Texas Motor Speedway has a rich IndyCar history with memorable (and scary) moments
Three-time Indianapolis 500 champion Johnny Rutherford would have loved to race at Texas Motor Speedway. It’s his kind of track. It’s his kind of racing.
The Fort Worth resident has routinely told that to Speedway Motorsports founder O. Bruton Smith and TMS president Eddie Gossage since the track opened in 1997.
“The speedway has gone through its growing pains since ‘97 when it was constructed, but it’s turned into a very fast racing spectacle,” Rutherford said.
A spectacle that has produced photo finishes and memorable moments over the years. Now, TMS is in the spotlight once again as IndyCar starts its 2020 season in the Lone Star State.
The open-wheel circuit will run the Genesys 300 on Saturday night, and it will be the first race since postponing the start of its season amid the coronavirus pandemic. Gossage has called it one of the most important races in IndyCar history.
With that being said, the Star-Telegram looks back on the history of open-wheel racing at TMS over the last 23 years.
Top moments
Inaugural race: TMS has become known for its off-track brawls just as much as its racing over the years. Nothing foreshadowed that better than the first IndyCar race in 1997.
Team owner A.J. Foyt believed his driver, Billy Boat, fairly won the race. The result was disputed by Arie Luyendyk in the winner’s circle. Foyt, who was 62 at the time, subsequently tossed Luyendyk to the ground. A day later, IndyCar announced Luyendyk as the race winner.
“To this day, the trophy from that race sits at A.J. Foyt Enterprises in Houston, Texas. He will not give it back. That’s his win and that’s that,” Gossage said. “If you want to go down to A.J.’s and get the trophy, you go right ahead. I’m not going down there and fighting the old man.”
2002 finale: For Gossage, one of the best races took place in the fall of 2002 when TMS held the IndyCar season finale. Sam Hornish Jr. and Helio Castroneves battled it out down the stretch, swapping the lead over the final 35 laps.
Hornish Jr. eventually prevailed with a .0096-second victory over Castroneves. Hornish Jr. became a multi-winner at Texas, as well as securing his second IndyCar championship that day.
“That came down to an unbelievable battle between Sam Hornish Jr. and Helio Castroneves. They came off Turn 4 side-by-side, going 220 mph. It wasn’t a blink of an eye,” said Gossage who held up two hands just inches apart.
What’s going on?: As good as the 2002 race was at the end, the 2016 race provided even more drama.
The race itself had to be red-flagged for 76 days because of rain. Weather initially pushed the race back from Saturday to Sunday and featured a scary crash involving Josef Newgarden, who broke his right shoulder and hand. Then there was a lengthy delay to determine whether drivers could run again with a wet spot on Turn 2.
“I told them we could paint it orange, put a cone on it like they do on street courses and that’s what we ultimately did,” Gossage said. “But it took so long. We should’ve been able to complete it that first day, or at least get half the laps in. But it was fun coming back that day in August.”
The racing didn’t disappoint when it resumed, topping the 2002 race in terms of closest finish. Graham Rahal made a dramatic last-lap pass and beat James Hinchcliffe by 0.008 seconds.
Scary moments
Gossage doesn’t like thinking about accidents but it’s impossible to forget a couple of them.
In 2001, Davey Hamilton’s car slammed into the wall and spun a number of times. Hamilton had to undergo 23 operations to reconstruct his feet and legs, and he spent a year in a wheelchair.
“That was a horrible crash coming off Turn 2,” Gossage said. “I really like Davey a lot and that one I remember.”
Gossage also vividly recalls the fall 2003 race when Kenny Brack had a serious accident with Tomas Scheckter. Brack’s car got up into the fence on the back straightaway. Brack sustained multiple fractures and required 18 months of rehab.
“I remember I went to Parkland [Hospital] and sat with Kenny in the room because I love Kenny, what a cool dude,” Gossage said. “He came back and raced in another Indy 500. I wouldn’t have given you a nickel for his chance to race again, but he wanted to race and did it.”
Did you know?
Most IndyCar victories at TMS: Helio Castroneves, with four (fall 2004, 2006, 2009, 2013)
Most IndyCar laps led at TMS: Scott Dixon, 517 laps (20 career starts)
Most top five finishes at TMS: Helio Castroneves and Tony Kanaan, with 11
Drivers with multiple victories: 6 (Helio Castroneves, 4; Sam Hornish Jr. and Scott Dixon, 3; Scott Goodyear, Will Power and Scott Sharp, 2)
Most lead changes: 32 among six drivers (fall 2001) — Sam Hornish Jr. won the race. Other leaders included Robbie Buhl, Felipe Giaffone, Buddy Lazier, Jaques Lazier and Scott Sharp.
This story was originally published June 2, 2020 at 5:00 AM.
