Canadian Greg Moore, like many other racers, started his career in karts and rapidly progressed up the racing ladder through Formula Ford and F2000 cars. In 1993 Moore graduated to the Indy Lights series where two years later we won the championship with a record breaking 10 wins in 12 events.
In 1996 at just 20 years of age he stepped up to the CART IndyCar (now ChampCar) series with the Forsythe team, where he just missed out on rookie of the year honors behind Alex Zanardi. The following year Moore scored his first IndyCar victory at Milwaukee [video below] (the youngest winner in series history at that time), with a second win the following week in Detroit. He had quickly established himself as a talent to watch with a quick and brave style.
He started the 1998 season as a potential championship winner but despite two more wins he finished a disappointed fifth overall. Despite obvious talent and potential Moore struggled through 1999 with a lack luster Mercedes engine in his Forsythe car and planned to switch to the power-house Penske team for the 2000 season.
During the weekend of the 1999 season-ending Marlboro 500 at Fontana in California Moore was knocked off his motor scooter and injured his right hand. After a medical consultation, and an in-car test, he was allowed to race using a hand brace albeit starting from the back of the grid after missing qualifying. On lap nine of the race Moore apparently lost control of his car in the exit of the second turn and spun into the infield grass at over 200 mph. His car hit an access road and was ‘tripped’ over to strike the infield concrete wall upside-down at unabated speed. He suffered massive head and neck injuries and he was airlifted to and pronounced dead at a local hospital. He was 24 years old.
During his short racing career Greg Moore had been a supporter of various charities and since his death his father Ric Moore has continued his charitable work under the Greg Moore Foundation.
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