2003 IndyCar Series season

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2003 IRL IndyCar Series season
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The 2003 Indy Racing League IndyCar Series season 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 as well as former CART engine manufacturers Toyota and Honda, replacing Infiniti who shifted its efforts to the new 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.

Contents

[edit] Calendar

Race No Track State Date Laps Distance Time Speed Winner Pole Position Most Leading Laps Fastest Race Lap
1 Homestead-Miami Speedway Florida March 2, 2003 200 2.41395=482.79 km 1'57:06.2026 247.366 km/h Scott Dixon Tony Kanaan Gil de Ferran Tony Kanaan
2 Phoenix International Raceway Arizona March 23, 2003 200 1.6093=321.86 km 1'59:54.7395 161.047 km/h Tony Kanaan Tony Kanaan Tony Kanaan Scott Dixon
3 Motegi Flag of Japan Japan April 13, 2003 200 2.4928057=498.56114 km 2'21:17.8256 211.708 km/h Scott Sharp Scott Dixon Tony Kanaan Tomas Scheckter
4 Indianapolis Motor Speedway Indiana May 25, 2003 200 4.02325=804.65 km 3'11:56.9891 251.519 km/h Gil de Ferran Hélio Castroneves Tomas Scheckter Tony Kanaan
5 Texas Motor Speedway Texas June 7, 2003 200 2.41395=482.79 km 1'43:47.8051 270.705 km/h Al Unser, Jr. Tomas Scheckter Tomas Scheckter Felipe Giaffone
6 Pikes Peak International Raceway Colorado June 15, 2003 225 1.6093=362.0925 km 1'32:19.9594 235.296 km/h Scott Dixon Tony Kanaan Scott Dixon Tony Kanaan
7 Richmond International Raceway Virginia June 28, 2003 206 1.206975=248.63685 km 1'26:47.9459 171.871 km/h Scott Dixon Scott Dixon Scott Dixon Tomas Scheckter
8 Kansas Speedway Kansas July 6, 2003 200 2.41395=482.79 km 1'48:50.9861 266.123 km/h Bryan Herta Scott Dixon Gil de Ferran Tony Kanaan
9 Nashville Superspeedway Tennessee July 19, 2003 200 2.1451969=429.03938 km 1'53:18.4386 227.191 km/h Gil de Ferran Scott Dixon Tony Kanaan Sam Hornish, Jr.
10 Michigan International Speedway Michigan July 27, 2003 200 3.2186=643.72 km 2'12:39.4413 291.150 km/h Alex Barron Tomas Scheckter Sam Hornish, Jr. Gil de Ferran
11 Gateway International Raceway Illinois August 10, 2003 200 2.011625=402.325 km 1'50:22.5587 217.716 km/h Hélio Castroneves Hélio Castroneves Hélio Castroneves Hélio Castroneves
12 Kentucky Speedway Kentucky August 17, 2003 200 2.41395=482.79 km 1'29:44.6120 322.780 km/h Sam Hornish, Jr. Sam Hornish, Jr. Sam Hornish, Jr. Scott Dixon
13 Nazareth Speedway Pennsylvania August 24, 2003 225 1.5223978=342.539505 km 1'42:07.1375 201.259 km/h Hélio Castroneves Scott Dixon Hélio Castroneves Sam Hornish, Jr.
14 Chicagoland Speedway Illinois September 7, 2003 200 2.41395=482.79 km 1'38:58.3310 292.682 km/h Sam Hornish, Jr. Richie Hearn Tomas Scheckter Bryan Herta
15 California Speedway California September 21, 2003 200 3.2186=643.72 km 1'55:51.4395 333.369 km/h Sam Hornish, Jr. Hélio Castroneves Tomas Scheckter Hélio Castroneves
16 Texas Motor Speedway Texas October 17, 2003 195 2.41395=470.72025 km 1'48:56.2674 259.260 km/h Gil de Ferran Gil de Ferran Gil de Ferran Gil de Ferran

Note:

Race 7 originally scheduled for 250 laps, but shortened due to rain.

[edit] Race summaries

[edit] Toyota Indy 300

This race was held March 2 at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Tony Kanaan won the pole.

Top ten results

  1. Scott Dixon
  2. Gil de Ferran
  3. Hélio Castroneves
  4. Tony Kanaan
  5. Scott Sharp
  6. Michael Andretti
  7. Dario Franchitti
  8. Tomas Scheckter
  9. Felipe Giaffone
  10. Sam Hornish, Jr.

[edit] Purex Dial Indy 200

This race was held March 23 at Phoenix International Raceway. Tony Kanaan won the pole.

Top ten results

  1. Tony Kanaan
  2. Hélio Castroneves
  3. Felipe Giaffone
  4. Al Unser, Jr.
  5. Kenny Bräck
  6. Jaques Lazier
  7. Scott Sharp
  8. Sarah Fisher
  9. Buddy Rice
  10. Shigeaki Hattori

[edit] Indy Japan 300

This race was held April 13 at Twin Ring Motegi. Scott Dixon won the pole.

Top ten results

  1. Scott Sharp
  2. Kenny Bräck
  3. Felipe Giaffone
  4. Michael Andretti
  5. Al Unser, Jr.
  6. Sam Hornish, Jr.
  7. Dan Wheldon
  8. Tora Takagi
  9. Greg Ray
  10. Robbie Buhl

[edit] 87th Indianapolis 500

The 87th Indy 500 was held May 25 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Hélio Castroneves sat on pole but came up just short of the three-peat in the 500.

Top ten results

  1. Gil de Ferran
  2. Hélio Castroneves
  3. Tony Kanaan
  4. Tomas Scheckter
  5. Tora Takagi
  6. Alex Barron
  7. Tony Renna
  8. Greg Ray
  9. Al Unser, Jr.
  10. Roger Yasukawa

[edit] Bombardier 500

This race was held June 7 at Texas Motor Speedway. Tomas Scheckter won the pole.

Top ten results

  1. Al Unser, Jr.
  2. Tony Kanaan
  3. Tora Takagi
  4. Kenny Bräck
  5. Bryan Herta
  6. Scott Dixon
  7. Hélio Castroneves
  8. Gil de Ferran
  9. Roger Yasukawa
  10. Sam Hornish, Jr.

[edit] Honda Indy 225

This race was held June 15 at Pikes Peak International Raceway. Tony Kanaan won the pole.

Top ten results

  1. Scott Dixon
  2. Tony Kanaan
  3. Gil de Ferran
  4. Dario Franchitti
  5. Sam Hornish, Jr.
  6. Tora Takagi
  7. Kenny Bräck
  8. Tomas Scheckter
  9. Buddy Rice
  10. Buddy Lazier

[edit] Suntrust Indy Challenge

This race was held June 28 at Richmond International Raceway. Scott Dixon won the pole.

Top ten results

  1. Scott Dixon
  2. Hélio Castroneves
  3. Gil de Ferran
  4. Sam Hornish, Jr.
  5. Tony Kanaan
  6. Felipe Giaffone
  7. Kenny Bräck
  8. Dan Wheldon
  9. Buddy Rice
  10. Al Unser, Jr.

[edit] Kansas Indy 300

This race was held July 6 at Kansas Speedway. Scott Dixon won the pole.

Top ten results

  1. Bryan Herta
  2. Hélio Castroneves
  3. Gil de Ferran
  4. Tony Kanaan
  5. Kenny Bräck
  6. Scott Dixon
  7. Roger Yasukawa
  8. Greg Ray
  9. Tomas Scheckter
  10. Jaques Lazier

[edit] Firestone Indy 200

This race was held July 19 at Nashville Superspeedway. Scott Dixon won the pole.

Top ten results

  1. Gil de Ferran
  2. Scott Dixon
  3. Hélio Castroneves
  4. Dan Wheldon
  5. Alex Barron
  6. Kenny Bräck
  7. Tora Takagi
  8. Al Unser, Jr.
  9. Tony Kanaan
  10. Tomas Scheckter

[edit] Firestone Indy 400

This race was held July 27 at Michigan International Speedway. Tomas Scheckter won the pole.

Top ten results

  1. Alex Barron
  2. Sam Hornish, Jr.
  3. Tomas Scheckter
  4. Scott Sharp
  5. Scott Dixon
  6. Tora Takagi
  7. Gil de Ferran
  8. Roger Yasukawa
  9. Al Unser, Jr.
  10. Greg Ray

[edit] Emerson Indy 250

This race was held August 10 at Gateway International Raceway. Hélio Castroneves won the pole.

Top ten results

  1. Hélio Castroneves
  2. Tony Kanaan
  3. Gil de Ferran
  4. Tomas Scheckter
  5. Dan Wheldon
  6. Sam Hornish, Jr.
  7. Tora Takagi
  8. Greg Ray
  9. Vitor Meira
  10. Scott Sharp

[edit] Belterra Casino Indy 300

This race was held August 17 at Kentucky Speedway. Sam Hornish, Jr. won the pole.

Top ten results

  1. Sam Hornish, Jr.
  2. Scott Dixon
  3. Bryan Herta
  4. Al Unser, Jr.
  5. Hélio Castroneves
  6. Tony Kanaan
  7. Robbie Buhl
  8. Dan Wheldon
  9. Gil de Ferran
  10. Tomas Scheckter

[edit] Firestone Indy 225

This race was held August 24 at Nazareth Speedway. Scott Dixon won the pole.

Top ten results

  1. Hélio Castroneves
  2. Sam Hornish, Jr.
  3. Bryan Herta
  4. Gil de Ferran
  5. Kenny Bräck
  6. Al Unser, Jr.
  7. Dan Wheldon
  8. Roger Yasukawa
  9. Robbie Buhl
  10. Buddy Rice

[edit] Delphi Indy 300

This race was held September 7 at Chicagoland Speedway. Richie Hearn won the pole.

Top ten results

  1. Sam Hornish, Jr.
  2. Scott Dixon
  3. Bryan Herta
  4. Dan Wheldon
  5. Tomas Scheckter
  6. Tony Kanaan
  7. Alex Barron
  8. Roger Yasukawa
  9. Tora Takagi
  10. Robbie Buhl

[edit] Toyota Indy 400

This race was held September 21 at California Speedway. Hélio Castroneves won the pole.

Top ten results

  1. Sam Hornish, Jr.
  2. Scott Dixon
  3. Tony Kanaan
  4. Dan Wheldon
  5. Tomas Scheckter
  6. Hélio Castroneves
  7. Roger Yasukawa
  8. Scott Sharp
  9. Al Unser, Jr.
  10. Alex Barron

[edit] Chevy 500

This race was held October 12 at Texas Motor Speedway. Gil de Ferran won the pole.

Top ten results

  1. Gil de Ferran
  2. Scott Dixon
  3. Dan Wheldon
  4. Vitor Meira
  5. Bryan Herta
  6. Scott Sharp
  7. Tora Takagi
  8. Greg Ray
  9. Al Unser, Jr.
  10. Roger Yasukawa

[edit] Final point standings

[edit] Driver

For every race points were awarded to all starters: 50 points to the winner, 40 for runner up, 35 for third place, 32 for fourth place, 30 for fifth place, 28 for sixth place, 26 seventh place, 24 eighth place, 22 for ninth place, 20 for tenth place, winding down to 1 points for 29th place. Every lower placed driver also was awarded with 1 point. Additional points were awarded to the driver leading the most laps (2 point). No additional points were awarded for the qualifying.

Place Name Country Team Chassis Engine Total Points Flag of the United States Flag of the United States Flag of Japan Flag of the United States Flag of the United States Flag of the United States Flag of the United States Flag of the United States Flag of the United States Flag of the United States Flag of the United States Flag of the United States Flag of the United States Flag of the United States Flag of the United States Flag of the United States
1 Scott Dixon Flag of New Zealand New Zealand Ganassi Racing G-Force Toyota 507 50 10 15 13 28 52 52 28 40 30 15 40 14 40 40 40
2 Gil de Ferran Flag of Brazil Brazil Penske Racing Dallara Toyota 489 42 16 - 35 35 37 50 26 35 22 32 18 15 52
Penske Racing G-Force Toyota 50 24
3 Hélio Castroneves Flag of Brazil Brazil Penske Racing Dallara Toyota 484 35 40 8 40 26 18 40 40 35 13 52 30 52 10 28 17
4 Tony Kanaan Flag of Brazil Brazil Andretti Green Racing Dallara Honda 476 32 52 18 35 40 40 30 32 24 14 40 28 12 28 35 16
5 Sam Hornish, Jr. Flag of the United States United States Panther Racing Dallara Chevrolet 461 20 9 28 15 20 30 32 13 19 42 28 52 40 50 50 13
6 Al Unser, Jr. Flag of the United States United States Kelley Racing Dallara Toyota 374 17 32 30 22 50 16 20 16 24 22 10 32 28 11 22 22
7 Tomas Scheckter Flag of South Africa South Africa Ganassi Racing G-Force Toyota 356 24 15 14 34 14 24 12 22 20 35 32 20 11 32 32 15
8 Scott Sharp Flag of the United States United States Kelley Racing Dallara Toyota 351 30 26 50 10 14 19 13 14 17 32 20 17 18 19 24 28
9 Kenny Bräck Flag of Sweden Sweden Team Rahal Dallara Toyota 342 19 30 40 14 32 26 26 30 28 12 11 11 30 9 10 14
10 Toranosuke Takagi Flag of Japan Japan Mo Nunn Racing G-Force Toyota 317 18 8 24 30 12 28 17 12 26 28 26 12 16 22 12 26
11 Dan Wheldon Flag of the United Kingdom United Kingdom Andretti Green Racing Dallara Honda 312 - - 26 11 10 11 24 9 32 10 30 24 26 32 32 35
12 Roger Yasukawa Flag of the United States United States Fernández Racing Dallara Honda 301 16 13 9 20 22 13 19 26 15 24 12 18 24 24 26 20
13 Bryan Herta Flag of the United States United States Andretti Green Racing Dallara Honda 277 - - - - 30 - 16 50 18 11 9 35 35 35 8 30
14 Robby Buhl Flag of the United States United States Dreyer & Reinbold Racing Dallara Chevrolet 261 11 18 20 7 8 15 15 18 9 17 18 26 22 20 18 19
15 Greg Ray Flag of the United States United States Access Motorsports G-Force Honda 253 - - 22 24 19 12 18 24 14 20 24 15 13 8 16 24
16 Buddy Rice Flag of the United States United States Cheever Racing Dallara Chevrolet 229 14 22 17 19 16 22 22 11 12 19 16 19 20 - - -
17 Alex Barron Flag of the United States United States Penske Racing G-Force Toyota 216 - - 13
Mo Nunn Racing G-Force Toyota 28 - - - - 30 50 14 10 15
Cheever Racing Dallara Chevrolet 26 20 10
18 Sarah Fisher Flag of the United States United States Dreyer & Reinbold Racing Dallara Chevrolet 211 15 24 7 1 15 10 11 19 10 15 17 16 10 12 11 18
19 Buddy Lazier Flag of the United States United States Hemelgarn Racing Dallara Chevrolet 201 - 19 11 9 17 20 10 17 16 18 19 14 17 14 - -
20 Felipe Giaffone Flag of Brazil Brazil Mo Nunn Racing G-Force Toyota 199 22 35 35 1 13 17 28 8 - - - - - 15 14 11
21 A. J. Foyt IV Flag of the United States United States A. J. Foyt Enterprises Dallara Toyota 198 13 12 12 8 9 13 13 19 13
A. J. Foyt Enterprises G-Force Toyota 12 9 15 16 13 13 8
22 Vitor Meira Flag of Brazil Brazil Team Menard Dallara Chevrolet 170 - - - 18 18 14 8 10 11 9 22 9 - - 19 32
23 Jaques Lazier Flag of the United States United States Team Menard Dallara Chevrolet 120 10 28 18 1 9 - - -
A. J. Foyt Enterprises Dallara Toyota 11 9 14 20 - - - -
24 Michael Andretti Flag of the United States United States Andretti Green Racing Dallara Honda 80 28 17 32 3 - - - - - - - - - - - -
25 Dario Franchitti Flag of the United Kingdom United Kingdom Andretti Green Racing Dallara Honda 72 26 14 - - - 32 - - - - - - - - - -
26 Shigeaki Hattori Flag of Japan Japan A. J. Foyt Enterprises G-Force Toyota 43 12 20 10
A. J. Foyt Enterprises Dallara Toyota 1 - - - - - - - - - - - -
Ed Carpenter Flag of the United States United States PDM Racing Dallara Chevrolet 43 - - - - - - - - - - - - - 17 17 9
28 Richie Hearn Flag of the United States United States Agajanian/Sam Schmidt Motorsports G-Force Toyota 39 - - - 2 - - - - - - - - -
Team Menard Dallara Chevrolet 16
Hemelgarn Racing Dallara Chevrolet 9 12
29 Shinji Nakano Flag of Japan Japan Beck Motorsports Dallara Chevrolet 35 - - 19 16 - - - - - - - - - - - -
30 Scott Mayer Flag of the United States United States PDM Racing Dallara Chevrolet 26 9 11 6 - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Tony Renna Flag of the United States United States Kelley Racing Dallara Toyota 26 - - - 26 - - - - - - - - - - - -
32 Jimmy Kite Flag of the United States United States PDM Racing Dallara Chevrolet 17 - - - 17 - - - - - - - - - - - -
33 Robby Gordon Flag of the United States United States Andretti Green Racing Dallara Honda 8 - - - 8 - - - - - - - - - - - -
34 Airton Daré Flag of Brazil Brazil A. J. Foyt Enterprises G-Force Toyota 6 - - - 6 - - - - - - - - - - - -
35 Robby McGehee Flag of the United States United States Panther Racing Dallara Chevrolet 5 - - - 5 - - - - - - - - - - - -
36 Jimmy Vasser Flag of the United States United States Team Rahal Dallara Honda 4 - - - 4 - - - - - - - - - - - -
37 Billy Boat Flag of the United States United States Panther Racing Dallara Chevrolet 1 - - - 1 - - - - - - - - - - - -

Note:

Race 5 Toranosuke Takagi had 23 points deduction due to unacceptable driving.

All drivers were awarded with points.

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