Tony Renna

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Tony Renna
Renna at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in May 2003
BornNovember 23, 1976
Victorville, California, U.S.
DiedOctober 22, 2003(2003-10-22) (aged 26)
Speedway, Indiana, U.S.
Debut season2002
Former teamsChip Ganassi Racing
Kelley Racing
Starts7
Wins0
Poles0
Fastest laps0
Best finish24th in 2002
Awards
1996Team USA Scholarship

Anthony James Renna (November 23, 1976 – October 22, 2003) was an American racing driver who competed in

Championship Auto Racing Teams' developmental series Indy Lights, winning one race during his three seasons in the championship from 1998 to 2000
.

In 2002, Renna signed with

Infiniti Pro Series participant Jason Priestley. Renna competed in seven races for Kelley Racing before signing a contract to drive for Chip Ganassi Racing in the 2004 IndyCar Series. During an October 2003 tire test at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Renna was killed instantly in a collision with a retaining fence. He was the first driver to be killed in an accident in the IRL since Scott Brayton died during practice for the 1996 Indianapolis 500
. As a consequence of Renna's death, car speeds and horsepower were reduced through a reduction in engine sizes and aerodynamics were altered in a bid to prevent cars becoming airborne. A memorial fund and IRL award were named after him.

Early and personal life

Tony Renna was born in

Harding Steinbrenner Racing.[3] The family moved to Apple Valley, California, from Tampa, Florida, in 1975 and Renna's parents subsequently divorced.[2] His family later moved to the Orlando neighborhood of College Park before residing in DeLand.[4][5]

Renna was educated at

Bishop Moore High School and Father Lopez Catholic High School, graduating from the latter in 1995.[1] As a child, he was a batboy for the New York Yankees baseball team,[6] and played American football, basketball and baseball.[5] He was engaged at the time of his death, and was due to marry in Hawaii on November 22, 2003.[1][7]

Junior career

Karting and sprint cars

Renna began go-kart racing in Orlando at age six.[1] He spent his Friday nights at Horsemen's Park in Ocoee,[8] refined his driving ability at circuits in Barberville, Bithlo and New Smyrna Beach,[5] and was taught by former driver Ralph Liguori.[2] Renna focused full-time on racing after deeming himself inadequate at Little League Baseball.[9] He told his father of his choice of career, and was asked, "Do you know what you're asking for? Do you know you are asking for the brass ring and the Olympic gold medal?".[8]

Renna began focusing on an opportunity in

quarter-midget, a mini sprint,[1] a motocross bike,[5] and a micro-sprint.[8] He won 252 races,[12] and two national quarter-midget championships before the age of 15.[9] His mechanically inclined father constructed and maintained the machinery that Renna drove,[4] and acted as his crew chief.[5] Renna's mother was his timekeeper, and one of his sisters acted as a tire changer.[a][5]

Early car racing career

At age 16, Renna progressed to car racing, competing in the Skip Barber Formula Ford Racing Series in 1993,[6][13] in a bid to become a road course ringer.[4] He took one win and seven top-three finishes for tenth in the final points standings. His form improved the following year, when he won eight races and achieved three-second-place finishes to win the series championship.[6]

In 1995 Jim O'Bryan, an employee of American driver development organization Racing for America, asked if Renna was interested in driving in Europe; Renna said he was but his father was unsure because the family budget was strained through entering selected rounds of the 1995 Barber Dodge Pro Series. O'Bryan met the Renna family again in mid-1995 at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course and agreed to compete in Formula Three. Renna tested a Mark Bailey Racing-owned Ralt Formula Three car. Team owner Mark Bailey was complimentary towards Renna, whose father signed him to drive for Murray Taylor Racing until he pulled out due to budget concerns.[14] In the UK, Renna drove six races in a Dallara F394-Vauxhall car for West Surrey Racing in the 1995 British Formula Three Class B Championship.[15] He secured a category win at Pembrey Circuit that was later nullified because of an infraction,[14] three pole positions, and three podiums.[6]

In 1996, Renna returned to the United States with a depleted budget.[14] He competed in a Dodge-powered Mondiale car in the 1996 Barber Dodge Pro Series, finishing seventh in the Drivers' Championship with 105 points from three podium finishes and two pole positions.[15] He was named the 1996 Barber Dodge Pro Series Rookie of the Year,[16] and won a Skip Barber Racing School Big Scholarship.[17] Renna won the Team USA Scholarship over six other candidates and participated at the 1996 EFDA Nations Cup at Donington Park.[18] He partnered with stock-car driver Jerry Nadeau in a Formula Opel Lotus car, finishing second to win the silver medal.[8][15] Renna was selected as a finalist for the Team Green Academy as one of the top 5 of 25 competitors, and was nominated for the Lynx Racing Scholarship.[6]

Later junior career

Renna made one appearance in the

Championship Auto Racing Teams (CART)'s feeder series) team for the 1998 season. Renna moved from DeLand to a studio in New York City later that year to be closer to the team. He visited Mattco's headquarters in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey four days per week to acquaint himself with the team.[8] Driving the No. 77 Lola-Buick car,[b] he won at Michigan International Speedway, took two pole positions, and had six top ten finishes to place eighth in the drivers' championship with 68 points.[20]

In April 1999, CART imposed a one-year suspension on Mattco Raceworks from its racing series for illegal engine modifications in the car of Renna's teammate

Truck Series.[22] Motor-racing journalist Jeremy Shaw and the Team USA Scholarship made the PacWest Racing team aware of Renna's potential.[23] He drove a partial 1999 Indy Lights schedule for PacWest,[24] and was the test and development driver for its CART team.[1] Renna drove the No. 17 vehicle, gaining two top-ten finishes and a 16th-place finish in the drivers' championship with 22 points.[25]

Having signed a five-year contract in late October 1999, Renna returned to PacWest Racing for the 2000 Indy Lights,[23] and continued as its test and development driver.[26] He undertook a two-day test session at Firebird Raceway in December 1999 as preparation for the season.[27] Renna changed his car number to 18; he attained top-ten finishes in every round during the season except for two due to consecutive retirements: a mechanical failure at Milwaukee Mile and an accident in Detroit. Renna finished fifth in the drivers' championship with 105 points.[28]

Before the 2001 racing season,[11] an agreement for Renna to drive for PacWest's CART team fell through,[13] and he was released from its Indy Lights operation.[1][11] Renna was less active in professional car racing during the year, making one appearance in the SpeedVision World Challenge at Mosport International Raceway in May, driving the No. 12 SSC Parts/TC Kline BMW M3. He finished 17th and was 54th in the final standings with nine points.[29] He spent much of the year seeking employment with race teams,[11] visiting garages, writing letters to them,[1] and networking within the Indy Racing League (IRL).[17] Renna was employed as a driving instructor at Las Vegas Motor Speedway's Derek Daly Performance Driving Academy,[30] and competed in NASCAR late model stock car events for Dick Cobb on a weekly basis at the track.[17]

IndyCar Series career

Infiniti Pro Series

Kelley Racing team owner Tom Kelley and general manager Jim Freudenberg were introduced to Renna in 2000. The three became acquainted; Renna inquired about employment at the team, and signed a contract in May 2002.[31] In mid-2002, Renna and his business manager suggested he should coach actor Jason Priestley, who raced in the developmental Infiniti Pro Series that year;[4] Kelley Racing was enthusiastic about the idea and agreed.[31] Renna also served as Priestley's spotter,[c][32] and the two became friends.[13] He was employed as Kelley Racing's IRL test driver,[11][16] curtailing his stock car driving to focus on the job.[17] Renna listened to radio communication from Kelley Racing driver Al Unser Jr. during races, learning patience,[4] and acted as his spotter.[17] When Unser went into an alcohol rehabilitation center in Connecticut in July 2002,[4][31] Kelley Racing searched for a replacement driver for two events and asked Renna to fill in for Unser because he demonstrated enthusiasm.[31]

Under the observation of three-time Indianapolis 500 winner Johnny Rutherford, Renna passed an IRL-sanctioned, four-phase, rookie test at Texas Motor Speedway that allowed him to compete.[33] In his first two races driving Kelley Racing's No. 7 Dallara-Chevrolet vehicle in the 2002 Indy Racing League,[34] Renna took consecutive top-ten finishes at Nashville Superspeedway and Michigan International Speedway.[31] After Unser returned from rehabilitation, the team expanded its roster to three cars because they were impressed with Renna's performance and obtained sponsorship to allow him to continue driving.[1][5] Renna switched his car number from 7 to 78,[31] and took two more top-ten finishes for 24th overall with 121 points.[34]

After the season concluded, a budget decrease led Kelley Racing to reduce its roster from three to two cars, leaving Renna without a race seat;[35] he remained an employee of the team.[1] Renna continued to work as Unser's spotter and drove go-karts to maintain his fitness.[36] The difficulty in finding sponsorship to compete in races restricted Renna primarily to being a test driver, but he made a single race appearance in the 2003 IndyCar Series, the Indianapolis 500.[13] Starting from eighth place, Renna finished in seventh.[1] In Indianapolis, Chip Ganassi Racing (CGR) managing director Mike Hull told team owner Chip Ganassi that Renna was a driver to take notice of.[37] In October 2003, Ganassi offered Renna a driving role in his team for the 2004 IndyCar Series[1] in place of Tomas Scheckter[38]— who moved to Panther Racing[39]—and to partner 2003 IndyCar Series champion Scott Dixon.[37] Renna accepted the role;[13] Tom Kelley allowed him to leave on October 1 and join CGR, because he could not guarantee Renna would drive for Kelley Racing in 2004.[38]

Death

Indianapolis Motor Speedway (pictured in 2005), where Renna was killed in a post-season test session accident while driving for Chip Ganassi Racing

Renna made his first on-track appearance for CGR in a private Firestone tire-test session at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on October 22.[7][38] The track and the tires on his car were cold.[40] At 9:20 am Eastern Daylight Time (UTC−05:00), while on his fourth lap driving the No. 10 G-Force-Toyota car,[d][41][42] Renna entered turn three below the normal racing line at 227 mph (365 km/h).[43] He lost control of the vehicle,[44] without having made any prior collision with the trackside SAFER barriers,[12] which did not appear to have suffered a mechanical fault.[44] Renna's car spun sideways,[7] just after the turn's apex and rotated 90 degrees to the left into the infield grass. Air penetrated the vehicle's bottom, causing it to lift as it skipped over the grass. While travelling airborne, the car turned about another 30 degrees to the left.[44]

The bottom of Renna's car struck the outside retaining fence above the 4 ft (1.2 m) SAFER barrier at the exit to turn three,

gearbox into the nearby grandstand,[46] snapping the fence posts, and scattering debris over the track and grandstand walkway.[47] The first layer of grandstand in the track's north section was lacerated.[46] Renna, who was equipped with a HANS device,[16] was killed instantly by massive internal trauma.[47] No one else was injured.[7] The cockpit tub that holds the driver inside the car was ensnared in the fence and dangled there with Renna still in it.[46] IRL medical personnel arrived at the scene and were unable to restart Renna's heart.[47] He was transported by ambulance to Indiana University Health Methodist Hospital, about a six-minute drive away, where he was pronounced dead on arrival at 9:43 local time.[7][16]

Aftermath and investigation

Renna was the first fatality in the IRL since Scott Brayton was killed during practice for the 1996 Indianapolis 500, and the first in American open-wheel racing since Greg Moore died in a major accident during a CART race at California Speedway in 1999.[e][47] An autopsy was conducted by Marion County Coroner John McGoff, who determined Renna died instantaneously after sustaining fatal, blunt-force head and chest injuries from the high force of the impact.[45][49] On the afternoon of October 27, Renna was given a memorial service at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church; another took place four days later at St. Peter's Catholic Church in Deland, Florida,[50] and was attended by 400 people.[51] Darren Manning took Renna's seat at CGR.[2]

The week after Renna's death, the IRL began an investigation,[45] involving officials from Indianapolis Motor Speedway, CGR and Firestone.[f][49] Because Renna's crash occurred during a private test session, with the media and public not allowed to enter the speedway, there were no eyewitnesses, photographs or video footage of the accident.[43][45] The car was impounded at the track;[7] the connectors on its black box were severely damaged,[45] rendering officials unable to download the on-board electronic data it contained.[53] The black box was sent to its manufacturer in the United Kingdom,[53] where data stored in the car's accident data recorder was downloaded to determine whether a mechanical failure contributed to Renna's crash.[44]

The results of the investigation into Renna's death were released to the public on December 19, 2003; the investigation was prolonged because the incident happened during a private test session. According to the report, the data provided to the IRL "did not produce a 100 percent conclusion as to why the tragic accident occurred. There are many unknown possibilities that could have contributed to the cause of the accident."[44] The report focused on the way the car lifted into the air and the events surrounding Renna's death. The IRL concluded the spectator fences worked as designed and the speed at which Renna was traveling was similar to those monitored in accidents at the circuit in recent years.[g][44]

Personality and legacy

Tony Renna was called "a rising star in motor racing" by Nilima Fox of The Independent,[55] and was described by Reggie Yates of The News-Sentinel as "a driver open-wheel fans wanted to see succeed".[38] He was well-liked;[2] Renna was described as quiet, tender-hearted, benevolent, a man who adored his family, energetic, enthusiastic,[56] and vibrant.[2]

As a consequence of his fatal accident and major crashes involving drivers Kenny Bräck, Hélio Castroneves, Gil de Ferran and Mario Andretti in 2003, the IRL mandated rule changes from the 2004 Indianapolis 500 onward with the intention of reducing power by ten percent—approximately 100 hp (75 kW)—and reduced speeds of around 10 mph (16 km/h). Accordingly, car engine sizes were reduced from 3.5 L to 3.0 L and aerodynamics were altered in a bid to prevent cars becoming airborne.[57]

The Tony Renna Memorial Fund was established in Michigan to continue the driver's work, which was based on his "approach to life of caring about others".[58] The fund supports Autism Speaks, the Team USA Scholarship and the Surfrider Foundation through public donations.[58] In January 2004, Father Lopez Catholic School renamed its annual golf tournament after Renna to raise funds for the memorial foundation.[59] The same year, the IRL renamed its Rising Star Award after Renna.[60] The award is given to "an up-and-coming IndyCar Series driver who embodies the qualities of the late Renna".[61] At the season-ending Lime Rock Rolex Sports Car Series race and the 2013 Petit Le Mans of the American Le Mans Series, sports car driver and Renna's protégé Patrick Long sported a helmet livery similar to Renna in celebration of his mentor's career on the tenth anniversary of his death.[62]

Motorsports career results

Career summary

Season Series Team No. Races Wins Poles F/Laps Points Position
1995 British Formula Three Championship – Class B West Surrey Racing 70 6 0 2 N/A 63 8th
1996 Barber Dodge Pro Series N/A N/A 12 0 2 N/A 105 7th
EDFA Nations Cup United States N/A 1 0 0 0 N/A 2nd
1997 Barber Dodge Pro Series N/A N/A 8 0 2 0 54 10th
U.S. F2000 National Championship DSTP Motorsports N/A 0 0 0 0 12 31st
1998 Indy Lights Mattco Raceworks 77 12 1 2 0 68 8th
1999 Indy Lights
PacWest Lights
17 5 0 0 1 22 16th
2000 Indy Lights
PacWest Lights
18 12 0 0 0 105 5th
2001 SpeedVision World Challenge SSF Parts/TC Kline 12 1 0 0 0 9 54th
2002
Indy Racing League
Kelley Racing 7 & 78 6 0 0 0 121 24th
2003
IndyCar Series
Kelley Racing 32 1 0 0 0 26 30th
Source:[15]

American open-wheel racing results

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap) (Small number denotes finishing position)

Complete USF2000 National Championship results

Year Entrant 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Pos Points Ref
1997 DSTP Motorsports WDW
9
STP
PIR
DSC1
DSC2
SAV PPI CHA1 CHA2 MDO WGI WGI 31st 12 [19]

Indy Lights

Year Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 Rank Points Ref
1998 Mattco Raceworks
MIA

DNS
LBH

12
NAZ
10
STL

22
MIL

5
DET

15
POR
12
CLE
5
TOR

21
MIS

1
TRO
20
VAN
LS

8
FON

3
8th 68 [20]
1999
PacWest Lights
MIA
LBH
NAZ
MIL

3
POR
14
CLE
19
TOR

14
MIS

WD
DET
CHI
LS
FON

6
16th 22 [25]
2000
PacWest Lights
LBH

9
MIL

17
DET

17
POR
4
MIS

3
CHI
3
MDO

4
VAN
6
LS

4
STL

4
HOU
10
FON

3
5th 105 [28]

IndyCar

Year Team Chassis No. Engine 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 Rank Points Ref
2002 Kelley Racing Dallara 7 Chevrolet
HMS
PHX
FON NZR INDY
TXS
PPIR
RIR
KAN
NSH
10
MIS
4
24th 121 [63]
78
KTY

7
STL

24
CHI
15
TX2
9
2003 32
HMS
PHX
MOT INDY
7
TXS
PPIR
RIR
KAN
NSH
MIS
STL
KTY
NZR
CHI
FON
TX2 30th 26 [64]
Source:[34]
Years Teams Races Poles Wins Podiums
(Non-win)
Top 10s
(Non-podium)
Indianapolis 500
Wins
Championships Ref
2 1 7 0 0 0 5 0 0 [34]
Indianapolis 500 results
Year Chassis Engine Start Finish Team Ref
2003 Dallara Toyota 8 7 Kelley Racing [34]

See also

Notes

  1. ^ Both of Renna's sisters raced before they took up different pursuits.[5]
  2. Homestead-Miami Speedway,[20] and missed the Molson Indy Vancouver round due to a clavicle fracture that he sustained in a go-karting crash.[21]
  3. Barber Dodge Pro Series driver Sara Senske took over from Renna as Priestley's spotter when the former competed in the Indy Racing League.[32]
  4. ^ Renna's teammate Scott Dixon drove the car on October 21 and reported no issues.[7]
  5. ^ As of 2020, Renna is the last IndyCar driver to be killed in an accident at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.[48]
  6. Occupational Safety & Health Administration did not investigate the accident because Indianapolis Motor Speedway is a privately owned facility.[52]
  7. ^ The amount of g-forces absorbed by Renna and the car, the cold weather, the time of day at which the crash occurred,[42] and the role of a dead, gull-sized bird found lying on the entry to the third turn were absent from the report.[54]

References

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External links

Preceded by Fatalities in Champ Car/IndyCar
2003
Succeeded by