Race Recaps - 87th Running in 2003 - Lucky 13 for Roger Penske with Gil de Ferran
We almost saw Mario Andretti back in the car for the 500, then this happened and everyone thought better of it. Tony Kanaan had been injured earlier in the racing series, causing Mario to step into the car for the newly formed Andretti Green Racing in an attempt to test and shake down the car for the 500. Mario could fly, but did not drive in the 500.
On to the race.
Practice leading up to the 500 was interesting for more than just the Mario crash. Team Penske brought a Panoz and a Dallara chassis car to the track. Both cars were practiced leading up to the race. In one of the biggest surprises in a decision for a big time race, the two drivers for Team Penske ended up racing different cars for the 500. Winner Gil de Ferran in a Panoz and runner up Hélio Castroneves in a Dallara. Once again the resources and talent of Roger Penske’s team showed as Roger took home his 13th 500 victory as a car owner.
The race was decided for good on lap 169, as pole-sitter and two-time defending champion Hélio Castroneves was held up behind lap car A.J. Foyt IV coming out of the second turn, allowing teammate Gil de Ferran to pull to the inside and pass for the lead.
Other notes.
Robby Gordon replaced Bryan Herta in the race for Andretti Green Racing. Michael Andretti finished 27 in what we thought at the time would be his last run. Rookie Dan Wheldon flipped and finnished 19th. The late Tony Renna finished 7th for Kelley Racing.
Tony Kanaan finished 3rd, Tomas Scheckter, driving for Chip Ganassi Racing finished 4th and Rookie Tora Takagi finished 5th.
