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| May 27, 2003 | Tuesday | Rabi-ul-Awwal 24,1424 |
De Ferran denies Castroneves Indy hat trick
INDIANAPOLIS, May 26: Gil de Ferran held off Helio Castroneves to score an emotional victory at the Indy 500 on Sunday, denying his team mate and Brazilian compatriot a record third consecutive win and a place in the Brickyard history books.
Back in the cockpit for the first time since a serious crash at a race in Phoenix in March, de Ferran held his nerve as Castroneves’s car filled his mirrors over the final laps of the 500-mile race.
The winner crossed just 0.29 seconds clear of the defending champion in what was the third closest finish in the race’s 87-year history.
Tony Kanaan was third giving Brazilians a sweep of the podium.
“I love milk,” smiled de Ferran, as he drank the traditional quart of milk given to the winner.
For owner Roger Penske it marked the second time in three years that his cars have finished one-two at the Brickyard.
There was no storybook finish to Michael Andretti’s illustrious career, the most successful driver in American open wheel history, once again denied the victory he coveted when engine problems forced him out of the race after 94 laps.
Run under cool, overcast skies, Castroneves led the 33-car field to the green flag and charged into the early lead. He continued to run among with the pace the entire day, leading 58 laps.
The only laps de Ferran led were the final 31, taking over for the first time when he slipped under Castroneves on lap 170.
The stage was set for a six-lap shootout when Britain’s Dan Wheldon crashed heavily into the wall, his car becoming airborne before skidding to a stop upside down bringing out the last of 14 caution flags as emergency crews prised the uninjured driver from the wreck.
At the re-start, de Ferran rocketed to a five car-length lead on polesitter Castroneves and then held on as his team mate tried to overtake.
It appeared for a time the racing gods might smile on Andretti — the 40-year-old American, in his final race.
A cheer erupted from the packed grandstands on lap 33 when leader Scott Dixon suddenly slowed with low fuel pressure problems and Andretti shot past the New Zealander to assume the lead and hold it for 28 more.
But Andretti never managed to lead the one lap that mattered — the last one.
Nor was it meant to be for Sarah Fisher, the only woman in the field making an early exit when she blew an engine and lost control of her Dallara/ Chevrolet exiting turn three of the 2 1/2 mile oval on lap 15 and spinning into the wall.
Results (race distance 500 miles, 200 laps):
1. Gil de Ferran (Brazil) G Force/Toyota, three hours 11 minutes 56.9891 seconds; 2. Helio Castroneves (Brazil) Dallara/Toyota, 0.2990 seconds behind; 3. Tony Kanaan (Brazil) Dallara/Honda, 1.2475; 4. Tomas Scheckter (South Africa) G Force/Toyota, 1.6845; 5. Tora Takagi (Japan) G Force/Toyota 1.9606; 6. Alex Barron (US) G Force/Toyota 6.0037; 7. Tony Renna (US) Dallara/Toyota 7.4882; 8. Greg Ray (US) G Force/Honda 11.5666; 9. Al Unser Jr (US) Dallara/Toyota, 17.4161; 10. Roger Yasukawa (US) Dallara/Honda one lap behind; 11. Buddy Rice (US) Dallara/Chevrolet 12. Vitor Meira (Brazil) Dallara/Chevrolet; 13. Jimmy Kite (US) Dallara/Chevrolet three laps; 14. Shinji Nakano (Japan) Dallara/Honda four laps; 15. Sam Hornish Jr (US) Dallara/Chevrolet five laps; 16. Kenny Brack (Sweden) Dallara/Honda; 17. Scott Dixon (New Zealand) G Force/Toyota, nine laps; 18. AJ Foyt IV (US) Dallara/Toyota, 11 laps; 19. Dan Wheldon (Britain) Dallara/Honda, 14 laps; 20. Scott Sharp (US) Dallara/Toyota, 19 laps; 21. Buddy Lazier (US) Dallara/Chevrolet 29 laps; 22. Robby Gordon (US) Dallara/Honda, 31 laps; 23. Robbie Buhl (US) Dallara/Chevrolet 53 laps; 24. Airton Dare (Brazil) G Force/Toyota 75 laps; 25. Robby McGehee (US) Dallara/Chevrolet; 26. Jimmy Vasser (US) Dallara/Honda 98 laps; 27. Michael Andretti (US) Dallara/Honda 106 laps; 28. Richie Hearn (US) G Force/Toyota, 139 laps; 29. Jaques Lazier (US) Dallara/Chevrolet; 30. Shigeaki Hattori (Japan) Dallara/Toyota, 181 laps; 31. Sarah Fisher (US) Dallara/Chevrolet, 186; 32. Billy Boat (US) Dallara/Chevrolet, 193 laps; 33. Felipe Giaffone (Brazil) G Force/Toyota, 194 laps.—Reuters
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