APRIL 13, 2003

Toyota clobbers Honda at Motegi

Honda was beaten at its own Twin Ring Motegi in the Indy Racing League race on Sunday by Scott Sharp at the wheel of his Kelley Racing Dallara-Toyota. Sharp moved into the lead when Scott Dixon and Tony Kanaan (the former a Toyota driver and the latter representing Honda) collided on the 178th lap. Kanaan ended up in hospital with a broken left arm, a second blow for Andretti Green Racing which is already missing Dario Franchitti with back injuries after a recent motorcycle crash.

Team Rahal's Kenny Brack was the fastest car in the closing stages of the race and seemed to be on course to catch and pass Sharp (and give victory to Honda) but a yellow flag in the final laps meant that the race ended under yellow flags with Brack second and Mo Nunn Racing's Felipe Giaffone third.

Tomas Scheckter again looked like a serious contender in his Target Chip Ganassi entry but the young South African crashed while leading on lap 168 after a challenge from Kanaan.