Greg Moore (race car driver)

Greg Moore (born April 22, 1975; died October 31, 1999) was a Canadian race car driver.

Related Topics:
April 22 - 1975 - October 31 - 1999 - Canadian

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Moore was born in New Westminster, British Columbia. Growing up, his racing hero was Ayrton Senna. His early racing career progressed through go-karts, Formula Ford and Formula 2000 cars. In 1993 Moore began racing in the CART Indy Lights series. He won three races in 1994 and a record breaking 10 of 12 races in 1995 to become the series champion.

Related Topics:
New Westminster, British Columbia - Ayrton Senna - Formula Ford - 1993 - CART - 1994 - 1995

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Aged 20 he moved up to CART IndyCar (now Champ Car) in 1996, driving for Gerry Forsythe racing. He finished 9th in the championship, the second highest placed rookie driver behind Alex Zanardi. His first series win came at Milwaukee in June 1997 and he followed that with a dramatic win at Detroit a week later when both Mauricio Gugelmin and Mark Blundell ran out of fuel in front of him on the final lap. Although the remainder of 1997 was disapppointing, Moore entered 1998 as one of the favourites for the title.

Related Topics:
Champ Car - 1996 - Alex Zanardi - Milwaukee - 1997 - Detroit - Mauricio Gugelmin - Mark Blundell - 1998

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In 1998 Moore was paired with a teammate, Patrick Carpentier, for the first time and started the year strongly. Moore's two wins in 1998 were both scored in oval track events. At Rio he diced with Alex Zanardi before a dramatic outside pass sealed the win. At Michigan he passed Zanardi and Jimmy Vasser on the last lap to win the US 500 and the Vanderbilt Cup award. This win was tragically overshadowed by the deaths of three spectators in an earlier incident. As in 1997, Moore's season tailed off in a series of retirements and poor finishes and he finished the year fifth overall.

Related Topics:
Patrick Carpentier - Rio - Michigan - Jimmy Vasser - Vanderbilt Cup

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In 1999, after starting the season with a win at Homestead he struggled with an uncompetitive Mercedes engine, and later in the year agreed to join Penske Racing for 2000.

Related Topics:
1999 - Penske

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During the weekend of the season-ending Marlboro 500 at California Speedway, Fontana, Moore was knocked off his motor scooter and injured his right hand. After a medical consultation he was allowed to race using a hand brace albeit starting from the back of the grid after missing qualifying. On lap nine of the race Moore apparently lost control of his car in the exit of the second turn and spun into the infield grass at over 200 mph. His car hit an access road and was 'tripped' over to strike the infield concrete wall upside-down at unabated speed.

Related Topics:
California Speedway - Fontana

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The back-stretch infield of the California Speedway was later paved over to prevent similar incidents, a practice now followed by most American speedways. Moore was replaced at Penske by Helio Castroneves. Friend and fellow Canadian Paul Tracy used the notes on Moore's chassis to score a come-from-behind win at the CART race at Long Beach the following year. Dario Franchitti dedicated his win in the Molson Indy Vancouver in 2002 to Moore's memory.

Related Topics:
Helio Castroneves - Paul Tracy - Long Beach - Dario Franchitti - Vancouver

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Moore's car number, 99 was retired by Champ Car as a mark of respect.

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