CART: Canadian driver Moore dies in accident at Marlboro 500 presented by Toyota
1 November 1999
Posted By Terry
Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel
Written by CART PR
FONTANA, Calif.- Greg Moore, a 24-year-old rising star from Maple Ridge, British Columbia, Canada, died Sunday as a result of injuries sustained in an accident during the Marlboro 500 Presented by Toyota at California Speedway.
Moore, a four-year veteran of Champ Car competition with the Player's Forsythe Racing Team, went off course on the 10th of 250 laps and made contact with the wall coming out of Turn 2 on the 2.029-mile superspeedway. CART Safety Team members removed Moore from the car and he was airlifted to Loma Linda University Medical Center.
According to Dr. Jeff Grange, Medical Director of California Speedway, Moore sustained massive head injuries in the incident and was pronounced dead at 1:21p.m. PT.
Moore moved to Champ Car competition in 1996 after a record-setting 1995 season in which he captured the Indy Lights championship. He became the youngest race winner in CART history when he won the 1997 event at Milwaukee at the age of 22 years, 1 month and 10 days. Moore followed with his second career victory a week later at Detroit.
During his steadily rising FedEx Championship Series career, Moore claimed five wins and five pole positions in 72 CART career starts, the final in both categories coming in the season opener at Homestead, Fla. where he won from the pole. Overall, he had 17 career podium appearances. He owned four other top-five finishes this season and was 10th in the series championship. All four years of his career, Moore had finished among the top 10 in the championship.
After four years with Forsythe Racing, Moore announced in August that he would join Team Penske for the 2000 season.
"This is a very sad day for everyone involved with Champ Car Racing," said Andrew Craig, CART President and Chief Executive Officer. "Greg was one of the best and clearly had all the potential to be a series champion as well as being a world-class race car driver. He was also a fine individual who was much admired for his positive attitude and approach. To his family and his many friends, I extend our deepest sympathies on behalf of the entire Champ Car community."
"It's a tragedy," said Neil Blanche, director of marketing and communications for Player's, which sponsored Moore in the FedEx Championship Series. "At this time, all our thoughts and prayers are with Greg's family and friends."
Scott Atherton, president and general manager of California Speedway, said, "Our thoughts and prayers are with Greg and his family and friends, the Forsythe Racing Team and all his fans around the world. It is a very sad day associated with California Speedway."
Moore began his racing career in 1989 when he won the North American Enduro Kart Racing Championship in only his third year in the sport. He repeated as champion the following season before earning consecutive rookie of the year championships in 1991 in the Esso Protec Formula 1600 and USAC Formula 2000 West series championship.
He debuted in the Indy Lights championship in 1993 and became the youngest driver ever to win a CART-sanctioned event with his Indy Lights victory at Phoenix a year later. His record-breaking 1995 season included 10 victories in 12 events and seven pole positions. His victory in the season-ending Indy Lights event at Laguna Seca allowed him to establish the series record for career victories (13).
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