The 2003 IndyCar Series was the 92nd official championship season of American open-wheel racing and the 8th season under Indy Racing League sanction. Its showcase event was the 87th running of the Indianapolis 500, which was won by Team Penske driver Gil de Ferran for his first and only time. Sam Hornish Jr. entered the season as the back-to-back defending champion. Season summary The 2003 IRL IndyCar Series 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, most notably major squads Chip Ganassi Racing and Andretti Green Racing, as well as former CART engine manufacturers Toyota and Honda, replacing Infiniti who shifted its efforts to the new feeder series 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.
The season's most successful entrants were Ganassi and Team Penske that had made the switch already the year before. New Zealander Scott Dixon won the opening race of the season at Homestead and ran very consistently all year long to win his first title at the age of 23. Gil de Ferran won Penske's third consecutive Indianapolis 500 in May and finished second to Dixon in the title race. The finale however was marred by a severe incident that nearly killed former series' champion and Indy 500 winner Kenny Bräck. De Ferran won the race with Dixon in second being well enough to seal the title. Bräck would eventually recover; however, Tony Renna, a Ganassi development driver, lost his life in a test crash at Indianapolis after the season had officially ended.
2003 was also the first and only engine title for Toyota and also the first Asian and Japanese car manufacturer to win an IndyCar Series IRL-era engine manufacturer's title and thus ending a seven-year American engine manufacturer's supremacy. As of 2024, 2003 was also the last chassis manufacturer title victory for G-Force Technologies to date.
Confirmed entries
TeamChassisEngineNoDriversRoundsA. J. Foyt EnterprisesDallaraG-ForceToyota5 Shigeaki Hattori1–4 Airton Daré5 Jaques Lazier5–814 A. J. Foyt IVAll41 Airton Daré4Access MotorsportsG-ForceHonda13 Greg Ray3–16Andretti Green RacingDallaraHonda7 Michael Andretti1–4 Dan Wheldon1611 Tony KanaanAll26 Dan Wheldon4–15273 Dario Franchitti1–2, 6 Robby Gordon4 Bryan Herta5, 7–16Beck MotorsportsDallaraHonda54 Shinji Nakano3–4Dreyer & Reinbold RacingDallaraChevrolet23 Sarah FisherAll24 Robbie BuhlAllFernández RacingDallaraHonda55 Roger YasukawaAllHemelgarn RacingDallaraChevrolet91 Buddy Lazier2–14 Richie Hearn15–16Kelley RacingDallaraToyota8 Scott SharpAll31 Al Unser Jr.All32 Tony Renna4Marlboro Team PenskeDallaraToyota3 Hélio CastronevesAll6 Gil de Ferran1–2, 6–14, 16G-Force4–5, 15 Alex Barron3Mo Nunn RacingDallaraToyota12 Tora Takagi11–12G-Force1–10, 13–1620 Arie Luyendyk4 Alex Barron421 Felipe Giaffone1–8, 14–16 Alex Barron9–13Panther RacingDallaraChevrolet4 Sam Hornish Jr.All44 Robby McGehee498 Billy Boat4PDM RacingDallaraChevrolet18 Scott Mayer1–3 Jimmy Kite4 Ed Carpenter14–16Red Bull Cheever RacingDallaraChevrolet52 Buddy Rice1–13 Alex Barron14–16Sam Schmidt MotorsportsG-ForceToyota99 Richie Hearn4Target Chip Ganassi RacingG-ForceToyota9 Scott DixonAll10 Tomas ScheckterAllTeam MenardDallaraChevrolet 2 Jaques Lazier 1–4, 13 Vítor Meira 5–12, 15–16 Richie Hearn 1422 Vítor Meira4Team RahalDallaraHonda 15 Kenny Bräck All 19 Jimmy Vasser 4
Schedule RndDateRace NameTrackLocation1March 2Toyota Indy 300Homestead-Miami SpeedwayHomestead, Florida2March 23Purex Dial Indy 200Phoenix International RacewayPhoenix, Arizona3April 13Indy Japan 300Twin Ring MotegiMotegi, Japan4May 2587th Indianapolis 500Indianapolis Motor SpeedwaySpeedway, Indiana5June 7Bombardier 500Texas Motor SpeedwayFort Worth, Texas6June 15Honda Indy 225Pikes Peak International RacewayFountain, Colorado7June 28SunTrust Indy ChallengeRichmond International RacewayRichmond, Virginia8July 6Kansas Indy 300Kansas SpeedwayKansas City, Kansas9July 19Firestone Indy 200Nashville SuperspeedwayLebanon, Tennessee10July 27Firestone Indy 400Michigan International SpeedwayBrooklyn, Michigan11August 10Emerson Indy 250Gateway International RacewayMadison, Illinois12August 17Belterra Casino Indy 300Kentucky SpeedwaySparta, Kentucky13August 24Firestone Indy 225Nazareth SpeedwayNazareth, Pennsylvania14September 7Delphi Indy 300Chicagoland SpeedwayJoliet, Illinois15September 21Toyota Indy 400California SpeedwayFontana, California16October 12Chevy 500Texas Motor SpeedwayFort Worth, Texas
Results Rd.RacePole positionFastest lapMost laps ledRace winnerDriverTeamChassisEngine1Homestead Tony Kanaan Tony Kanaan Gil de Ferran Scott DixonChip Ganassi RacingG-ForceToyota2Phoenix Tony Kanaan Scott Dixon Tony Kanaan Tony KanaanAndretti Green RacingDallaraHonda3Motegi Scott Dixon Tomas Scheckter Tony Kanaan Scott SharpKelley RacingDallaraToyota4Indianapolis Hélio Castroneves Tony Kanaan Tomas Scheckter Gil de FerranTeam PenskeG-ForceToyota5Texas 1 Tomas Scheckter Felipe Giaffone Tomas Scheckter Al Unser Jr.Kelley RacingDallaraToyota6Pikes Peak Tony Kanaan Tony Kanaan Scott Dixon Scott DixonChip Ganassi RacingG-ForceToyota7Richmond Scott Dixon Tomas Scheckter Scott Dixon Scott DixonChip Ganassi RacingG-ForceToyota8Kansas Scott Dixon Tony Kanaan Gil de Ferran Bryan HertaAndretti Green RacingDallaraHonda9Nashville Scott Dixon Sam Hornish Jr. Tony Kanaan Gil de FerranTeam PenskeDallaraToyota10Michigan Tomas Scheckter Bryan Herta Sam Hornish Jr. Alex BarronMo Nunn RacingG-ForceToyota11Gateway Hélio Castroneves Scott Dixon Hélio Castroneves Hélio CastronevesTeam PenskeDallaraToyota12Kentucky Sam Hornish Jr. Sarah Fisher Sam Hornish Jr. Sam Hornish Jr.Panther RacingDallaraChevrolet13Nazareth Scott Dixon Sam Hornish Jr. Hélio Castroneves Hélio CastronevesTeam PenskeDallaraToyota14Chicagoland Richie Hearn Bryan Herta Tomas Scheckter Sam Hornish Jr.Panther RacingDallaraChevrolet15Fontana Hélio Castroneves Scott Dixon Tomas Scheckter Sam Hornish Jr.Panther RacingDallaraChevrolet16Texas 2 Gil de Ferran Tony Kanaan Gil de Ferran Gil de FerranTeam PenskeDallaraToyota
Race summaries
Toyota Indy 300 This race was held March 2 at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Tony Kanaan won the pole.
Top ten results 9- Scott Dixon 6- Gil de Ferran 3- Hélio Castroneves 11- Tony Kanaan 8- Scott Sharp 7- Michael Andretti 27- Dario Franchitti 10- Tomas Scheckter 21- Felipe Giaffone 4- Sam Hornish Jr.
Purex Dial Indy 200 This race was held March 23 at Phoenix International Raceway. Tony Kanaan won the pole.
Top ten results 11- Tony Kanaan 3- Hélio Castroneves 21- Felipe Giaffone 31- Al Unser Jr. 15- Kenny Bräck 2- Jaques Lazier 8- Scott Sharp 23- Sarah Fisher 52- Buddy Rice 5- Shigeaki Hattori
Inaugural Indy Japan 300 This race was held April 13 at Twin Ring Motegi. Scott Dixon won the pole.
Top ten results 8- Scott Sharp 15- Kenny Bräck 21- Felipe Giaffone 7- Michael Andretti 31- Al Unser Jr. 4- Sam Hornish Jr. 27- Dan Wheldon 12- Tora Takagi 13- Greg Ray 24- Robbie Buhl
87th Indianapolis 500 The 87th Indy 500 was held May 25 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Hélio Castroneves sat on pole.
Top ten results 6- Gil de Ferran 3- Hélio Castroneves 11- Tony Kanaan 10- Tomas Scheckter 12- Tora Takagi 20- Alex Barron 32- Tony Renna 13- Greg Ray 31- Al Unser Jr. 55- Roger Yasukawa
Hélio Castroneves came up just short of the three-peat in the 500. He got hung up in lap traffic which enabled Gil de Ferran to get by and lead the final 30 laps for his only 500 triumph.
Bombardier 500 This race was held June 7 at Texas Motor Speedway. Tomas Scheckter won the pole.
Top ten results 31- Al Unser Jr. 11- Tony Kanaan 12- Tora Takagi 15- Kenny Bräck 27- Bryan Herta 9- Scott Dixon 3- Hélio Castroneves 6- Gil de Ferran 12- Roger Yasukawa 4- Sam Hornish Jr.
Honda Indy 225 This race was held June 15 at Pikes Peak International Raceway. Tony Kanaan won the pole.
Top ten results 9- Scott Dixon 11- Tony Kanaan 6- Gil de Ferran 27- Dario Franchitti 4- Sam Hornish Jr. 12- Tora Takagi 15- Kenny Bräck 10- Tomas Scheckter 52- Buddy Rice 91- Buddy Lazier
SunTrust Indy Challenge This race was held June 28 at Richmond International Raceway. Scott Dixon won the pole.
Top ten results 9- Scott Dixon 3- Hélio Castroneves 6- Gil de Ferran 4- Sam Hornish Jr. 11- Tony Kanaan 21- Felipe Giaffone 15- Kenny Bräck 26- Dan Wheldon 52- Buddy Rice 31- Al Unser Jr.
The race was originally scheduled for 250 laps, but shortened to 206 laps due to rain.
Kansas Indy 300 This race was held July 6 at Kansas Speedway. Scott Dixon won the pole.
Top ten results 27- Bryan Herta 3- Hélio Castroneves 6- Gil de Ferran 11- Tony Kanaan 15- Kenny Bräck 9- Scott Dixon 55- Roger Yasukawa 13- Greg Ray 10- Tomas Scheckter 5- Jaques Lazier
Firestone Indy 200 This race was held July 19 at Nashville Superspeedway. Scott Dixon won the pole.
Top ten results 6- Gil de Ferran 9- Scott Dixon 3- Hélio Castroneves 26- Dan Wheldon 21- Alex Barron 15- Kenny Bräck 12- Tora Takagi 31- Al Unser Jr. 11- Tony Kanaan 10- Tomas Scheckter
Firestone Indy 400 This race was held July 27 at Michigan International Speedway. Tomas Scheckter won the pole.
Top ten results 21- Alex Barron 4- Sam Hornish Jr. 10- Tomas Scheckter 8- Scott Sharp 9- Scott Dixon 12- Tora Takagi 6- Gil de Ferran 55- Roger Yasukawa 31- Al Unser Jr. 13- Greg Ray
Emerson Indy 250 This race was held August 10 at Gateway International Raceway. Hélio Castroneves won the pole.
Top ten results 3- Hélio Castroneves 11- Tony Kanaan 6- Gil de Ferran 10- Tomas Scheckter 26- Dan Wheldon 4- Sam Hornish Jr. 12- Tora Takagi 13- Greg Ray 2- Vítor Meira 8- Scott Sharp
Belterra Casino Indy 300 This race was held August 17 at Kentucky Speedway. Sam Hornish Jr. won the pole.
Top ten results 4- Sam Hornish Jr. 9- Scott Dixon 27- Bryan Herta 31- Al Unser Jr. 3- Hélio Castroneves 11- Tony Kanaan 24- Robbie Buhl 26- Dan Wheldon 6- Gil de Ferran 10- Tomas Scheckter
Firestone Indy 225 This race was held August 24 at Nazareth Speedway. Scott Dixon won the pole.
Top ten results 3- Hélio Castroneves 4- Sam Hornish Jr. 27- Bryan Herta 6- Gil de Ferran 15- Kenny Bräck 31- Al Unser Jr. 26- Dan Wheldon 55- Roger Yasukawa 24- Robbie Buhl 91- Buddy Rice
Delphi Indy 300 This race was held September 7 at Chicagoland Speedway. Richie Hearn won the pole.
Top ten results 4- Sam Hornish Jr. 9- Scott Dixon 27- Bryan Herta 26- Dan Wheldon 10- Tomas Scheckter 11- Tony Kanaan 52- Alex Barron 55- Roger Yasukawa 12- Tora Takagi 24- Robbie Buhl
Toyota Indy 400 This race was held September 21 at California Speedway. Hélio Castroneves won the pole.
Top ten results 4- Sam Hornish Jr. 9- Scott Dixon 11- Tony Kanaan 26- Dan Wheldon 10- Tomas Scheckter 3- Hélio Castroneves 55- Roger Yasukawa 8- Scott Sharp 31- Al Unser Jr. 52- Alex Barron
This race was the fastest circuit race ever in motorsport history, with an average speed of 207.151 mph (333.306 km/h) over 400 miles (643.6 km). This also makes it the de facto fastest ever 400 mile motor race beating the NASCAR record set during the 1999 Kmart 400.
Chevy 500 This race was held October 12 at Texas Motor Speedway. Gil de Ferran won the pole.
Top ten results 6- Gil de Ferran 9- Scott Dixon 7- Dan Wheldon 2- Vítor Meira 27- Bryan Herta 8- Scott Sharp 12- Tora Takagi 13- Greg Ray 31- Al Unser Jr. 55- Roger Yasukawa
The race was memorable for a five-way championship duel involving de Ferran, Scott Dixon, Hélio Castroneves, Tony Kanaan, and two-time titlist Sam Hornish Jr.