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NOV. 23, 1976 -- OCT. 22, 2003
INDIANAPOLIS -- Anthony James "Tony" Renna, 26, of Indianapolis, a former DeLand resident, died Wednesday, October 22, 2003, of injuries suffered in a testing accident at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Mr. Renna, who finished seventh in the 2003 Indianapolis 500 in May, was born in Apple Valley, Calif. He moved to Florida with his family at a young age and began his racing career at the age of 6, racing quarter midgets on the local tracks. He graduated from Father Lopez High School, Daytona Beach in 1995. While still a high school senior, he won the Skip Barber Formula Ford Florida Series title.
Mr. Renna competed in Europe and the United States, driving in the Championship Auto Racing Teams (CART) training series, Indy Lights. In 2000, he finished fifth in points in that series. He also worked for Kelley Racing as a test driver and driving coach for actor Jason Priestley. He made his IRL IndyCar Series debut in 2002, substituting for Al Unser Jr. He drove in the 2003 Indianapolis 500 as part of the Kelley team. He joined the Target Chip Ganassi team in October and was making his debut with the team at the time of his accident.
Survivors include is fiancee, Debbie Savini, Indianapolis; his mother and father, Mary Renna and Joe Renna, both of DeLand; and two sisters, Kathryn Renna, DeLand, and Nicole Renna, New York. Memorial donations may be made to the Tony Renna Memorial Foundation, c/o The Prappas Co., 9201 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 204, Beverly Hills, Calif. 90210. Flanner & Buchanan Funeral Home, Indianapolis, was in charge.
Career Highlights
- Made IRL IndyCar Series debut in July 2002 at Nashville, finishing 10th.
- Won Indy Lights race in 1998 at Michigan.
- Won pole position in 1998 Indy Lights season at Michigan and California.
2003
- Qualified eighth and finished seventh as an Indianapolis 500 rookie
driving for Kelley Racing, his only IndyCar Series start of 2003.
- Continued his duties as a test driver for Kelley Racing.
- Target Chip Ganassi Racing announced Oct. 1 that Renna signed to drive for
the team in 2004 as a teammate to 2003 IndyCar Series champion Scott Dixon.
2002
- Kelley Racing announced May 25 that Renna would serve as test driver for
its IRL IndyCar Series and new IRL Infiniti Pro Series teams.
- After being a spotter for Al Unser Jr. the '02-03 season, Tony
substituted for Jr. two races in July, finishing 10th at
Nashville and 4th at Michigan in a Kelley Racing entry. Upon Unser’s
return to competition at Kentucky, Renna continued to drive for Kelley
Racing for the final four events of the year in a 3rd Kelley Racing entry.
- Scored four top-10 finishes and one top-five finish in six starts.
- Best start 6th in fall Texas race; best finish was 4th at Michigan in his
2nd start.
- Driver coach for IRL
Infiniti Pro Series driver Jason Priestley,
2002
2001
- Competed in two Speedvision Challenge GT events for TC Kline Racing.
2000
- Drove in Indy Lights with PacWest Racing, finishing fifth in points as
teammate to 2003 IRL IndyCar Series champion Scott Dixon. Best finish 3rd
place, three times.
1999
- Competed in five races for PacWest Racing in Indy Lights, finishing third
in first race with team at Milwaukee.
1998
- Finished 8th in Indy Lights points as rookie, driving for Mattco Raceworks
team.
- Won Indy Lights race from the pole at Michigan.
1997
- Competed in seven races in Barber Dodge Pro Series, earning three podium
finishes and two pole positions.
1996
- Named Rookie of the Year in the Barber Dodge Pro Series, earning three
top-three finishes and two pole positions.
- Represented Valvoline Team USA in the Formula Opel Nations Cup at
Donington Park in England, where he won a silver medal.
- Competed in British Formula 3 Class B competition, scoring one win, three
pole positions and 3 third-place finishes. Posted 2 fastest laps & set
one lap record.
1995
- Winner of the Skip Barber “Big Scholarship” to gain entry in the 1996
Barber Dodge Pro Series.
1994
- Debuted in the Barber Dodge Pro Series, entering three events.
1993
- Started racing cars in Skip Barber Formula Ford series.
1983
- Began junior racing career at age 6 in mini-sprints, karts, micro-sprints
and quarter midgets in which he earned 252 wins and two National Quarter
Midget championships.
Personal
- Served as a batboy for the New York Yankees when he was a child.
- Enjoys running, swimming, cycling and weight training.
- Favorite movie “Forrest Gump;” favorite food pasta; favorite
vacation spot is anywhere in the Caribbean; favorite actor Tom Hanks;
actress Julia Roberts.
- Hobbies include golf and karting.
