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Greg
Moore See
you at the Front
"You have
left us with tears in our hearts, but smiles in our memories."
"What
is it about an athlete that causes a country and a sport to revere him
by the time he is 24 years old? What is it about an athlete that leads
his colleagues - his competition - to bask in his spirit, his humour,
and his light even though they are more experienced, older, and perhaps
more successful? What is it about an athlete whose death breaks a million
hearts and brings a million tears?
"I want to win a couple
of Indy car championships
Aftermath
"I've
been waiting two years to say this, but this one's for you, Greg." "A couple
of years ago I really wanted to win the race as a mark of respect for
Greg, but we screwed up at the last moment in the last pit stop. So
today it's good to finally get the job done. It means a lot for me to
be able to win up here. I knew that if he was here we'd be out partying
tonight." "To see
Ric Moore at the podium, how happy he was, he was just filled with emotion.
That was great, really, really great... I'm really happy for Dario.
I remember the emotion of seeing Ric Moore on the podium [last year]
and I remember how disappointed Dario was because he wanted to win that
race so badly for Greg." "I think
he [Greg] organized this podium here today. Every year when we come
here it's a tough weekend for us. Every year when we do the party, we
know he's around." "The award
is named after a guy that was not only a great race car driver... I
would say we were really similar in the way we were driving, both very
aggressive. I think both were never content with the result. Always
wanting to do something more... We were very, very competitive. I can't
say we were close friends, but we were friends, and for sure, we had
a great deal of respect for each other... I remember Greg in Las Vegas
in '98, we were playing billiards, pool at Jimmy Vasser's house, and
I explained to him the way we play in Italy. We don't play it with a
stick; we just throw the ball with our hands. Well, true enough, after
five minutes, we are playing our way; he wants to beat me, and you can
tell now he's very competitive and he's into the game. And I said, 'Okay,
Greg, we are going to go.' 'No, another game.' 'Yeah, but we have got
to go.' 'Man, I've been here three years, you kick my butt and now you
are running away [to F1], it's not fair.' So that was a great compliment
to me because I rate him a great driver... But, I rate Greg a very,
very capable driver. Somebody that would never give up, and for him
to say something like this to me was a great compliment." "With
four laps to go, I started crying in the car, I almost hit the wall.
I was saying to Greg Moore, ‘Please let me have this one Greg.'
It's a shame you are not here, but this win will be in your name." "I would
have raced if he hadn't. I think two things about that. If I had, Greg
would be alive today. And if I had, I wouldn't have had the accident
he did because I wouldn't have attempted the passes he was making." "We all
miss Greg, he was so young and so talented. When he got hurt, I was
going to take his place in the race. I wish I had because I think he
would still be with us." "That
guy had more talent in his pinky finger than most guys in this room." "We'll
never forget Greg, but now everybody is remembering the good times and
the good things and carrying on the way Greg would want us to." "He definitely
was one of the best guys I've ever seen driving a race car." "Most
people knew Greg as a great driver. To me, Greg was a great friend.
I looked forward to the times we could get together. Shopping, having
a coffee, starting the occasional food fight at various dinners and
on charter flights - but denying it. Hanging out in the F1 garages.
It's all the little things that are valuable to me. This is how I remember
my friend." "It’s
going to be an emotional time for a lot of us in the CART series, since
this was Greg’s home race. I’ve been thinking about Greg
and the Moore family throughout the season, but the Vancouver race is
certainly going to bring back a lot of memories of Greg and what he
achieved. I know that he’s going to be with us in spirit and that’s
a motivating factor for everyone at Team Player’s." "The Greg
Moore trophy, I really wanted that. That was in the back of my mind
the whole time. I was pushing hard and I really wanted it. But at the
same time, Paul Tracy wanted it. We were both giving it 100 percent
out there." "What
we're going to try to do is be motivated by all those emotions and try
to do our best and push the car as hard as we can in qualifying, just
to be able to put up a good result and please all those fans that are
going to recognize the blue and white car because Greg was racing in
that car." "It just
seems normal talking about him, especially with friends like Max, Jimmy,
Paul and Tony...Nobody replaces Greg in your heart or mind. He was definitely
an original." "No, I
don't think you can replace a guy like Greg Moore. You know, we were
so happy to win at Michigan because Greg was kind of the king of that
racetrack. We're really happy, but, yeah, I don't think you can replace
him. I was just kind of the senior guy on the team, as Greg was, and
Greg played that role very well... So I'm really happy about it, but
I still think you cannot replace a guy like Greg Moore."
"He was
a great guy. He was my age and he was going to be one of the greatest...
He didn't deserve to die." "I never
think about anything like that. You just want to go as quick as you
can. That's the way Greg thought, too." "Today
I lost one of the best friends I ever had in Greg Moore. In the last
couple of years, ever since I've known him, we shared a lot of good
times together. He was the guy I competed the hardest with on the track,
and he was the guy that I had the most fun with away from the track.
The guy was going to be a champion, many, many times over. He was my
friend. With what 's happened, nothing else matters." "Today
was a disappointing day for everybody. The loss of Greg is a hard thing
to try and stomach. But I've talked to a lot of drivers now and we all
just remember Greg on the grid today. He was sitting there in his car
with a gimp hand, smiling and ready for the race; ready to go out there
and try to win it. His spirit was that way. He wouldn't give up a chance
to get in the car, even if his leg was hanging off. That's how I want
to remember him. Not seeing the accident. But remembering all of the
good times that we had. He was a guy who always had a smile on his face.
He was always upbeat and always in a good mood. He had a great spirit
and I hope that continues on in this sport." "His dream
was to get to the Indy car level and race against guys like at the time,
me and Scott Goodyear. He was one of the best, you know? No doubt. He
had more talent than most everybody out there. And at such a young age
he was so good, he probably didn't know how good he was. It is tragic." "This
is a tragedy for all of us. I can't express to you how sad I feel...
It's so hard. Greg was such a good friend of ours. We've been racing
for a while and shared so many good moments on and off the track...
This is a tragedy for all of us. the win doesn't matter anything. My
heart goes to his dad, which I think he is hurting a lot right now.
We should support his family right now because its such a difficult
time for them. I will remember Greg as a great gentleman, great friend
and a fantastic racecar driver." "It´s
even hard to put it in words... I have no words. Definitely Greg will
be missed a lot everywhere. Not only inside the track but outside the
track and hanging out with us." "I'm really
sad about what happened to Greg. I think he was a great guy. I'm really
sorry for his family and friends. I could say he was one of the nicer
guys around here. It's a really big shame. It's a big loss for CART
and for everyone." "This
one hits home. Greg Moore was a good friend of mine. This accident is
really going to make me think about what I'm doing with my career. We've
lost two great guys in the last couple of months, and that's not good.
I feel so sad for Greg's dad. Greg was a good kid from a really good
family. This is such a tragedy." "I feel
privileged that I had the opportunity to be Greg's teammate the last
two seasons. I had a great deal of respect and admiration for him, both
as a professional and as a person, and I think every driver in the CART
series felt the same way. It is a devastating loss and my heart goes
out to Greg's family and the many people who were close to him." "I'm in
shock. My heart goes out to Greg's family. I knew it was a really bad
accident but I had no idea it was this bad. Greg was a great race car
driver with tremendous talent but beyond that he was a great role model
and friend to many people." "It's
a tough night. I think Greg was a true talent with a bright, bright
future. I really liked him. He was a fun guy to be around." "It has
been a flood of memories and stories and tears and questions, and I
haven't gotten any farther than that. I've been a bowl of spaghetti
inside... The thing I keep going back to is his passion. He had a passion
for his friends, and he had a passion for life... He was always smiling.
The lesson to be learned is that he taught us to be passionate, to love,
and not to waste a single day of your life... Every time I get done
crying, it makes me feel beautiful. Greg, I'm going to miss you. Everybody
knows he was one hell of a race-car driver, and 10 times a human being." "He captured
our hearts as a friend, captured our imaginations as a driver. We grieve
not only for what he was, but for what he would have been, a true champion...
He was only 24, but he lived life to the fullest. He loved what he was
doing... It's difficult to understand. I don't think we will ever understand." "I'm still
in shock. I missed the crash but heard Page's comments as the copter
flew away. His words pretty much told the story but for some reason,
I didn't let myself believe it. When the announcment was made on TV,
I hit my knees and couldn't hold back the tears. Sometimes you never
realize how much someone means to you until they're gone. I didn't know
Greg on a personal basis, met him once at Milwaukee. But, as a driver,
I admired him greatly. He was two years younger than me. As he was to
many other drivers in their twenties right now, Greg was an inspiration
to me. He was proof positive that success in this sport was possible
however improbable it may seem sometimes. Talent, determination, positivity,
confidence, class, and a whole lot of whatever you call that stuff that
makes us look at racecar drivers with admiration instead of seeing them
as lunatic madmen too crazy to live a normal life. These are just some
of the things about Greg that we all wish we had a little more of."
"I don't
know if there is a heaven. But if there is, Greg is up there on pole." "What
happened Sunday was beyond everybody but God's control. He loved life
and life loved him. And most people in two lifetimes would not have
the memories that he took with him." "He was
an unbelievably talented driver and a really smart driver, smart and
mature for a guy his age. He rarely made mistakes. He was just really
good and really fast." "This
is a part of the sport you hate.... The only saving grace is he didn't
know what hit him... He was a good guy. It's just a damn shame, a real
damn shame... He was a great young man. He had a great future ahead
of him. He had already achieved quite a few things in a very short period
of time." "This
is heart wrenching. Greg always had such an exuberance for life and
was an example for our young people. Now his life is wiped out, and
that's left a big hurt in our community." "This
is a very sad day for everyone involved with Champ Car Racing... Greg
was one of the best and clearly had all the potential to be a series
champion as well as being a world-class race car driver. He was also
a fine individual who was much admired for his positive attitude and
approach. To his family and his many friends, I extend our deepest sympathies
on behalf of the entire Champ Car community." "He was
everything that is good about this sport - talented, committed courageous,
fit... it is a very, very profound loss indeed." "Greg
Moore left a permanent impression on the FedEx Championship Series in
his all-too-brief tenure with us. It seems only proper that we assure
him a permanent legacy by retiring the number which became a symbol
for his success." "The tragic
death of Greg Moore has left a hole for all of those who knew him and
the millions more who watched this hometown hero as he brought racing
to a whole new generation of motorsports fans. In every way, Greg was
a winner both on and off the track, contributing countless hours to
local charities and other worthwhile causes." "Gosh
... Robby and I just had the time of our lives with Greg down in Australia.
We played cards. We went to the beach. We had dinner. That's the loss
of a family member, and that hurts." "There
are no words to describe our grief in the face of this tragedy. Greg
was more than an outstanding race car driver with a brilliant future.
He had a passion for the sport and a zest for life. He was a person
with an engaging personality, a friend to everyone in the racing community
and a true ambassador for the sport." "Jon Pollak
introduced me to racing a few years ago - CART, F1 - and later on I
met Monica Forsythe and became a big fan of Greg Moore's driving. We
lost a true ‘Shooting Star' in Greg last year and he shall remain
on the top of my CART All-Star list forever." "If the
greatness of a man can be determined by the people who loved him and
the lives he positively affected then there is no doubt in the eyes
of the world that Greg Moore was a great man. On this day the loss of
his presence on this earth has affect three generations of my family
and forever changed the face of the sport we love. Our hearts and prayers
go out to those who were closest to him. I would like to thank the parents
of Moore for letting us share in knowing and loving a great man and
competitor. In this day and age it is hard to find an athlete that carries
the traits of great sportsman, competitor, role model and man. Greg
Moore had all these abilities in abundance and I consider myself and
my son blessed to know him and his talents. It is with a heavy heart
but a permanent image of what a man can be, that I say good-bye to Greg
Moore. You will be missed by more people than you ever knew." "We all
feel very sad about Greg Moore's tragic accident. In our four year's
working relationship with Greg - which was to end after this year when
he was going to join the Penske-Honda team - we have known him as a
talented, fair and sympathetic sportsman. His death is a profound loss.
Our thoughts are with his family and friends, and also with his team
Forsythe Racing. We lost a friend. We will miss him and won't forget
him." "We are
all deeply saddened by the loss of Greg Moore. He will be missed not
only for his talents and skill as a driver, but also for the person
he was outside of the cockpit. We were looking forward to Greg joining
Honda as part of Team Penske next season, but that becomes unimportant
at a time like this. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family, friends
and team." "Greg
was like a son to all of us, not just his dad. We all watched him grow
up and we could see he was headed for great things." "He was
a person who was always upbeat, always in a good mood. He kind of brightened
up the room when he came in. He was never down or negative... It's tragic.
It really puts things in perspective. He was so young and had such a
promising future in front of him. We're all going to miss him."
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