Tomas Scheckter, son of 1979 Formula One World Champion Jody Scheckter, made his Indy Racing League debut in 2002 driving for Eddie Cheever Jr.

He scored his first career IndyCar Series win at Michigan after starting on the MBNA Pole in July of 2002. He was also named the 2002 Bank One co-Rookie of the Year with Alex Barron. 2003 was Scheckter's breakout season, as he had five top fives on his way to a seventh-place finish in the championship in his only season with Target Chip Ganassi Racing. Following a disappointing 2004 season, his first with Panther Racing, Scheckter returned back to form and finished inside the top 10 in the final standings for the 2005 season.

In 2006, the South Africa native scored two top fives and nine top-10s en route to finishing 10th in the championship standings for Vision Racing.

He again raced with Vision in 2007 and captured two top fives and nine top 10s.

Scheckter ran a limited schedule in 2008 with Luczo-Dragon Racing and a limited schedule in 2009 and 2010 with Dreyer & Reinbold Racing.

Prior to driving in the IndyCar Series, Scheckter competed in Formula Nissan and British Formula 3, earning runner-up honors in each series in 2001 and 2000, respectively. Scheckter was also the 1999 Formula Opel Euroseries champion, winning a record-breaking eight victories and eight poles.