The Tropicana 400, just the 3rd Winston Cup race at the new Chicagoland Speedway, rolled to a start under sunny skies in front of a sell out crowd of 75 thousand. The track, which opened in 2001, features a wide racing surface, high banking and speeds that approach 200 mph.
Tony Stewart took his first pole of the season to lead the field to the start of the 267 lap event. Point leader Matt Kenseth qualified a disappointing 24th. Kevin Harvick, the only Winston Cup driver to win at Chicagoland, started 11th in his bid to score a 3rd victory at the track.
When the green flag waved, Stewart took an immediate lead, driving off from the rest of the field. By lap 45, Stewart held a 4 second lead over second place Jamie McMurray, and had begun lapping slower cars. The first round of green flag pit stops began on lap 53, when Bill Elliott headed to pit road 10 laps earlier than the forecasted pit window of between 60 and 68 laps. Tony Stewart pitted on lap 61, passing the lead to Kevin Harvick, but cycled back to the front as the remaining cars made their stops.
The first caution of the day came on lap 83 for debris on the racetrack, and all of the leaders again headed to pit road. Kevin Harvick won the race out of the pits, and led the field to the restart. Just four laps into the restart, Larry Foyt slid up and into the outside wall, bringing out the second caution. Again Harvick led when the green flag waved, but Tony Stewart caught him to reclaim the lead on lap 105.
The yellow flag waved again when Johnny Sauter cut a tire, tearing up his car and scattering debris across the track. Kevin Harvick once again took the lead when he stayed out as the rest of the leaders headed for their pits. The race went green again on lap 114, only to see another yellow flag on lap 127 when Kurt Busch's engine blows, trailing smoke and oil through turns 3 and 4. Jeff Gordon inherits the lead from Harvick as the leader heads to pit road.
The second round of green flag pit stops began on lap 175, when Jeff Gordon gave up the lead to his teammate Jimmie Johnson and headed down pit road. Johnson gave up the lead to make his stop 15 laps later, but cycled back to the front as the rest of the leaders pitted.
Dale Earnhardt Jr. spun hard into the outside wall to bring out the fifth caution of the race. Ryan Newman took the lead by staying out under the caution as most of the lead lap cars pitted. Just 2 laps into the restart, Casey Mears made contact with Johnny Benson, sending Benson spinning up the track into Bobby Labonte. Labonte hit the outside wall hand, his car bursting into flame on impact. Bill Elliott and Mike Wallace both spun, trying to avoid the trouble, and Wallace's car also caught fire, but all the drivers walked away uninjured.
The final caution of the afternoon came on lap 234 when Casey Mears hit the outside wall. Once again Ryan Newman led the restart, with Kevin Harvick behind him. With 2 laps to go, Harvick's car slowed and he headed for pit road, out of gas. Ryan Newman took the checkered flag to score his third victory of the 2003 season.
Unofficial Results
- Ryan Newman
- Tony Stewart
- Jimmie Johnson
- Jeff Gordon
- Michael Waltrip
- Jeff Burton
- Robby Gordon
- Jamie McMurray
- Elliott Sadler
- Jeremy Mayfield
Unofficial Standings
- Matt Kenseth
- Jeff Gordon -165
- Dale Earnhardt Jr. -258
- Bobby Labonte -327
- Michael Waltrip -384
- Jimmie Johnson -429
- Kevin Harvick -512
- Tony Stewart -549
- Kurt Busch -565
- Sterling Marlin -580
