An Account of Greg Moore's Enduring Racing Spirit 15 Years After His Death

Through the week leading up to the unpleasant anniversary, it has been my intention to create a tribute to Greg Moore. That lap 10 crash on October 31st of 1999 at the track now known as Auto Club Speedway remains as perhaps the most vicious accidents I have ever witnessed in motorsports. From what I saw to a racer I had so greatly admired, reacquainting me with the life of the Canadian presents a drastically greater feeling. I’ve retrieved my November 1st 1999 copies of the Toronto Sun, Toronto Star and the sports section of the Toronto Star newspapers I saved for 15 years to refresh myself to the great sense of loss no only to the motorsport community as well as to the nation of Canada. Crash images on the papers of those 15-year-old periodicals send me back. Reaction from teammate Patrick Carpentier, figures of the sport including CART president Andrew Craig and even insinuation whether he must have driven in the event following a Saturday scooter accident that injured his right hand was a sample of the content in text.

Following the time I spent reinforcing my memory, what I would write needed to relay a sense of sadness but also admiration. Too many of my recent articles have been a documentation of facts and the reference of statistics. Those who have followed Moore are quite famous with five great wins in the CART World Series and a domination of the 1995 Indy Lights series that built his legacy. In tribute to this great Canadian driver, I cannot liken Greg Moore to what could be found in a record book or on a digital webpage like Wikipedia.

For me, it is easier to identify with those more factual encounters than principles used in more emotional writing styles. I was born with Autism and though I can now operate at a fully functional level, it still hard for me to clearly and fully express my more emotionally guided words. That was one of many personality aspects I liked about Greg Moore. For a person who left the planet so prematurely, he conveyed happiness, humour and sometimes even displeasure so vividly to even distant observers. In his passing, his character in the paddock was well documented as a practical joker who was still an overall likeable competitor. Even 15 years later, many drivers who have raced against Moore remember him fondly.

To the best of my recollection, there was an interview with Greg Moore I watched on CBC during the 1995 Vancouver Indy where he was being questioned on assuming the Player's-sponsored ride with Forsythe Racing. Effectively taking over the spot left vacant by the Formula 1-bound Jacques Villeneuve, he was clearly thrilled but I also sense a slight bit of rookie discomfort. After-all, a Player's Racing race car found in victory lane in Indianapolis 500 and eventually running well enough to capture the 1995 CART championship would obviously felt like a one-ton weight for a 21-year-old Canadian expecting to face some of the world‘s best open wheel drivers. However, in the 1996 season, the steering wheel of the #99 car was handled by driver full of talent and near fearlessness. The opening lap multiple-car wreck at the 1996 U.S. 500 at Michigan International Speedway dodged by Moore demonstrated the reflexes of a winner. Through the infield grass, the #99 Reynard-Mercedes escaped a moving wall of open wheel race cars. Running on dirt and grass on slick tires and returning to the oval’s paved surface unscathed, that driver from Maple Ridge, British Columbia forged his place in open wheel racing.  

Winless in 1996 and falling short to locking-up rookie of the year honours in the series to a flamboyant Italian named Alex Zanardi, Moore pulled off two wins in 1997. The first coming at Milwaukee, I remembered the popular #6 machine piloted by Michael Andretti hounding the Canadian prepared to capitalize on even a minor slip. The veteran Newman/Haas Racing driver was never offered this window of opportunity. Becoming the youngest driver in CART series racing to win an event, Moore found victory lane again at Detroit. One of my two favourite Greg Moore wins, PacWest Racing team drivers Mark Blundell and Mauricio Gugelmin were gambling on fuel mileage in the closing laps of the race. Moore was positioned in third and immediately entered into full attack mode as the fuel cells of both PacWest drivers ran dry. The 1998 U.S. 500 final-lap battle between him and the Target Chip Ganassi Racing juggernaut where the Player's Racing #99 prevailed was a remarkable sight. Earlier that year, Moore stole victory away from Ganassi’s driver Alex Zanardi with five laps to go at the Rio 400 in Brazil.

The way he fought for each and every first-place trophy in CART has presented five memorable viewing experiences for which my eyes had the privilege to behold. Present at the Molson Indy Toronto event for 1998 and 1999, I was watched the #99 car in action on the long-running street course. Unfortunately, I never had the thrill to see him outside of a race car in person. Unlike the configuration used in the present Honda Indy events in Toronto where a stretch provides a reasonable chance for many spectators to see the major personalities of IndyCar racing, sight of drivers were more restricted in the late 1990s. Current IndyCar driver James Hinchcliffe has had fond memories of Greg Moore and it has been an enjoyment hearing his interaction with the Maple Ridge native. He talked about Moore in an interview I conducted back in 2010 in cooperation with his Indy Lights ride of the time Team Moore Racing. Earlier that year, I did have an experience with one of his race cars at the Canadian International AutoShow as part of a special display. Present for media day, I observed the Player's #99 Reynard-Mercedes was among several vehicles that included a Wolf Racing Formula 1 car and a Paul Tracy driven Can-Am car displayed by the Canadian Motorsports Hall of Fame.

Greg Moore’s passing affected everyone who knew him. Family and personal friends have probably been the most hurt following the tragedy in California. To a lesser degree, his discontinued physical presence on this planet resulted in him being unable to join Team Penske in 2000. Thanks to a wonderfully compiled book titled “Greg Moore- A Legacy of Spirit“, there was a wonderful account alleviating some of the sadness for the unfulfilled opportunity. While he never drove a Team Penske vehicle in competition, Moore tested Al Unser Jr.’s ride in 1994 at Nazareth Speedway one-mile track. Driving the envied Mercedes-Benz powered PC-23 chassis, he was only the second person to drive Penske machine not under contract with the “Captain“; the other driver was Formula 1 great Ayrton Senna (an idolized athlete of Moore‘s). For any Canadian auto racing fan, I have to recommend Greg Moore- A Legacy of Spirit as a deserving read for a full understanding of a driver and human being.

The most fundamental fact one person could admire about Greg Moore was his pursue to live his dream. Between his two dreams, Greg chose auto racing over his other dream of hockey. Two vocations with a slight chance for ultimate success, Greg Moore, supported by his father Ric, pressed into motorsports. Despite reaching the glorious realm of professional auto racing and flourishing, the construction of something like his dreams was not without its adversity. In the case of Moore’s family, mortgages on property paid for the younger Greg’s first season competing in Indy Lights. Despite limited finances, determination, skill and perhaps a good deal of luck resulted in Moore’s blue and white #99 car being an icon to Canada’s auto racing heritage as much as the #99 worn by Wayne Gretzky (a hero of Greg Moore) was to hockey.

With 15 years passing since the loss, we are all left wanting more time for Greg Moore on this Earth to evolve greater as a driver and person. Understanding he cannot truly achieve this wish, the young Canadian must be racing somewhere whether in the afterlife or in the spirits of those among the living.

Happy 37th Birthday to Late Canadian Auto Racer Greg Moore

Photo Credit: Chris Nagy

Born on this day, April 22nd, in 1975, was popular Canadian auto racing legend Greg Moore. A colourful, charismatic Canadian racing figure who represented the best of the Player's Driver Development program, Moore was a talent and personality open wheel racing was fortunate to harbour during 1990s.

Greg Moore initially rose to acclaim in karting before emerging into big time professional racing while still a teenager. Entered into the Indy Lights ladder series for the 1994 season. In 1995, Moore dominated the Indy Lights Series winning 10 of the 12 races of the season. Recognizing the achievement, Player's promoted Greg Moore to the CART World Series replacing the Formula 1-bound Jacques Villeneuve. Winning five races in the CART World Series for the Forsythe Racing team, his on-track triumphs included the 1998 US 500 at Michigan International Speedway.

By the end of the 1999 season, Moore was prepared to move forward as a driver for Penske Racing for the next season. Unfortunately, Greg Moore fatally succumbed to injuries at the series' final event held at California Speedway (now Auto Club Speedway) on October 31st, 1999.

The Maple Ridge, British Colombian born driver would have been 37 years old today. In honour of Greg Moore's memory, I am sharing some of the images I capture of his #99 car displayed at the 2010 Canadian International Auto Show in Toronto.

Photo Credit: Chris Nagy

Photo Credit: Chris Nagy

Photo Credit: Chris Nagy

Motorsports at the 2010 Toronto International Auto Show

Photo Credit: Christopher Nagy/XSL Speed Reporter

Attending the 2010 Toronto International Auto Show, I took a break from the shiny presentation of all-new street vehicles to visit a more unique display at this year's event.

Located in the on level 700 of the Metro Toronto Convention Centre, the majority of the floor paid tribute to the abundant history of American sports car Kingpin Carroll Shelby. Not only was there a slew of Shelby Cobras, modified Mustangs and the rare GT40, the showcase also included cars significant to Shelby's racing career as a driver. A relatively short career which was ended due to personal health problems, Shelby started racing as a hired gun first for drag racing but more memorably for road racing. Shelby's 2nd and 3rd cars (a MG-TC and an Allard) were represented as well as a replica of an Austin-Healey he ran in the 1954 Carrera Pan Americana Mexico rally.


Photo Credit: Christopher Nagy/XSL Speed Reporter

Past the Shelby exhibit, I ventured into the Canadian Motorsport Hall of Fame. A collection of cars stocked with a choice sampling of vehicles wearing the maple leaf flag in competition.

Entering the small hall, the first car to greet me was a Midland F1 M16 race car. Since the team was classified as a Russian F1 team, the Canadian connection wasn't entirely clear. I needed to take a brief modern history lesson to learn that the Midland F1 Racing was owned by a Russian-born Canadian business Alex Shnaider. Co-founder of the Midland Group, Shnaider's ventures includes the current Trump International Hotel and Tower scheduled for completion in 2010. The Midland F1 Racing team existed for one season in 2006 having previously been the Jordan Grand Prix organization. Absent the Toyota powerplant which propelled the Formula 1 car, the Midland F1 car's place in the display is now clear.

Deeper in the Hall of Fame exhibit, another Formula 1 car sat representing to more successful efforts of Walter Wolf. Wolf, like Shnaider, was a foreign born man who settled in Canada who entered into grand prix contention through the mid to late 1970s. Walter Wolf Racing, proudly displaying the Canadian flags, was founded for the 1977 season with future Formula 1 World Championship driver Jody Scheckter piloting the race car. In the hall was one of the Wolf WR1s that competed in the maiden season which included one of the team's three F1 victories.


Photo Credit: Christopher Nagy/XSL Speed Reporter


On the right of the Wolf WR1 is probably the most prestigious car in the display. The 2000 winner of the LMP675 class at the LeMans 24-hour race, the Nissan-powered Lola was campaigned by Markham, Ontario's Multimatic Motorsports, Along with being a Canadian-owned entry, the driver lineup was an all-Canadian contingent of John Graham, Scott Maxwell and Greg Wilkins.


Photo Credit: Christopher Nagy/XSL Speed Reporter


Last but certainly not least, the eye-catcher in this Canadian Motorsport Hall of Fame exhibit was a #99 Reynard chassis wore the famous Players blue and white colours. With the tobacco brand a staple in the open wheel series for 11 seasons, this car from 1999 wore the name of late, great BC native Greg Moore on the bottom of the roll hoop.



Photo Credit: Christopher Nagy/XSL Speed Reporter

Providing only a snapshot (pardon the pun) for the rich auto racing history of Canadians, the vehicles within this exhibit are without the drivers that once piloted these race machines. However, unlike the beautiful, newborn factory creations that consumed much of Metro Toronto Convention Centre, these vintage race cars radiate the sweat and passion of their former drivers as a lasting time capsule.

10 Years Later: The Memory of Greg Moore

A somber anniversary is marked today on October 31st of 2009 as 10 years ago a great Canadian auto racing talent was lost to a terrible crash.

At only 24 years old, Greg Moore's life came to an end at California Speedway during the Marlboro 500 mile race as his #99 Players Reynard/Mercedes-Benz slid sideways out of turn 2, shouting into the infield retaining wall at a speed as fast as 217 miles per hour. The impact was horrifically violent as the race car was shredded to in two between the cockpit and the engine compartment. As Moore's cockpit continued to be thrown through high-speeds, hope that the young driver would walk away dimmed. Suffering fatal head injuries Greg Moore, son of Ric and Donna, was mourned by family, competitors, as well as fans on that day of October 31th 1999 as well as for many days following (In the case of the other drivers competing in this final CART series race of the 1999 season, they were delivered with the news after the full race distance was completed). Heads dropped in a press conference as podium finishers Christian Fittipaldi, Max Papis, and Adrian Fernandez sat having just received the tragic news.

The final decade of the 20th century was a glorious era for Canadian open wheel racing and Greg Moore was a bright young star. Like many pure Canadian boys, the young Greg Moore had originally conceived notions of playing goalie in the NHL (National Hockey League). Romanced to auto racing, Greg's father Ric Moore provided his son with the first step to professional greatness. At 10 years old in 1985, Greg Moore's racing career began in competitive karting with #99 (a number which was actually not a direct salute to Wayne Gretzky but merely given to Greg since he was the 99th member of the karting club). After several years of on-track lessons, a confident Moore took North American Enduro Kart Racing Championships in 1989 and 1990. Migrating into Formula Ford 1600 for one season, Greg Moore stepped into USAC Formula 2000 in 1992 winning rookie of the year as well as the West series championship. Talented in his climb by the professional motorsport ladder, Greg's father put together a Firestone Indy Lights team placing him just one step into the CART Indy Car World Series. Learning in the first year, Greg Moore came to life on ovals in 1994 winning three races and becoming the youngest driver to win in the series at 18 years old. Falling short of the series championship in third place, this triumph got the attention of Jerry Forsythe and Players tobacco sponsorship. Signing with the Forsythe Racing Indy Lights team, Moore won the 1995 Firestone Indy Lights championship.

Taking over the Players-sponsored ride that was vacated by 1995 CART World Series champion Jacques Villeneuve, Moore stepped into the ride modest to his new surroundings of North America's leading open wheel auto racing tour. Coming off his dominant run winning performance amounting in 10 of 12 races of the 1995 Firestone Indy Lights series, the 20 year old was under Canadian media pressure to repeat this performance in Indy car racing. Known as a charismatic individual amongst the Indy Car paddock, Moore quickly earned respect of his fellow competitors once hitting auto racing's big time. In his first race at Homestead in 1996, as he drove in seventh place he skillfully outran the eventual race winner Jimmy Vasser. Deeper into the season, Greg Moore followed up his brilliant season-opening performance scoring three podium finishes including a 2nd place at the one-mile Nazareth oval. Moore driving became spotlighted during a first lap wreck at the Michigan Speedway's US 500 race when he made an evasive move through the damp infield grass. Moore held affirmative control of his #99 Players machine as up to nine cars got swept up in the crash.

Contending for CART Indy Car rookie of the year in 1996 season, Greg Moore was beaten at an emerging open wheel legend Alex Zanardi for the rookie honours driving for Target Chip Ganassi Racing. Moore nonetheless gained not only experience but friendships. Through his time in the CART Indy Car World Series, two of his most valued friendships were with fellow series competitors Max Papis and Dario Franchitti. It was common to see the trio together away from the track including two most memorable occasions explained in the book Greg Moore: A Legacy of Spirit. In 1997 Greg Moore attended 90210 star Jason Priestley's wedding and brought Dario Franchitti to the party. That was the place where Dario met his now wife Ashley Judd. Another moment remembered by Max Papis is when Greg and Dario stayed with him at his family's home in Italy. Greg Moore became enamored by the Papis place as he laid eyes on a signed racing helmet of his racing hero Ayrton Senna. It turned out Max Papis knew the Brazilian F1 world championship because they shared a mechanic on the karting tour. When Papis explained the fact that Senna also slept over in the same twin-bed guest room he was staying, Moore insisted on sleeping in the bed Senna slept in years ago. Beyond the tight three-person clique, Tony Kannan also joined in the group creating the foursome known in the motorsport community as 'The Brat Pack'. Kannan describes the death of Moore “a hole in their hearts”.

Drivers and crew members enjoyed the fun-loving Greg Moore even as his exploits included practical jokes to respected competitors. Players teammate in 1998-1999 Patrick Carpentier could certainly provide a story or two about the cunning Maple Ridge driver. Moore made the most of his off-time from racing spending time amongst his long-time friends and family doing everythings from golfing to fishing. Greg Moore was also able to indulge on other forms of racing driving IROC (International Race of Champions) and in the FIA GT series through a brief visit to the United States. Racing Sebring and Laguna Seca, Moore got to drive the racing version of one of his dream cars, the Mercedes-Benz CLK-GTR.

In Moore's sophomore year on the Indy Car World Series tour, his off-track enjoyment would soon translate to some track side celebrations. Moore took the Players car to his first victory at the Milwaukee Mile in June 1997 holding off Michael Andretti. Greg Moore's luck repeated the next weekend as he was once again in position to win at the Detroit Grand Prix sitting third behind PacWest Racing cars Mark Bundell and Mauricio Gugelmin into the final laps. Aware that the PacWest pair only hope of winning relied on their marginal fuel capacity, Moore attacked each of them on a full rich fuel mixture. As both PacWest cars sputtered to under the pressure of Greg Moore, the Players car netted his second straight win. Gifted on oval tracks, the Detroit Grand Prix would be Moore's only victory on a road course on the series.

Moore's wins on the Indy Car World Series were never earned easily proven in depth the last year in 1998. Winning the Grand Prix of Brazil, Moore made a daring pass on rival Alex Zanardi. Though Zanardi often prevailed in their match up, Moore claimed one more victory against Zanardi and the Target Chip Ganassi Racing team as a whole. At the 1998 US 500 on Michigan Speedway, Moore rode behind the red car duo before using a drift to snake around for the checkered flag. In his final CART victory, Moore again held off Michael Andretti in the 1999 season opening race at Homestead-Miami Speedway. As the season progressed, Greg Moore was preparing to leave the Players Forsthye Racing effort for the juggernaut Penske Racing for 2000. With the accident at California, the possibilities for Moore's future victories were never revealed.

In the aftermath of California crash on October 31, 1999, Greg Moore's voice became a verse to a very sad song urging the best interests of race car drivers safety needed to be taken more seriously. Earlier that season in CART, a Penske driver Gonzalo Rodriguez had died in a horrific flip at the Luguna Seca road course the just races prior to the Moore crash. Safety equipment on the cars and tracks have been extensively reviewed. In reaction to Greg Moore's death, the HANS (Head and Neck Support) device was mandated in 2001 in order to increase survivability of impacts endangering the skull in a crash. As time went on, oval tracks too saw the need to advance in the name of safety. SAFER barriers are found on all major oval tracks in the United States (California/Auto Club Speedway installed the SAFER walls in 2004) Finally, As a Moore's Campaigning the #99 throughout his racing career, the number was retired from CART.

Statistically, Greg Moore was notedly the two-time Enduro kart season crown holder, the 1995 Firestone Indy Lights champion and a five-time winner in the CART Indy car racing series. However, the true measure of this extraordinary Canadian driver is can not be conveyed in such voiceless numbers. The Maple Ridge, British Columbia native's life fulfilled others inside and out of the motorsport world.