2002 The 500

Motor race held in Fontana, California February 2025 USA The 500 Auto_Club_Speedway_(formerly_California_Speedway)_-_Speedway.svg Layout of the California Speedway November 3 2002 The 500 Presented by Toyota 18 19 2002 Honda Indy 300 2002 Gran Premio Telmex-Gigante CART California SpeedwayFontana, California, United States Permanent racing facility 2.029 3.265 250 507.250 816.250 Mostly cloudy Tony Kanaan Mo Nunn Racing 31.483 BRA Oriol Servià Patrick Racing 31.469 234 ESP Jimmy Vasser Team Rahal USA Michael Andretti Team Motorola USA Patrick Carpentier Forsythe Racing CAN The 2002 The 500 Presented by Toyota was a Championship Auto Racing Teams (CART) open-wheel race that was held on November 3, 2002, at California Speedway in Fontana, California before 50,000 spectators. Contested over 250 laps, it was the 18th and penultimate round of the 2002 CART FedEx Championship Series and the sixth running of the event. Team Rahal driver Jimmy Vasser won the race from the sixth position. Michael Andretti, driving for Team Motorola, finished second, and Patrick Carpentier finished third for Forsythe Racing. Tony Kanaan won his fourth career pole position by posting the fastest lap of qualifications. The early portions of the race were dominated by Andretti and Team Green teammate Paul Tracy, though the latter driver eventually fell out with engine issues. Vasser overtook Kanaan for the lead following a cycle of pit stops on lap 76 and dominated a majority of the race, only conceding the lead to Michel Jourdain Jr. and Dario Franchitti during pit stop sequences. With each cycle of stops, series champion Cristiano da Matta inched closer to Vasser until he finally assumed the lead on lap 203. After Vasser's team made a slight mistake during his final pit stop, da Matta seemed poised to take the win until his engine expired on lap 236. Andretti overtook Vasser for the lead on the ensuing restart, but after Franchitti suffered an engine failure, CART officials issued the red flag to ensure a green-flag finish. Vasser took the lead from Andretti shortly after the last restart to earn his 10th and final career victory and second at California Speedway. The result moved Carpentier up to third in the Drivers' Championship standings, three points behind second-place Bruno Junqueira. Constructors' Cup champion Lola continued lengthening their lead over Reynard, as did Manufacturers' Cup titlist Toyota over Honda with one race left in the season. The race had an average speed of 197.995 mph km/h on, which was the fastest for a 500-mile American open-wheel car race until 2014. The race wound up being CART's last at California Speedway as the 2003 running of the event was cancelled because of the Old Fire. Background 2002 CART FedEx Championship Series#Drivers and teamsleft|thumb|250x250px|California Speedway (pictured in 2023), where the race was held. The 500 was confirmed to be included on Championship Auto Racing Teams (CART)'s 2002 schedule in November 2001.November 4, 2001 CART Unveils 2002 Schedule http://www.cart.com/News/Article.asp?ID=2425 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20021114115330/http://www.cart.com/News/Article.asp?ID=2425 November 14, 2002 August 28, 2025 Championship Auto Racing Teams It was the 18th of 19 races scheduled by CART, the sixth annual edition of the event, and was held on November 3, 2002 at the California Speedway, a 2.029 mi km on four-turn oval circuit, in Fontana, California, United States.October 31, 2002 CART Fontana Preview http://www.cart.com/News/Article.asp?ID=5036 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20021225183501/http://www.cart.com/News/Article.asp?ID=5036 December 25, 2002 August 28, 2025 Championship Auto Racing Teams It was to be contested for 250 laps over a distance of 507.250 mi km out.The 500 Presented by Toyota https://speedcenter.com/archive/races02/18fontana/index.html live https://web.archive.org/web/20250828045242/https://speedcenter.com/archive/races02/18fontana/index.html August 28, 2025 August 28, 2025 SpeedCenter.com Each team was allotted 250 U.S.gal L on of fuel and allowed to start the race with up to 35 U.S.gal L on; in addition, drivers were mandated to enter pit road at a 33-lap interval.November 1, 2002 The 500 Presented by Toyota Friday Morning Press Notes http://www.cart.com/News/Article.asp?ID=5044 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20021225183532/http://www.cart.com/News/Article.asp?ID=5044 December 25, 2002 August 30, 2025 Championship Auto Racing Teams Heading into the race, Newman/Haas Racing driver Cristiano da Matta, the defending champion of The 500,October 31, 2002 Newman/Haas Racing Race Preview http://www.cart.com/News/Article.asp?ID=5041 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20021217224042/http://www.cart.com/News/Article.asp?ID=5041 December 17, 2002 August 28, 2025 Championship Auto Racing Teams garnered 219 points and led the Drivers' Championship,Standings after Honda Indy 300 http://www.cart.com/Standings.asp?EventID=427 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20021219054804/http://www.cart.com/Standings.asp?EventID=427 December 19, 2002 August 28, 2025 Championship Auto Racing Teams which he had already clinched following his victory in the Grand Prix Americas on October 6.Vettraino J.P. October 6, 2002 Wild in the Streets: Cristiano da Matta clinches the CART title https://www.autoweek.com/news/a2113961/wild-streets-cristiano-da-matta-clinches-cart-title/ live https://web.archive.org/web/20220706165936/https://www.autoweek.com/news/a2113961/wild-streets-cristiano-da-matta-clinches-cart-title/ July 6, 2022 August 28, 2025 Autoweek.com Bruno Junqueira held second with 144 points, and Dario Franchitti was third with 135 points.October 31, 2002 CHAMPCAR/CART: Fontana: Team Motorola preview https://au.motorsport.com/indycar/news/champcar-cart-fontana-team-motorola-preview/1991636/ live https://web.archive.org/web/20250828215052/https://au.motorsport.com/indycar/news/champcar-cart-fontana-team-motorola-preview/1991636/ August 28, 2025 August 28, 2025 Motorsport.com Patrick Carpentier and Christian Fittipaldi occupied the fourth and fifth positions with 131 and 116 points, respectively.October 31, 2002 Auto Racing - CART https://books.google.com/books?id=Ny9ZAAAAIBAJ&dq=cristiano+da+matta+219&pg=PA15&article_id=1068,3922628 August 29, 2025 The Union Democrat 15 In the Constructors' Cup standings, Lola, which had secured the championship with Junqueira's win in the Grand Prix of Denver,October 24, 2002 Men at work: CART hits Land Down Under for Surfer's Paradise race https://www.autoweek.com/news/a2114781/men-work-cart-hits-land-down-under-surfers-paradise-race/ live https://web.archive.org/web/20230209000045/https://www.autoweek.com/news/a2114781/men-work-cart-hits-land-down-under-surfers-paradise-race/ February 9, 2023 August 29, 2025 Autoweek.com held first with 357 points, 148 more than Reynard. As for the Manufacturers' Cup, Toyota accumulated 301 points and obtained the championship on account of Kenny Bräck's fourth-place finish at Surfers Paradise.October 27, 2002 Toyota Race Report http://www.cart.com/News/Article.asp?ID=4996 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20021225183909/http://www.cart.com/News/Article.asp?ID=4996 December 25, 2002 August 29, 2025 Championship Auto Racing Teams They were followed by Honda (255 points) and Ford-Cosworth (226 points). The Handford device was trimmed three inches by CART, allowing an influx of speed and a significant reduction of aerodynamic drag in the race. Jimmy Vasser, who won the 1998 edition of the event and finished ninth in the Indy Racing League race at the circuit earlier that year,The 500 Presented by TOYOTA - Race Facts http://dbserver.iscmotorsports.com/CaliforniaSpeedway/headlines.cfm?HeadlineStoryID=8998&TemplateDisplayMode=2&TeaserMode=False&PreviewLevel=0&EstablishmentType=T&Establishment_ID=1& dead https://web.archive.org/web/20030102091528/http://dbserver.iscmotorsports.com/CaliforniaSpeedway/headlines.cfm?HeadlineStoryID=8998&TemplateDisplayMode=2&TeaserMode=False&PreviewLevel=0&EstablishmentType=T&Establishment_ID=1& January 2, 2003 August 29, 2025 California SpeedwayFontana 2002 Event Results http://www.indyracing.com/stats/tracks_detail.php?track=fontana&year=2002 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20020605191737/http://www.indyracing.com/stats/tracks_detail.php?track=fontana&year=2002 June 5, 2002 August 29, 2025 Indy Racing League predicted that The 500 would be "a wild one" due to the Handford device's new configuration.October 31, 2002 Team Rahal Race Preview http://www.cart.com/News/Article.asp?ID=5037 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20030428130746/http://www.cart.com/News/Article.asp?ID=5037 April 28, 2003 August 29, 2025 Championship Auto Racing Teams After a disappointing finish in the preceding Honda Indy 300, da Matta felt confident in his ability to win at California for the second consecutive year. Da Matta's teammate Fittipaldi spoke on the many physical and mental adversities that drivers have to face for The 500. Paul Tracy expressed enthusiasm for the forthcoming event after testing a Honda engine at the track several weeks prior.October 29, 2002 Team KOOL Green Race Preview http://www.cart.com/News/Article.asp?ID=5023 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20030703233024/http://www.cart.com/News/Article.asp?ID=5023 July 3, 2003 August 29, 2025 Championship Auto Racing Teams Michael Andretti reflected on his team's recent misfortunes, including a controversial loss at Surfers Paradise, and hoped to have a "perfectly trouble-free weekend" at California.October 29, 2002 Team Motorola Race Preview http://www.cart.com/News/Article.asp?ID=5037 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20030428130746/http://www.cart.com/News/Article.asp?ID=5037 April 28, 2003 August 29, 2025 Championship Auto Racing Teams Between the eighteen entries for the race, the lone driver change was of the No. Car Number 51 Fernández Racing entry. Adrián Fernández, who normally drove the car, suffered two thoracic fractures in a major opening-lap pileup at Surfers Paradise and was prohibited from competing at California.October 29, 2002 Papis to Sub for Fernandez at Fontana http://www.cart.com/News/Article.asp?ID=5024 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20030703233326/http://www.cart.com/News/Article.asp?ID=5024 July 3, 2003 August 29, 2025 Championship Auto Racing Teams In the meantime, Max Papis was chosen to substitute for the injured Fernández.Max Papis In For Adrian Fernandez http://dbserver.iscmotorsports.com/CaliforniaSpeedway/headlines.cfm?HeadlineStoryID=9014&TemplateDisplayMode=2&TeaserMode=False&PreviewLevel=0&EstablishmentType=T&Establishment_ID=1& dead https://web.archive.org/web/20030102091528/http://dbserver.iscmotorsports.com/CaliforniaSpeedway/headlines.cfm?HeadlineStoryID=9014&TemplateDisplayMode=2&TeaserMode=False&PreviewLevel=0&EstablishmentType=T&Establishment_ID=1& January 2, 2003 August 29, 2025 California Speedway Tora Takagi also endured minor pelvic fractures in the accident, but he was allowed to race at California so long as he felt comfortable enough to do so.Miller Robin October 29, 2002 Fernandez: 'I Was Lucky' http://www.cart.com/News/Article.asp?ID=5019 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20021217223503/http://www.cart.com/News/Article.asp?ID=5019 December 17, 2002 August 29, 2025 Championship Auto Racing Teams Practice and qualifying thumb|267x267px|Tony Kanaan (pictured in 2018) won his fourth career pole position. Three practice sessions were held prior to the race on Sunday—two on Friday and one on Saturday. The first session lasted 90 minutes, the second 75 minutes, and the third 60 minutes.The 500 Presented by TOYOTA - Event Schedule http://dbserver.iscmotorsports.com/CaliforniaSpeedway/headlines.cfm?HeadlineStoryID=8953&TemplateDisplayMode=2&TeaserMode=False&PreviewLevel=0&EstablishmentType=T&Establishment_ID=1& dead https://web.archive.org/web/20030102091528/http://dbserver.iscmotorsports.com/CaliforniaSpeedway/headlines.cfm?HeadlineStoryID=8953&TemplateDisplayMode=2&TeaserMode=False&PreviewLevel=0&EstablishmentType=T&Establishment_ID=1& January 2, 2003 August 30, 2025 California Speedway In the first practice session on Friday morning, Tony Kanaan was fastest with a timed lap of 31.364 seconds, besting Franchitti, Carpentier, Alex Tagliani, and Andretti.The 500 Presented by TOYOTA - practice times http://dbserver.iscmotorsports.com/CaliforniaSpeedway/headlines.cfm?HeadlineStoryID=9055&TemplateDisplayMode=2&TeaserMode=False&PreviewLevel=0&EstablishmentType=T&Establishment_ID=1& dead https://web.archive.org/web/20021221182354/http://dbserver.iscmotorsports.com/CaliforniaSpeedway/headlines.cfm?HeadlineStoryID=9055&TemplateDisplayMode=2&TeaserMode=False&PreviewLevel=0&EstablishmentType=T&Establishment_ID=1& December 21, 2002 August 30, 2025 California Speedway Later that afternoon, Tagliani paced the second practice session with a time of 31.252 seconds, followed by Vasser, Michel Jourdain Jr., Kanaan, and Franchitti.2002 The 500 Presented by Toyota - Practice 2 http://www.cart.com/Results/SessionResults.asp?ID=786 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20021219060910/http://www.cart.com/Results/SessionResults.asp?ID=786 December 19, 2002 August 30, 2025 Championship Auto Racing Teams Kanaan improved on his quickest time during the final practice session on Saturday morning, with a lap of 31.006 seconds; he outpaced Franchitti, Tagliani, Carpentier, and Jourdain Jr.November 2, 2002 Kanaan Quickest Again! http://www.cart.com/News/Article.asp?ID=5067 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20021225184253/http://www.cart.com/News/Article.asp?ID=5067 December 25, 2002 August 30, 2025 Championship Auto Racing Teams Kenny Bräck, fifteenth-quickest in the session,2002 The 500 Presented by Toyota - Practice 3 http://www.cart.com/Results/SessionResults.asp?ID=787 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20021219060214/http://www.cart.com/Results/SessionResults.asp?ID=787 December 19, 2002 August 30, 2025 Championship Auto Racing Teams spun without contact while exiting the second turn.November 2, 2002 The 500 Presented by Toyota Saturday Morning Press Notes http://www.cart.com/News/Article.asp?ID=5072 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20030306151532/http://www.cart.com/News/Article.asp?ID=5072 March 6, 2003 August 30, 2025 Championship Auto Racing Teams During qualifying, which was held on Saturday afternoon and lasted 120 minutes, drivers were allowed to complete up to five warm-up laps prior to their two timed laps, the fastest of which would determine their starting position.November 2, 2002 The 500 Presented by Toyota Saturday Afternoon Press Notes http://www.cart.com/News/Article.asp?ID=5080 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20030306153100/http://www.cart.com/News/Article.asp?ID=5080 March 6, 2003 August 30, 2025 Championship Auto Racing Teams Kanaan earned the fourth pole position of his CART career with a quickest time of 31.483 seconds.Miller Robin November 2, 2002 Kanaan Captures the Pole! http://www.cart.com/News/Article.asp?ID=5091 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20030306144245/http://www.cart.com/News/Article.asp?ID=5091 March 6, 2003 August 30, 2025 Championship Auto Racing Teams He was joined on the grid's front row by Junqueira, who was 0.118 seconds slower2002 The 500 Presented by Toyota - Qualifying 1 Results http://www.cart.com/Results/SessionResults.asp?ID=788 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20021219052824/http://www.cart.com/Results/SessionResults.asp?ID=788 December 19, 2002 August 30, 2025 Championship Auto Racing Teams and held the pole position until Kanaan's lap.November 2, 2002 CHAMPCAR/CART: Kanaan knocks Junqueira from Fontana pole https://au.motorsport.com/indycar/news/champcar-cart-kanaan-knocks-junqueira-from-fontana-pole/1992084/ live https://web.archive.org/web/20250830193653/https://au.motorsport.com/indycar/news/champcar-cart-kanaan-knocks-junqueira-from-fontana-pole/1992084/ August 30, 2025 August 30, 2025 Motorsport.com Da Matta qualified third, Andretti fourth, and Tracy fifth. Vasser, Tagliani, Carpentier, Franchitti, and Papis took positions sixth through tenth, and Jourdain Jr., Shinji Nakano, Fittipaldi, Scott Dixon, Bräck, Takagi, Mario Domínguez, and Oriol Servià completed the starting grid.The 500 presented by TOYOTA - Lineup http://dbserver.iscmotorsports.com/CaliforniaSpeedway/headlines.cfm?HeadlineStoryID=9073&TemplateDisplayMode=2&TeaserMode=False&PreviewLevel=0&EstablishmentType=T&Establishment_ID=1& dead https://web.archive.org/web/20021221182354/http://dbserver.iscmotorsports.com/CaliforniaSpeedway/headlines.cfm?HeadlineStoryID=9073&TemplateDisplayMode=2&TeaserMode=False&PreviewLevel=0&EstablishmentType=T&Establishment_ID=1& December 21, 2002 August 30, 2025 California Speedway After the qualifier, Kanaan jokingly ribbed on Junqueira and believed that the race would produce many passes and lead changes.November 2, 2002 CART Fontana Qualifying Summary http://www.cart.com/News/Article.asp?ID=5094 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20021225184441/http://www.cart.com/News/Article.asp?ID=5094 December 25, 2002 August 30, 2025 Championship Auto Racing Teams Qualifying classification Pos Position No. Car Number Driver Team Time Time in seconds Speed Speed in MPH Grid Final grid position+ Final qualifying results 1 10 BRA Tony Kanaan Mo Nunn Racing 31.483 232.011 1 2 4 BRA Bruno Junqueira Chip Ganassi Racing 31.601 231.145 2 3 1 BRA Cristiano da Matta Newman/Haas Racing 31.679 230.575 3 4 39 USA Michael Andretti Team Motorola 31.685 230.532 4 5 26 CAN Paul Tracy Team Green 31.734 230.176 5 6 8 USA Jimmy Vasser Team Rahal 31.736 230.161 6 7 33 CAN Alex Tagliani Forsythe Racing 31.737 230.154 7 8 32 CAN Patrick Carpentier Forsythe Racing 31.740 230.132 8 9 27 GBR Dario Franchitti Team Green 31.759 229.995 9 10 51 ITA Max Papis Fernández Racing 31.798 229.713 10 11 9 MEX Michel Jourdain Jr. Team Rahal 31.804 229.669 11 12 52 JAP Shinji Nakano Fernández Racing 31.836 229.438 12 13 11 BRA Christian Fittipaldi Newman/Haas Racing 31.877 229.143 13 14 44 NZL Scott Dixon Chip Ganassi Racing 31.923 228.813 14 15 12 SWE Kenny Bräck Chip Ganassi Racing 31.981 228.398 15 16 5 JAP Toranosuke Takagi Walker Racing 32.050 227.906 16 17 55 MEX Mario Domínguez Herdez Competition 32.087 227.644 17 18 20 ESP Oriol Servià Patrick Racing 32.277 226.304 18Source: Warm-up All eighteen drivers took to the track on Sunday morning for a thirty-minute warm-up session under sunny weather.November 3, 2002 The 500 Presented by Toyota Sunday Morning Press Notes http://www.cart.com/News/Article.asp?ID=5100 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20021202014526/http://www.cart.com/News/Article.asp?ID=5100 December 2, 2002 September 1, 2025 Championship Auto Racing Teams Kanaan showed even more speed during the session, setting the fastest time at 32.180 seconds.November 3, 2002 Kanaan Paces Warm-up! http://www.cart.com/News/Article.asp?ID=5097 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20030428123301/http://www.cart.com/News/Article.asp?ID=5097 April 28, 2003 August 30, 2025 Championship Auto Racing Teams His lap was 0.041 seconds quicker than Jourdain Jr.'s fastest time; Takagi, Franchitti, and Tracy completed the top five.2002 The 500 Presented by Toyota - Warm-Up http://www.cart.com/Results/SessionResults.asp?ID=789 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20021219053811/http://www.cart.com/Results/SessionResults.asp?ID=789 December 19, 2002 August 30, 2025 Championship Auto Racing Teams Race thumb|200x200px|Paul Tracy (pictured in 2006) led 15 laps, but suffered an engine failure early in the race. Live television coverage of the event aired on the Speed Channel and began at 12:30 p.m. Pacific Standard Time (UTC−08:00). Play-by-play commentary was provided by Bob Varsha, while Scott Pruett and Tommy Kendall took the roles of race analysts. Ambient air temperatures towards the start of the race were recorded at 77 F C on with partly sunny skies.November 3, 2002 The 500 Presented by Toyota Sunday Afternoon Press Notes http://www.cart.com/News/Article.asp?ID=5117 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20021202020605/http://www.cart.com/News/Article.asp?ID=5117 December 2, 2002 August 31, 2025 Championship Auto Racing Teams Approximately 50,000 people attended the event.Miller Robin November 3, 2002 Drivers pleased with Sunday action https://www.espn.com/rpm/cart/2002/1103/1455352.html live https://web.archive.org/web/20250901021206/https://www.espn.com/rpm/cart/2002/1103/1455352.html September 1, 2025 December 6, 2025 ESPN The green flag was waved at 12:38 p.m. to signify the beginning of the race, and Andretti immediately fired past Kanaan on the outside line to take the lead.November 3, 2002 Vasser slips past Andretti at Fontana as CART goes from slowest to fastest https://www.autoweek.com/news/a2115291/vasser-slips-past-andretti-fontana-cart-goes-slowest-fastest/ live https://web.archive.org/web/20230329220353/https://www.autoweek.com/news/a2115291/vasser-slips-past-andretti-fontana-cart-goes-slowest-fastest/ March 29, 2023 August 31, 2025 Autoweek.com As Andretti quickly amassed a two-second lead, Kanaan lost second place to Tracy on the second lap, but regained the position four laps later. By utilizing the slipstream from the rear of Andretti's car, Kanaan got by Andretti for the lead in the first turn on lap 9. Andretti remained in hot pursuit of Kanaan and eventually overtook him again on lap 12, while Vasser simultaneously passed Tracy for third place; Vasser was eventually relegated to fifth place, behind Tracy and Carpentier, by the 15th lap. In the next two laps, Tracy made his way up from third to first, passing Andretti for the lead while entering turn one on lap 17. Andretti reclaimed the lead two laps later, but was quickly passed by Tracy again on the 20th lap. Vasser moved into the lead for the first time three laps later,November 3, 2002 Fontana: Vasser pips Andretti https://www.autosport.com/general/news/fontana-vasser-pips-andretti-5035389/5035389/ live https://web.archive.org/web/20251204211454/https://www.autosport.com/general/news/fontana-vasser-pips-andretti-5035389/5035389/ December 4, 2025 December 4, 2025 Autosport and gained a 1.6-second lead ahead of Tracy and Andretti by lap 32 as both drivers engaged in a wheel-to-wheel duel for second place. Vasser led all the drivers into pit road for the first round of green-flag pit stops on the 33rd lap; Andretti was credited with leading the lap,2002 The 500 Presented by Toyota https://www.racing-reference.info/race-results/2002_The_500_Presented_by_Toyota/R/ live https://web.archive.org/web/20210428032842/https://www.racing-reference.info/race-results/2002_The_500_Presented_by_Toyota/R/ April 28, 2021 September 1, 2025 Racing-Reference.info NASCAR Digital Media though Vasser regained the lead while exiting pit road. The first caution flag of the race was issued on lap 34 after a lug nut in Junqueira's left-rear tire loosened as he drove off of pit road,November 3, 2002 Team Target Race Report http://www.cart.com/News/Article.asp?ID=5123 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20030428131414/http://www.cart.com/News/Article.asp?ID=5123 April 28, 2003 September 1, 2025 Championship Auto Racing Teams causing his tire to fall off.November 3, 2002 Vasser wins The 500 at Fontana https://www.espn.com/rpm/cart/2002/1103/1455231.html live https://web.archive.org/web/20250901011516/https://www.espn.com/rpm/cart/2002/1103/1455231.html September 1, 2025 September 1, 2025 ESPN Junqueira later rejoined the race, albeit several laps down. The caution period allowed Franchitti to pit again. On the lap-39 restart, Andretti charged by Vasser to take the lead once again. Vasser then fell to third place a lap later as Tracy overtook him in the first corner. With each passing lap, Andretti, Tracy, Vasser, and Kanaan remained close together in the top four positions, as Papis challenged Carpentier for seventh place. Tracy slowly inched closer to Andretti before finally pulling to his outside at the fourth turn of lap 44, though he was unable to complete the pass for the lead. On the 46th lap, Tracy finally reclaimed the lead as Andretti fended off Vasser. Andretti got by Tracy two laps later, and from laps 48–64, Tracy and Andretti exchanged the lead nine times. Kanaan gradually climbed up the running order in the meantime and passed Tracy to retake the lead on the 65th lap. left|thumb|287x287px|Toranosuke Takagi (pictured in 2008) crashed on lap 91. The second cycle of pit stops commenced on lap 66, with Franchitti staying out on the track and assuming the first position. Franchitti eventually made his stop five laps later and handed the lead back to Kanaan. On lap 76, Vasser got by Kanaan to take the race lead. Fittipaldi overtook Newman/Haas Racing teammate da Matta for fifth place on the 80th lap, only for da Matta to reclaim the position four laps later. Meanwhile, Tracy was a lap behind race leader Vasser when he drove into pit road on lap 85 in order for his crew to alleviate an electrical issue; he rejoined the race on lap 89, four laps in arrears. On the 91st lap, Takagi overapplied the brakes while entering pit road and impacted the pit wall with the right side of his car, effectively ending his race. No caution flag was issued for the incident. Tracy, enduring more issues with his engine, came into pit road a lap later and became the race's second retiree. During the third round of pit stops on lap 99, Jourdain Jr. spun as he drove off of pit road on cold tires, while Tagliani lost control of his car and nearly made contact with the inside wall, necessitating the third caution. Although Kanaan led the 99th lap, Vasser exited pit road first and led the field back up to speed for the restart on lap 105. Andretti quickly moved into second place by lap 108, passing Kanaan and da Matta, while Domínguez pulled off the track after suffering an engine failure.November 3, 2002 Herdez Competition Race Report http://www.cart.com/News/Article.asp?ID=5106 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20021225173207/http://www.cart.com/News/Article.asp?ID=5106 December 25, 2002 December 5, 2025 Championship Auto Racing Teams Da Matta battled for the second position with Andretti until he finally pulled ahead on the 124th lap, by which point Vasser gained a 0.7-second advantage over him. Two laps later, Kanaan passed Carpentier for fourth, and by lap 130, Vasser's lead over da Matta shrunk to less than four tenths of a second. Vasser led a majority of the leaders into pit road for the fourth round of stops on lap 132. As Jourdain Jr. stayed on the track for an additional three laps, da Matta exited pit road ahead of Vasser, only for Vasser to overtake da Matta for second place. Franchitti again assumed the lead until he made his stop on the 138th lap, conceding the lead back to Vasser. By lap 158, Vasser opened up a 1.2-second lead ahead of da Matta when he was forced to drive on the apron of the front stretch while maneuvering around Nakano, who was three laps behind Vasser at this point. Vasser continued lengthening his gap over da Matta before he and most other drivers made their fifth scheduled pit stops of the race. Once again, Jourdain Jr. and Franchitti each led three laps before making their stops, and Vasser reclaimed the lead on the 171st lap. Vasser's advantage over da Matta was trimmed from 1.2 seconds to 0.4 seconds as he drove alongside 11th-placed Franchitti on lap 179. Carpentier moved into the third position ahead of Andretti four laps later. Andretti retook third place from Carpentier on the 189th lap, and on lap 194, he passed da Matta to move into second place. Andretti began reeling in Vasser before green-flag pit stops began for the sixth time on the 198th lap. Da Matta was again ahead of Vasser when they rejoined the track, though unlike the previous sequence of stops, da Matta continued to maintain the lead after Jourdain Jr. and Franchitti pitted by lap 203. thumb|244x244px|Michael Andretti (pictured in 2007) finished second after Jimmy Vasser passed him on lap 248. Despite da Matta's 1.1-second lead, Vasser quickly gained a draft behind da Matta and narrowed his gap until lap 214, when he steered to da Matta's left-hand side in turn three to retake the first position. On lap 218, Carpentier and Andretti drove alongside each other in a duel for fourth place, and Jourdain Jr. fell out of the race from the third position a lap later after his engine dramatically poured smoke. Meanwhile, da Matta stayed close behind Vasser and attempted to pass him on the outside line on lap 222, to no avail. A lap later, da Matta successfully pulled ahead of Vasser to take the lead in the third corner, though Vasser drove up the track to engage a slingshot pass for the lead on the 224th lap. Vasser only gained a 0.1-second advantage before da Matta swerved to Vasser's right side to reclaim the lead on lap 230. On lap 232, the leaders made pit stops for the seventh time, with Franchitti assuming the lead yet again. Vasser's pit stop was slightly elongated as one of his crew members struggled to secure a tire, enabling da Matta to pull ahead of Vasser while driving off of pit road.Phillips David November 3, 2002 Vasser Raises Stars and Stripes With California Speedway Win http://www.speedtv.com/auto/?lvl=3a&cat=20&id=4057 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20030105051643/http://www.speedtv.com/auto/?lvl=3a&cat=20&id=4057 January 5, 2003 December 6, 2025 Speed Channel Da Matta was in position to take the lead as Franchitti made his stop when his engine suddenly expired on the 236th lap, giving the lead back to Vasser. Because da Matta's car had been parked in an unsafe part of the track, the third caution was triggered two laps later. Green-flag racing resumed on lap 242, with Vasser leading ahead of Andretti and Carpentier. Andretti immediately charged by Vasser in the first turn to take the lead. He amassed a 0.3-second advantage before Franchitti's car caught ablaze and came to a stop at the front stretch on the 245th lap, bringing out the fourth (and final) caution. The red flag was issued shortly thereafter to increase the chances of a green-flag finish. After two laps were completed under caution, the race was restarted on lap 248, and Vasser quickly used Andretti's draft to overtake him in the first corner. Vasser held onto the lead for the remaining two laps to earn his 10th career CART win and his first since the 2000 Texaco Grand Prix of Houston. In addition, he became the first driver to win The 500 twice.Can You Say Vasser? http://dbserver.iscmotorsports.com/CaliforniaSpeedway/headlines.cfm?HeadlineStoryID=9097&TemplateDisplayMode=2&TeaserMode=False&PreviewLevel=0&EstablishmentType=T&Establishment_ID=1& dead https://web.archive.org/web/20021212202111/http://dbserver.iscmotorsports.com/CaliforniaSpeedway/headlines.cfm?HeadlineStoryID=9097&TemplateDisplayMode=2&TeaserMode=False&PreviewLevel=0&EstablishmentType=T&Establishment_ID=1& December 12, 2002 December 6, 2025 California Speedway Andretti finished 0.400 seconds behind Vasser in second, with Carpentier taking third, Kanaan fourth, and Servià fifth. The final classified finishers were Dixon, Fittipaldi, Tagliani, and Junqueira.2002 The 500 Presented by Toyota - Race Results http://www.cart.com/Results/SessionResults.asp?ID=790 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20021219053047/http://www.cart.com/Results/SessionResults.asp?ID=790 December 19, 2002 December 6, 2025 Championship Auto Racing Teams There were four cautions and 44 lead changes among seven drivers during the course of the race. With an average speed of 197.995 mph km/h on, it was the fastest 500-mile race in American open-wheel car racing history.The record was previously held by the 1990 Marlboro 500 at Michigan International Speedway, which had an average speed of 189.727 mph km/h on. It was later broken by the 2014 Pocono IndyCar 500 at Pocono Raceway with an average speed of 202.402 mph km/h on.Today’s race at Pocono was fastest 500-miler in IndyCar history http://motorsportstalk.nbcsports.com/2014/07/06/todays-race-at-pocono-was-fastest-500-miler-in-indycar-history/ dead https://web.archive.org/web/20140715195251/http://motorsportstalk.nbcsports.com/2014/07/06/todays-race-at-pocono-was-fastest-500-miler-in-indycar-history/ July 15, 2014 December 6, 2025 NBC Sports July 6, 2014 Estrada Chris "n"Another Record Breaking Day http://dbserver.iscmotorsports.com/CaliforniaSpeedway/headlines.cfm?HeadlineStoryID=9106&TemplateDisplayMode=2&TeaserMode=False&PreviewLevel=0&EstablishmentType=T&Establishment_ID=1& dead https://web.archive.org/web/20021212203205/http://dbserver.iscmotorsports.com/CaliforniaSpeedway/headlines.cfm?HeadlineStoryID=9106&TemplateDisplayMode=2&TeaserMode=False&PreviewLevel=0&EstablishmentType=T&Establishment_ID=1& December 12, 2002 December 6, 2025 California Speedway Post-race The top-three drivers appeared on the podium to collect their trophies and spoke to the media in a press conference.CHAMPCAR/CART: Vasser wins fastest 500-mile open wheel race in history https://au.motorsport.com/indycar/news/champcar-cart-vasser-wins-fastest-500-mile-open-wheel-race-in-fontana/1992344/ live https://web.archive.org/web/20251206130804/https://au.motorsport.com/indycar/news/champcar-cart-vasser-wins-fastest-500-mile-open-wheel-race-in-fontana/1992344/ December 6, 2025 December 6, 2025 Motorsport.com Vasser, who earned $100,000 from his victory, was happy to have earned his first win of the season: "First of all, it's a great win for me and the Shell team. You don't want to go the entire season without a win. All the credit goes to the guys on the team. They busted their butts to get the car put back together after Australia." He also praised Andretti for his driving prowess, saying: "Had it not been for Dario (Franchitti) causing the red flag, it would have been difficult to catch Michael (Andretti) under race conditions. Michael drove a great race. He expertly knew how to take away my air and just drove a great race."November 3, 2002 CART Fontana Race Summary http://www.cart.com/News/Article.asp?ID=5126 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20021202040632/http://www.cart.com/News/Article.asp?ID=5126 December 2, 2002 December 6, 2025 Championship Auto Racing Teams Second-place finisher Andretti described how the racing style changed from previous years: "This year was different than past years. You couldn't slingshot past the other cars because you'd lose grip on the front end when you got behind someone. After the restart the guy leading definitely has the advantage. Running 500 miles is mentally draining, I'm really tired mentally, but I have to say that everyone drove a good clean race which is nice to see.”November 3, 2002 Team Motorola Race Report http://www.cart.com/News/Article.asp?ID=5112 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20021201220147/http://www.cart.com/News/Article.asp?ID=5112 December 1, 2002 December 6, 2025 Championship Auto Racing Teams Carpentier, who finished third, revealed that he experienced major oversteer during the final restart, but was nonetheless pleased with the result.November 3, 2002 Team Player's Race Report http://www.cart.com/News/Article.asp?ID=5115 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20021221091909/http://www.cart.com/News/Article.asp?ID=5115 December 21, 2002 December 6, 2025 Championship Auto Racing Teams The race was received well by drivers and the media. Veteran journalist Robin Miller felt that CART's decision to stop the race after Franchitti's incident gave them "some much-needed credibility with its fans and teams" in the wake of the controversial Honda Indy 300, which ended with "total anger and confusion." Vasser also agreed with CART's decision, stating: "I thought it was the right call. We’ve seen it happen with NASCAR. It’s about the fans, giving them a proper green-flag finish. I thought it was the right thing.”Phillips David November 3, 2002 Sunday's California Speedway Notebook http://www.speedtv.com/auto/?lvl=3a&cat=20&id=4058 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20030105051639/http://www.speedtv.com/auto/?lvl=3a&cat=20&id=4058 January 5, 2003 December 6, 2025 Speed Channel Andretti admitted he wasn't pleased with the stoppage but resigned to the result: "Well, it's the new rule. If it's in the rule book, it's not supposed to end on a yellow, then that's the right thing. [...] Rules are rules, that's the way it works out. I can accept it."November 3, 2002 The 500 Presented By Toyota Post-Race Press Conference Transcript http://www.cart.com/News/Article.asp?ID=5120 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20021202020820/http://www.cart.com/News/Article.asp?ID=5120 December 2, 2002 December 6, 2025 Championship Auto Racing Teams The aero package of the Handford device also proved popular with the drivers, with da Matta saying: "Usually I hate this race but today I had fun and this was a proper oval race because whoever was fastest was going to win." Andretti and Vasser praised the aero package for preventing drivers from bunching up with each other, and Carpentier noted the abundance of overtakes throughout the race. With one race remaining in the season, da Matta earned 221 points in the Drivers' Championship, 73 more than Junqueira in second. Carpentier's third-place finish moved him into third in the standings on 145 points, while Franchitti fell to fourth with 138 and Fittipaldi remained fifth with 122. For the Constructors' Cup, Lola amassed 379 points as Reynard trailed on 223 points. Toyota gained 312 points for the Manufacturers' Cup; Honda was second with 271 and Ford-Cosworth stayed third on 247.Standings after The 500 Presented by Toyota http://www.cart.com/Standings.asp?EventID=428&print=true dead https://web.archive.org/web/20030110173217/http://www.cart.com/Standings.asp?EventID=428&print=true January 10, 2003 December 6, 2025 Championship Auto Racing Teams This ended up being CART's last race at California Speedway as their 2003 event was cancelled due to the nearby Old Fire.October 30, 2003 CART cancels California event https://www.autosport.com/general/news/cart-cancels-california-event-5020900/5020900/ live https://web.archive.org/web/20220816130605/https://www.autosport.com/general/news/cart-cancels-california-event-5020900/5020900/ August 16, 2022 December 6, 2025 Autosport Excluding the Indianapolis 500, this was also the final 500-mile race in American open-wheel car racing until the 2012 MAVTV 500 IndyCar World Championships, which was also held at California Speedway.Oreovicz John September 13, 2012 Expect a thriller at Fontana https://www.espn.com/racing/indycar/story/_/id/8376226/indycar-power-ryan-hunter-reay-ready-settle-2012-title live https://web.archive.org/web/20251206163130/https://www.espn.com/racing/indycar/story/_/id/8376226/indycar-power-ryan-hunter-reay-ready-settle-2012-title December 6, 2025 December 6, 2025 ESPN Race classification Drivers who scored championship points are denoted in bold. Pos PositionNo. Car NumberDriverTeamLaps Laps completedTime/RetiredGrid Final starting grid positionPoints+ Final race results 1 8 USA Jimmy Vasser Team Rahal 250 2:33:42.977 6 211 1 2 39 USA Michael Andretti Team Motorola 250 +0.400 4 16 3 32 CAN Patrick Carpentier Forsythe Racing 250 +1.794 8 14 4 10 BRA Tony Kanaan Mo Nunn Racing 250 +2.502 1 132 2 5 20 ESP Oriol Servià Patrick Racing 249 +1 lap 18 10 6 44 NZL Scott Dixon Chip Ganassi Racing 249 +1 lap 14 8 7 11 BRA Christian Fittipaldi Newman/Haas Racing 249 +1 lap 13 6 8 33 CAN Alex Tagliani Forsythe Racing 248 +2 laps 7 5 9 4 BRA Bruno Junqueira Chip Ganassi Racing 247 +3 laps 2 4 10 27 GBR Dario Franchitti Team Green 242 Engine 9 3 11 1 BRA Cristiano da Matta Newman/Haas Racing 236 Engine 3 2 12 12 SWE Kenny Bräck Chip Ganassi Racing 235 Drive shaft 15 1 13 9 MEX Michel Jourdain Jr. Team Rahal 218 Engine 11 14 51 ITA Max Papis Fernández Racing 214 Engine 10 15 52 JAP Shinji Nakano Fernández Racing 202 Upright 12 16 55 MEX Mario Domínguez Herdez Competition 107 Engine 17 17 26 CAN Paul Tracy Team Green 86 Throttle 5 18 5 JAP Toranosuke Takagi Walker Racing 85 Contact 16Sources:2002 The 500 Presented by Toyota http://www.champcarstats.com/races/200218.htm live https://web.archive.org/web/20250120113230/http://www.champcarstats.com/races/200218.htm January 20, 2025 May 9, 2026 ChampCarStats.com Notes 1 1 – Includes one bonus point for leading the most laps.Points Systems https://www.champcarstats.com/points.htm live https://web.archive.org/web/20250916165835/http://www.champcarstats.com/points.htm September 16, 2025 December 6, 2025 ChampCarStats.com 2 2 – Includes one bonus point for being the fastest qualifier. Standings after the race + Drivers' Championship standings+/– Pos. Position Driver Points 10px1BRA Cristiano da Matta221 10px2BRA Bruno Junqueira148 (–73) 10px 13CAN Patrick Carpentier145 (–76) 10px 14GBR Dario Franchitti138 (–83) 10px5BRA Christian Fittipaldi122 (–99)Sources: + Constructors' Cup standings+/– Pos. Position Constructor Points 10px 1GBR Lola 379 10px 2GBR Reynard 223 (–156)Source: + Manufacturers' Cup standings+/– Pos. Position Manufacturer Points 10px 1JPN Toyota 312 10px 2JPN Honda 271 (–41) 10px3GBR Ford-Cosworth 247 (–65)Source: Note: Only the top five positions are included for the Drivers' Championship standings. Bold text indicates the national champions. Notes and references Notes 30em n References External links Complete results on the CART website The 500 2002 2002 Honda Indy 300 2002 Gran Premio Telmex-Gigante 2001 Marlboro 500 2003 King Taco 500 Fontana Category:MAVTV 500 Category:November 2002 sports events in the United States Category:2002 in sports in California