Monday, October 27, 2003
IRL IndyCarTM Series fans from around the world offered their memories of promising IndyCar Series driver Tony Renna, who suffered fatal injuries in a testing crash Oct. 22 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
A selection of responses from the more than 150 messages posted from fans worldwide at indyracing.com:
"I managed a suite for my boss, Mike Kenney, at Indy this year. Mike had Tony at the suite one day, giving autographs. I had my grandson with me. He is 8, Riley Hughes. Tony came across as one of the most genuine people I have ever met in racing, and I have been going to Indy since 1960. I had Riley in the suite about a week later, and Tony came in again and called Riley by name. I found that to be very unusual for a driver like Tony to remember a name of someone he met out of all the thousands of people they meet every year. I was deeply saddened by the death of Tony. He will be missed immensely by not only race fans but the people he touched in the short time he was with us here on earth. He is now in a better place and with some of the greatest drivers that ever lived. May he rest in peace. My sympathy goes out to his family and his fiancée. May God bless them!"
Charley Hylton, Indianapolis
"Teri and I had the pleasure of knowing Tony personally. I was very impressed with his driving ability, especially his debut with Kelley Racing at Nashville in 2002 when he stepped into Al Jr.'s car without much seat time. He did a great job, and it was clear then that he would move on to become a star in the league. Our thoughts and prayers are with the Renna family. They need all of our support, which I know they will get because our family experienced this same loss. It is the worst thing in the world to lose a driver in this great series or any other series. I know this personally as my brother Scott was the last driver before Tony to lose his life at the Speedway that gave them life. It is still very difficult to deal with; we just have to cling to our many great memories. God bless all of you."
Todd, Teri and Hunter Brayton, Coldwater, Mich.
"I just want to send my sincere condolences and my prayers for Tony's family and friends. I worked at the track this past '500,' and I saw Tony many times. He is one of the nicest people I have ever met. Whenever I saw him walking back to the garage, I always had him hop on the golf cart. We would chat about racing and how excited he was for the '500.' He loved to race, and you could see it in his face. Everything about him was wonderful. The IRL has lost one of its best and brightest. May God be with his family, friends, teammates and fans in this most difficult time."
Shannon Grimm, Indianapolis
"First of all, my heart goes out to all of Tony's family, friends and fans. He was truly an exceptional person. My memory I'd like to share took place in the month of May at the Indy 500. My company was showcasing our racing simulators in the Kelley Racing paddock. We had a young boy, about the age of 9, I'm guessing, who was getting quite good with our simulator and wanted to race somebody. At a nearby table, Tony was having lunch. To everyone's surprise, the boy got out of the simulator and walked over to Tony and challenged the Indy 500 driver to a race. To everyone's delight, Tony accepted the challenge. I told Tony, 'Don't go easy on this kid; he's been practicing, and he's very good.' Tony looked at the young fan and said, 'You're going down, kid!' The race was on. Five laps at the famed Brickyard. Tony and the young boy raced intensely as onlookers watched with the boy's face lit up. He was racing Tony Renna! On the final lap, Tony was behind, setting up for a pass. The boy came down and slammed the door shut on Tony and took the checkered flag. After the race, Tony just smiled at the boy and said: 'Thanks. That was a good race.'"
Rodney Gabriel, Glendora, Calif.
"I was a big Tony Renna fan and always judged him as a rising star. I think that he had the stuff to be an IndyCar champion. He was just a great guy. I visit indyracing.com every day, and I was shocked when I saw what happened to him. I would like to offer my sympathy on behalf of all the IndyCar fans in Ukraine to Tony's relatives and friends and to the whole Ganassi Racing team. Tony Renna is a huge loss to not only the IndyCar Series but to the whole racing world. He will be greatly missed by me and all the other fans."
Peter Bilynsky, Lviv, Ukraine
"Tony Renna was an awesome driver. When I heard on Oct. 23 that he had passed, I was about to leave for school, and I just broke down in tears. It's horrible to see that such great talent left this world so early. I only wish that I could have met him because he seemed like a really cool person. I would like to also give my best wishes to Tony's fiancée and family in this hard time, and I hope that they are able to overcome this horrible occurrence."
Julie Bechtel, Woodbridge, Va.
"With Tony Renna, the IRL has lost a young and ambitious driver. I hope his family and the Chip Ganassi Racing team will find the strength to accept this loss of a brave young man who carried the spirit of Indy Racing in his heart."
Henk Magnee, Maastricht, Netherlands
"Tony always made the most of any situation he was in. Often during the past two years, Kelley Racing couldn't afford to run a third car for him. He could have been angry or bitter about this and left the team, but no. He would always help the team in whatever way he could. When Kelley needed a sub for Unser, Tony was there. When they needed a test driver, Tony was there. Even if they just needed a spotter, Tony would always be right there. That more than anything reflects the true spirit of racing and the heart of a true racer. He will be greatly missed."
Eric Miller, Mason, Ohio
"I had the rare privilege of sitting next to Tony at a dinner party last year at the end of the season. What impressed me so much was his innate humility about his talent. He had waited so long to show his ability, yet he was in no hurry to prove a thing. I saw him at the June race in Texas and told him we wished him the best, knowing his road was uncertain. I chatted with him again in October at TMS, and he was elated with his new sponsor. He was, again, so gracious. We will never know his full potential on the track, but he was a humble mortal in good company now."
Julie Luchsinger, Southlake, Texas
"I first became aware of Tony Renna when I went to see the 1999 Indy Lights race at the Milwaukee Mile, where he finished third in his first appearance for PacWest Racing. Even though I didn't get the chance to meet him that day, I have been following his career ever since, and I've been so happy for him when I heard he had landed the second Ganassi drive for next season. There's no one who would have deserved this chance more than him, especially after the great job he has done subbing for Al Unser Jr. last year and running in the Indy 500 this May. It's a most cruel twist of fate that he was taken from us just at the precise moment that his career really started taking off. I offer my heartfelt condolences to his family, in particular his parents and his fiancée, his friends and all his colleagues at both Target Chip Ganassi Racing and Kelley Racing. The racing world has lost a true star of the future in Tony, but I guess those close to him have lost something more valuable, still."
Gunther Schmoliner, Vienna, Austria
"American open-wheel racing is the greatest form of racing in the world. Some of the greatest times of my life have been spent watching this wonderful sport. It touches my very soul. I anticipated many years of great racing from Tony Renna. He was a true rising star. I had my eye on him for a while now. It seems to me that I forget that life is not a certainty, but that death is. Sometimes I hate this sport I love. My sincere condolences and prayers go out to Tony's loved ones as well as his team and crew members."
Thomas E. Tamberelli, Williamsport, Pa.
"It is so sad to see such a young, talented driver like Tony leave us so soon. This is a tragedy in the world of racing; something that hurts me so deeply although I never even met him. I wish the best to Tony's family and friends. God bless all of you, including the entire Ganassi organization."
Jerry Thompson, Huntington Beach, Calif.
"I am an Al Unser Jr. fan, and I was dead set against anyone taking over his car while he got cleaned up from his alcohol problem last year. I thought for sure when they said this Renna kid was going to drive the car that I wouldn't like him, but somehow, I just couldn't hate the kid. He came on the camera every time and said, 'I'm just a fill-in driver until Al gets back,' and he couldn't do an interview without mentioning Al. He never tried to take Al's ride, and he was such a nice, warm, unique individual that he won me over and made me a fan of his, as well. Tony was going to be a future star, and it's a shame that the rest of the world will never see what I saw in Tony."
Billy Hicks, Elizabethtown, Ky.
"Met Tony at Homestead this year. Super-nice guy. Talked for a while with him. He was very down to earth. I was excited to see he had landed a great ride. Life is all too short. God bless you, Tony. Truly a super guy."
Jeff Richardson, Liverpool, N.Y.
"Tony Renna came onto the Indy Car scene like a comet soaring in the heavens. That comet now soars on a much higher plane than we are able to understand, but the trail that it blazed will be with all of us for a long, long time. He will be missed. My thoughts and prayers go with his fiancée, family, friends and all who knew and loved him. Godspeed, Tony Renna, Godspeed."
John M. Miller II, Zionsville, Ind.
"Tony embodied the ideals of the Indy Racing League. I sincerely wish that his memory will serve as an inspiration for others to follow in his footsteps."
Brian Bistrais, New York
"My husband, Tom, and I send our condolences to Tony's family and fiancée, Debbie. I worked a short time at Derek Daly Academy just before he left for Indy in January of 2003. We remember his kindness to us and my 87-year old father at the Christmas party in December 2002. He was never unapproachable. A kind young man very much in love, (he had just proposed to Debbie). I remember tons of flavored nuts in huge tins as going-away presents. He sure loved that snack. We have a favorite picture of him with his 'Elvis' license plate and a Vegas snow globe! We have followed his career and we know his great driving talent and were witness to his great humanity. Love and prayers."
Debbi Johnson, Las Vegas
"My name is Sarah Gingrich, and I am 9 years old and invited Tony Renna to attend my fundraiser I held for my friend Sam and The Sam Schmidt Paralysis Foundation. Tony attended my event, and we raised money for Sam. My mom, dad and I talked to him and discovered he was a great person and talented driver. My mom took pictures of my fundraiser and posted them on my Web site at www.sarahsscrapbooks.com. I did not know Tony as well as the drivers but for the time that I knew him, I will miss him a lot. Please send his family and fiancée my best wishes."
Sarah Jane Gingrich, Leesport, Pa.
"Every time a driver pays with life, his passion for the racing, he becomes an angel that protects all other drivers in the world … and now Tony is one of them. Goodbye, Tony."
Paolo Riccardi, Milan, Italy
"You would think that after 39 years at Indy, I would have been better prepared for the interview. Last May, while conducting a racing tailgate show from the Kelley Racing tent at the Speedway, I mistakenly introduced Tony to our listening audience as Dan Wheldon! Rather than giving me a dirty look and blowing off the interview, Tony gave me a big grin and politely corrected my idiocy. He then proceeded to give us our best interview of the day! He was bright and articulate. A total class act! After the interview, I watched as he crawled into the cockpit of the racing simulator that Tom Kelley appropriated for the month. He sat there driving it for a long, long while. The joy I saw in his eyes showed me a man who loved what he was doing. I am sure that same sparkle was in his eyes as he was taking his last lap."
Mark Short, Wapakoneta, Ohio
"Please know that many share in your loss. As a Central Floridian, I was quite excited to see a 'neighbor' make the big time, and from every indication Tony was just the type of young man to make us proud. My prayers are with you and Tony's family."
Debbie Hegarty, Orlando, Fla.
"Down here in New Zealand, people everywhere are deeply sorry for the loss of Tony Renna's life. In the words of General MacArthur, 'There is no security on this earth, only opportunity.' And Tony Renna died while taking on a great opportunity. We can die another's death, but we can give meaning to other people's dying by living with their living, by meaning 'I live with you, and therefore you will not die while I live.' Lets enjoy and live the dreams of those now gone. Tough times never last, but tough people do. God bless us all."
Christopher Wingate, Rotorua, New Zealand
"To the Target Chip Ganassi Racing team and to the family and fans of Tony Renna: My condolences for this great loss. Tony was and will be an important and brave example for the young people and the youth in general. He is our prayers and memories."
Claudio Navarro, Santiago, Chile
"Me and many other IRL fanatics in England are very saddened by this tragedy and offer our condolences to Target Chip Ganassi and Tony Renna's family."
Mike Bailey, London
Share:
Related Stories
- Fans Can Drive, Ride Indy Car At IMS Through Indy Racing Experience
- If Danica Dominates Daytona, Fans Win With Indy 500 Ticket Savings
| Indianapolis 500 Talkback | Post Comment |
|
|
|