The 2002 Michigan Indy 400 was the eleventh round of the 2002 Indy Racing League season. The race was held on July 28, 2002, at the 2.00 mi Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn, Michigan. In what many consider to be one of the greatest finishes in IndyCar history, rookie Tomas Scheckter scored his first win in open-wheel competition after charging to the front in a race that saw an astonishing number of passes and lead changes in the closing laps of the race, including the first time a woman has ever led an IndyCar race on merit (Sarah Fisher). Team Cheever teammate Buddy Rice finished in second place in his IndyCar debut while team owner/driver Eddie Cheever crashed during the race. It would be the team's only win of the season and their last in open-wheel racing.
The circumstances surrounding the first-ever IRL-sanctioned race at Michigan made for a dramatic and electric atmosphere: Scheckter, despite his quickness during the season, was more known for his recklessness, frequently crashed and cost Team Cheever several potential wins. Eddie Cheever was grooming Buddy Rice to take over Scheckter's seat in the #52, but due to contractual obligations he could not release Scheckter until the next race at Kentucky Speedway. Nevertheless, Cheever gave Rice the preferred equipment, spare parts, and pit crew for the race. Scheckter, now on a personal vendetta, dominated the race from pole position, led the most laps, but almost gave up the win after a poor late-race pit stop, falling back to 12th place, the last car on the lead lap. From there, he ferociously battled his way back to the front in an amazing display of raw speed and talent. Despite the win, Scheckter was still let go from Team Cheever after Kentucky.
The prevalence of drafting allowed for the field to race in tight side-by-side packs, not unusual for NASCAR events but very unusual for open-wheel races. Drivers would often swap positions each lap in order to take advantage of the draft and gain ground on the next competitor. This became especially important during the last twenty-five lap sprint to the finish when multiple drivers jockeyed for position.
Qualifying July 27, 2002 - Qualifying Speeds Rank Driver Time Leader Speed (mph) Team1 Tomas Scheckter (R)32.4518—221.868Team Cheever2 Buddy Rice (R)32.4571 +0.005221.831Team Cheever3 Eddie Cheever32.6785 +0.227220.328Team Cheever4 Sam Hornish Jr.32.7898 +0.338219.580Panther Racing5 Mark Dismore32.8325 +0.381219.295Team Menard6 Helio Castroneves32.8631 +0.411219.091Team Penske7 Alex Barron32.9317 +0.480218.634Blair Racing8 Sarah Fisher32.9341 +0.482218.618Dreyer & Reinbold Racing9 Eliseo Salazar32.9366 +0.485218.602A. J. Foyt Enterprises10 Tony Renna (R)32.9428 +0.491218.561Kelley Racing11 Robbie Buhl32.9849 +0.533 218.282 Dreyer & Reinbold Racing12 Felipe Giaffone 32.9891 +0.537 218.254 Mo Nunn Racing13 Airton Daré33.0377 +0.586 217.933A. J. Foyt Enterprises14 Laurent Redon (R) 33.0435 +0.592 217.895 Conquest Racing15 Buddy Lazier33.0929 +0.641 217.569 Hemelgarn Racing16 Scott Sharp 33.0942 +0.642 217.561 Kelley Racing17 Gil de Ferran 33.1146 +0.663 217.427 Team Penske18 Raul Boesel 33.1181 +0.666 217.404 Bradley Motorsports19 Billy Boat 33.1408 +0.689 217.255 Curb/Agajanian/Beck Motorsports20 Arie Luyendyk 33.1763 +0.724 217.022 Treadway Racing21 Richie Hearn 33.1785 +0.727 217.008 Sam Schmidt Motorsports22 Jeff Ward 33.3209 +0.869 216.081 Chip Ganassi Racing23 Greg Ray 33.5079 +1.056 214.875 A. J. Foyt Enterprises24 George Mack (R)33.5806 +1.129 214.410 310 Racing25 Scott Harrington 33.8255 +1.374 212.857 Brayton RacingSource:
Race Pos No Driver Team Laps Time/retired Grid Points152 Tomas Scheckter (R)Team Cheever2002:14:03152253 Buddy Rice (R)Team Cheever200 +1.704 secs240321 Felipe GiaffoneMo Nunn Racing200Running123547 Tony Renna (R)Kelley Racing200Running103256 Gil de FerranTeam Penske200Running173063 Helio CastronevesTeam Penske200Running62874 Sam Hornish Jr.Panther Racing200Running426823 Sarah FisherDreyer & Reinbold Racing200Running82498 Scott SharpKelley Racing200Running16221020 Richie HearnSam Schmidt Motorsports200Running21201134 Laurent Redon (R)Conquest Racing200Running14191244 Alex BarronBlair Racing198 +2 Laps7181391 Buddy LazierHemelgarn Racing198 +2 Laps15171498 Billy BoatCurb/Agajanian/Beck Motorsports198 +2 Laps19161512 Raul BoeselBradley Motorsports197 +3 Laps18151655 Arie LuyendykTreadway Racing197 +3 Laps20141741 Greg RayA. J. Foyt Enterprises196 +4 Laps2313182 Mark DismoreTeam Menard194 +6 Laps5121911 Eliseo SalazarA. J. Foyt Enterprises192 +8 Laps9112031 George Mack (R)310 Racing183 +17 Laps24102137 Scott HarringtonBrayton Racing171 +29 Laps2592251 Eddie CheeverTeam Cheever165Contact382314 Airton DaréA. J. Foyt Enterprises127Mechanical1372424 Robbie BuhlDreyer & Reinbold Racing95Engine116259 Jeff WardChip Ganassi Racing91Contact225Source:
Includes two bonus points for pole position and leading the most laps.
Race Statistics Lead changes: 25 among 9 drivers
Lap Leaders Laps Leader1-36 Tomas Scheckter37-38 Buddy Rice39-41 Helio Castroneves42-44 Tony Renna45-69 Tomas Scheckter70 Felipe Giaffone71-80 Tomas Scheckter81-87 Felipe Giaffone88-92 Scott Sharp93-97 Gil de Ferran98-122 Tomas Scheckter123-129 Buddy Rice130-134 Felipe Giaffone135-139 Sam Hornish Jr.140-141 Gil de Ferran142-143 Helio Castroneves144-162 Tomas Scheckter163-168 Buddy Rice169-173 Sam Hornish Jr.174-178 Gil de Ferran179-184 Felipe Giafffone185 Sarah Fisher186 Felipe Giaffone187-189 Sarah Fisher190-193 Felipe Giaffone194-200 Tomas Scheckter
Leader Laps Tomas Scheckter 122 Felipe Giaffone 24 Buddy Rice 15 Gil de Ferran 12 Sam Hornish Jr. 10 Helio Castroneves 5 Scott Sharp 5 Sarah Fisher 4 Tony Renna 3
Cautions: 5 for 25 laps Laps Reason46-50Debris57-58Debris95-101Ward crash147-149Debris166-173Cheever crash
Standings after the race Drivers' Championship standings
Rank +/– Driver Points 1 Gil de Ferran 377 2 Helio Castroneves 365 3 Sam Hornish Jr. 3594 Felipe Giaffone 330 5 Alex Barron 261
Note: Only the top five positions are included for the standings.
External links Full race available on IndyCar's official YouTube page.
References