The 2003 IRL IndyCar Series brought some of the biggest changes in its history. The league adopted the name IndyCar Series, after a settlement with CART prohibiting its use had expired. Several former CART teams brought their full operations to the IRL, most notably major squads Chip Ganassi Racing and Andretti Green Racing, as well as former CART engine manufacturers Toyota and Honda, replacing Infiniti who shifted its efforts to the new feeder series Infiniti Pro Series. Many of the IRL's old guard including Robbie Buhl, Greg Ray, and Buddy Lazier had difficulty competing in this new manufacturer-driven landscape. The league also added its first international race this year, taking over the CART date at Twin Ring Motegi.
The season's most successful entrants were Ganassi and Team Penske that had made the switch already the year before. New Zealander Scott Dixon won the opening race of the season at Homestead and ran very consistently all year long to win his first title at the age of 23. Gil de Ferran won Penske's third consecutive Indianapolis 500 in May and finished second to Dixon in the title race. The finale however was marred by a severe incident that nearly killed former series' champion and Indy 500 winner Kenny Bräck. De Ferran won the race with Dixon in second being well enough to seal the title. Bräck would eventually recover; however, Tony Renna, a Ganassi development driver, lost his life in a test crash at Indianapolis after the season had officially ended.
2003 was also the first and only engine title for Toyota and also first Asian and Japanese car manufacturer to won IndyCar Series IRL-era engine manufacturer's title and thus ending seven-year American engine manufacturer's supremacy. As of 2022, 2003 was also the last chassis manufacturer title victory for G-Force Technologies to date.
Confirmed entries
Season Summary
Schedule
BOLD indicates Superspeedways.
Race results
Race summaries
Toyota Indy 300
This race was held March 2 at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Tony Kanaan won the pole.
Top ten results
9- Scott Dixon
6- Gil de Ferran
3- Hélio Castroneves
11- Tony Kanaan
8- Scott Sharp
7- Michael Andretti
27- Dario Franchitti
10- Tomas Scheckter
21- Felipe Giaffone
4- Sam Hornish Jr.
Purex Dial Indy 200
This race was held March 23 at Phoenix International Raceway. Tony Kanaan won the pole.
Top ten results
11- Tony Kanaan
3- Hélio Castroneves
21- Felipe Giaffone
31- Al Unser Jr. 15- Kenny Bräck 2- Jaques Lazier 8- Scott Sharp 23- Sarah Fisher 52- Buddy Rice 5- Shigeaki Hattori
Inaugural Indy Japan 300
This race was held April 13 at Twin Ring Motegi. Scott Dixon won the pole.
Top ten results
8- Scott Sharp
15- Kenny Bräck
21- Felipe Giaffone
7- Michael Andretti
31- Al Unser Jr. 4- Sam Hornish Jr. 27- Dan Wheldon 12- Tora Takagi 13- Greg Ray 24- Robbie Buhl
87th Indianapolis 500
The 87th Indy 500 was held May 25 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Hélio Castroneves sat on pole but came up just short of the three-peat in the 500.
Top ten results
6- Gil de Ferran
3- Hélio Castroneves
11- Tony Kanaan
10- Tomas Scheckter
12- Tora Takagi
20- Alex Barron
32- Tony Renna
13- Greg Ray
31- Al Unser Jr. 55- Roger Yasukawa
Bombardier 500
This race was held June 7 at Texas Motor Speedway. Tomas Scheckter won the pole.
Top ten results
31- Al Unser Jr. 11- Tony Kanaan 12- Tora Takagi 15- Kenny Bräck 27- Bryan Herta 9- Scott Dixon 3- Hélio Castroneves 6- Gil de Ferran 12- Roger Yasukawa 4- Sam Hornish Jr.
Honda Indy 225
This race was held June 15 at Pikes Peak International Raceway. Tony Kanaan won the pole.
Top ten results
9- Scott Dixon
11- Tony Kanaan
6- Gil de Ferran
27- Dario Franchitti
4- Sam Hornish Jr. 12- Tora Takagi 15- Kenny Bräck 10- Tomas Scheckter 52- Buddy Rice 91- Buddy Lazier
SunTrust Indy Challenge
This race was held June 28 at Richmond International Raceway. Scott Dixon won the pole. The race was originally scheduled for 250 laps, but shortened to 206 laps due to rain.
Top ten results
9- Scott Dixon
3- Hélio Castroneves
6- Gil de Ferran
4- Sam Hornish Jr. 11- Tony Kanaan 21- Felipe Giaffone 15- Kenny Bräck 26- Dan Wheldon 52- Buddy Rice 31- Al Unser Jr.
Kansas Indy 300
This race was held July 6 at Kansas Speedway. Scott Dixon won the pole.