In 2002, Renna signed with Kelley Racing to be its test driver in the IRL, and was the driving coach and spotter to actor and Infiniti Pro Series participant Jason Priestley.

[1] He spent his Friday nights at Horsemen's Park in Ocoee,[8] refined his driving ability at circuits in Barberville, Bithlo and New Smyrna Beach,[5] and was taught by former driver Ralph Liguori.

[8] Renna began focusing on an opportunity in open-wheel racing,[10] idolizing drivers Rick Mears,[4] and Al Unser Jr.,[11] and wanted to drive for Team Penske.

Team owner Mark Bailey was complimentary towards Renna, whose father signed him to drive for Murray Taylor Racing until he pulled out due to budget concerns.

77 Lola-Buick car,[b] he won at Michigan International Speedway, took two pole positions, and had six top ten finishes to place eighth in the drivers' championship with 68 points.

[20] In April 1999, CART imposed a one-year suspension on Mattco Raceworks from its racing series for illegal engine modifications in the car of Renna's teammate Mark Hotchkis.

[25] Having signed a five-year contract in late October 1999, Renna returned to PacWest Racing for the 2000 Indy Lights,[23] and continued as its test and development driver.

[27] Renna changed his car number to 18; he attained top-ten finishes in every round during the season except for two due to consecutive retirements: a mechanical failure at Milwaukee Mile and an accident in Detroit.

[28] Before the 2001 racing season,[11] an agreement for Renna to drive for PacWest's CART team fell through,[13] and he was released from its Indy Lights operation.

[1][11] Renna was less active in professional car racing during the year, making one appearance in the SpeedVision World Challenge at Mosport International Raceway in May, driving the No.

[31] Under the observation of three-time Indianapolis 500 winner Johnny Rutherford, Renna passed an IRL-sanctioned, four-phase, rookie test at Texas Motor Speedway that allowed him to compete.

7 Dallara-Chevrolet vehicle in the 2002 Indy Racing League,[34] Renna took consecutive top-ten finishes at Nashville Superspeedway and Michigan International Speedway.

[31] After Unser returned from rehabilitation, the team expanded its roster to three cars because they were impressed with Renna's performance and obtained sponsorship to allow him to continue driving.

[38] Renna made his first on-track appearance for CGR in a private Firestone tire-test session at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on October 22.

[43] He lost control of the vehicle,[44] without having made any prior collision with the trackside SAFER barriers,[12] which did not appear to have suffered a mechanical fault.

[44] The bottom of Renna's car struck the outside retaining fence above the 4 ft (1.2 m) SAFER barrier at the exit to turn three,[7][44] causing a deceleration of more than 100 g0 (980 m/s2), a force that the human body is unable to withstand.

[47] He was transported by ambulance to Indiana University Health Methodist Hospital, about a six-minute drive away, where he was pronounced dead on arrival at 9:43 local time.

[e][47] An autopsy was conducted by Marion County Coroner John McGoff, who determined Renna died instantaneously after sustaining fatal, blunt-force head and chest injuries from the high force of the impact.

[2] The week after Renna's death, the IRL began an investigation,[45] involving officials from Indianapolis Motor Speedway, CGR and Firestone.

[f][49] Because Renna's crash occurred during a private test session, with the media and public not allowed to enter the speedway, there were no eyewitnesses, photographs or video footage of the accident.

[43][45] The car was impounded at the track;[7] the connectors on its black box were severely damaged,[45] rendering officials unable to download the on-board electronic data it contained.

The IRL concluded the spectator fences worked as designed and the speed at which Renna was traveling was similar to those monitored in accidents at the circuit in recent years.

Tony Renna was called "a rising star in motor racing" by Nilima Fox of The Independent,[55] and was described by Reggie Yates of The News-Sentinel as "a driver open-wheel fans wanted to see succeed".

[57] The Tony Renna Memorial Fund was established in Michigan to continue the driver's work, which was based on his "approach to life of caring about others".

[58] In January 2004, Father Lopez Catholic School renamed its annual golf tournament after Renna to raise funds for the memorial foundation.