 | |||||
| Indianapolis Motor Speedway | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Indianapolis 500 | |||||
| Sanctioning body | Indy Racing League | ||||
| Season | 2002 IRL season | ||||
| Date | May 26, 2002 | ||||
| Winner |  Hélio Castroneves | ||||
| Winning team | Penske Racing | ||||
| Average speed | 166.499 mph (268 km/h) | ||||
| Pole position | Bruno Junqueira | ||||
| Pole speed | 231.342 mph (372 km/h) | ||||
| Fastest qualifier | Bruno Junqueira | ||||
| Rookie of the Year |  Alex Barron Tomas Scheckter | ||||
| Most laps led | Tomas Scheckter (85) | ||||
| Pre-race ceremonies | |||||
| National anthem | Josephine Holmon (West Point cadet) | ||||
| "Back Home Again in Indiana" | Jim Nabors | ||||
| Starting command | Mari Hulman George | ||||
| Pace car | Chevrolet Corvette | ||||
| Pace car driver | James Caviezel | ||||
| Starter | Bryan Howard | ||||
| Estimated attendance | 400,000 | ||||
| TV in the United States | |||||
| Network | ABC | ||||
| Announcers | Paul Page, Scott Goodyear | ||||
| Nielsen ratings | 4.8 / 15 | ||||
| Chronology | |||||
| |||||
The 86th Indianapolis 500-mile (800 km) race was held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Speedway, Indiana on Sunday, May 26, 2002. It was part of the 2002 Indy Racing League season. Rookie Tomas Scheckter led 85 laps, and appeared on his way to a possible victory, which would have marked the third consecutive Indy win for a first-year driver. However, Scheckter crashed on the front stretch while leading with only 27 laps to go. Hélio Castroneves (who also won the 2001 running) became the fifth driver in Indy 500 history to win back-to-back races. It was the second of his four Indy 500 victories. Castroneves became the first repeat winner since Al Unser Sr. (1970–1971). There would not be another repeat winner until Josef Newgarden in 2023–2024.
The 2002 race is largely considered one of the most controversial races in Indy history.[1][2][3][4][5][6] On the 199th lap, second place Paul Tracy was alongside leader Hélio Castroneves, going for the lead in the third turn. At the same time, a crash occurred on another part of the track, bringing out the caution flag. Indy Racing League officials ruled that the yellow came out before Tracy completed the pass, and Castroneves was declared the victor. After an official protest was filed,[7][8] and after an appeals hearing,[7][9] Castroneves' victory was upheld on July 2, 2002.
About 7.46 inches of rain fell during the month of May,[10] considerably interrupting the on-track activities. The second day of time trials was completely washed out, while Bump Day was cut short due to rain. Likewise, six of the ten practice days were either delayed by moisture or halted due to rain showers. Uncomfortably cold temperatures also were observed during most of the month. Private testing and rookie orientation in April was also hampered several times due to rain and cold temperatures. Race day, however, was sunny, warm, and clear.
- ^ "Conspiracy or not, Tracy has a point". ESPN.com. 2002-05-27. Retrieved 2009-03-14.
- ^ "500 checkered flag waves with controversy". DN Online. 2002-05-27. Retrieved 2009-03-14.
- ^ "Controversy nothing new for 500". Indianapolis Star. 2002-05-28. Archived from the original on 17 May 2008. Retrieved 21 June 2008.
- ^ "Tracy back for win". IndyCar.com. 2009-04-17. Retrieved 2009-04-18.
- ^ "Indianapolis 500 Time Trials - Bump Day Telecast - Paul Tracy In Color". Versus. 2009-05-09.
- ^ "Indianapolis 500 Time Trials - Bump Day Telecast - 2002 Indy 500 In Color". Versus. 2009-05-17.
- ^ a b "Team Green Appeals Tracy's Indy Finish". New York Times. 2002-06-04. Retrieved 2008-06-15.
- ^ "IRL upholds Castroneves' win over Team Green protest". SI.com. 2002-05-27. Archived from the original on June 1, 2002. Retrieved 2008-06-15.
- ^ "Indy Racing League Team Green, Inc. Appeal Decision" (PDF). IndyCar.com. 2002-07-02. Retrieved 2008-06-15.
- ^ "Indianapolis Climatological Information". NOAA. Retrieved 2012-04-13.