Nationality American Poles 0 Debut season 2002 Name Tony Renna | Starts 7 Role Race car driver Wins 0 | |
 | ||
Former teams Target Chip Ganassi RacingKelley Racing Died October 22, 2003, Speedway, Indiana, United States Similar Scott Brayton, Gordon Smiley, Danny Ongais | ||
2003 Tony Renna's speech at the Indy 500 Banquet
Ryan Holman's IndyCar Drivers Born on November 23
Anthony James "Tony" Renna (November 23, 1976 – October 22, 2003) was an American race car driver who raced in the Indy Racing League IndyCar Series. He made seven starts for Kelley Racing in 2002 and 2003 including the 2003 Indianapolis 500. His best finish was fourth place at Michigan International Speedway in 2002. Renna signed to drive for Chip Ganassi Racing for the 2004 IndyCar Series season alongside Scott Dixon, but during an offseason tire test at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on October 22, 2003, his car spun and became airborne, smashed into the catch fence and shredded apart. Renna died instantly.
Contents
- 2003 Tony Rennas speech at the Indy 500 Banquet
- Ryan Holmans IndyCar Drivers Born on November 23
- Indy Racing League
- Death
- American open wheel racing results
- IndyCar
- References
Indy Racing League
Tony Renna was employed by Kelley Racing for two years from 2002–2003 in the Indy Racing League (IRL). His first race start came on July 20, 2002 when he was driving for Al Unser Jr., while Unser was in alcohol rehabilitation after his arrest on July 9, 2002. Renna filled in for Unser Jr. twice that season, and was then sponsored in his own car by Dean Kruse in the #78 Kruse Special car for Kelley Racing.
Death
On the night of October 21, 2003, the Ganassi crew was up late during the night getting Renna fitted for his new car that was driven earlier that day by his teammate Scott Dixon. The next morning, Renna was assigned to complete a tire test at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. On that morning, it was about 50 degrees outside and the track was cool. On Renna's fourth lap he was driving approximately 218 mph (351 km/h) and spun out in turn three. While spinning, his car caught some air underneath the chassis, which lifted the car in the air, and into the catch fence, which was over the four-foot concrete wall. Renna died instantly of massive internal trauma, and was pronounced dead on arrival at Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis.
Renna's death in the #1 car that Dixon had driven during that tire test, and the team's subsequent winless season in 2004, led to the Ganassi team declining the #1 entitled to reigning INDYCAR champion in future championships won by Ganassi. Since then, each of Dixon's championships led to him retaining his #9, while during all Dario Franchitti's championships, the team has kept the #10. Ganassi only uses #1 in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series, but they had taken on the car in their 2008 merger with Dale Earnhardt Incorporated.
American open-wheel racing results
(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)