda 23.649
8 27 Bryan Herta Andretti Green Racing Honda 23.692
9 11 Tony Kanaan Andretti Green Racing Honda 23.718
10 24 Robbie Buhl Dreyer & Reinbold Racing Chevrolet 23.724
11 12 Tora Tagoki Mo Nunn Racing Toyota 23.756
12 4 Sam Hornish Jr. Panther Racing Chevrolet 23.761
13 13 Greg Ray Access Motorsports Honda 23.813
14 52 Alex Barron Red Bull Cheever Racing Chevrolet 23.844
15 55 Roger Yasukawa (R) Fernández Racing Honda 23.854
16 7 Dan Wheldon (R) Andretti Green Racing Honda 23.867
17 31 Al Unser Jr. Kelley Racing Toyota 23.969
18 91 Richie Hearn Hemelgarn Racing Chevrolet 23.976
19 14 A. J. Foyt IV (R) A. J. Foyt Enterprises Toyota 24.078
20 8 Scott Sharp Kelley Racing Toyota 24.079
21 23 Sarah Fisher Dreyer & Reinbold Racing Chevrolet 24.147
22 18 Ed Carpenter (R) PDM Racing Chevrolet 24.496
Official qualifying results

Race

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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

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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

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Pos. Car Driver Team Manufacturer Laps Run led Status Points
1 6 Gil de Ferran Marlboro Team Penske Toyota 195 68 running 52
2 9 Scott Dixon Target Chip Ganassi Racing Toyota 195 57 running 40
3 7 Dan Wheldon (R) Andretti Green Racing Honda 195 1 running 35
4 2 Vítor Meira Team Menard Chevrolet 195 0 running 32
5 27 Bryan Herta Andretti Green Racing Honda 195 0 running 30
6 8 Scott Sharp Kelley Racing Toyota 195 5 running 28
7 12 Tora Takagi Mo Nunn Racing Toyota 195 0 running 26
8 13 Greg Ray Access Motorsports Honda 195 0 running 24
9 31 Al Unser Jr. Kelley Racing Toyota 195 0 running 22
10 55 Roger Yasukawa (R) Fernández Racing Honda 195 0 running 20
11 24 Robbie Buhl Dreyer & Reinbold Racing Chevrolet 195 0 running 19
12 23 Sarah Fisher Dreyer & Reinbold Racing Chevrolet 194 0 running 18
13 3 Hélio Castroneves Marlboro Team Penske Toyota 194 0 running 17
14 11 Tony Kanaan Andretti Green Racing Honda 193 52 running 16
15 10 Tomas Scheckter Target Chip Ganassi Racing Toyota 187 0 crash 15
16 15 Kenny Bräck Team Rahal Honda 187 0 crash 14
17 4 Sam Hornish Jr. Panther Racing Chevrolet 176 12 spray 13
18 91 Richie Hearn Hemelgarn Racing Chevrolet 172 0 crash 12
19 21 Felipe Gíffone Mo Nunn Racing Toyota 98 0 crash 11
20 52 Alex Barron Red Bull Cheever Racing Chevrolet 98 0 crash 10
21 18 Ed Carpenter (R) PDM Racing Chevrolet 69 0 alternator 9
22 14 A. J. Foyt IV (R) A. J. Foyt Enterprises Toyota 62 0 engine 8
Official Race Results

References

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  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)


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IndyCar Series
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2002 Chevy 500
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2004 Chevy 500