With 2001's disappointment now trailing him as another car on a train of unfortunate circumstances and less-than-stellar results, Jones spent 2002 in a variety of series, including the USAC Silver Crown Series where he had found success earlier in his career. Jones parlayed this into a chance to run the Indianapolis 500-mile race with Team Menard; it was to be his Indy Racing League debut and return to top-level North American open-wheel racing after a hiatus that inaugurated on October 31, 1999. Misfortune was still inseparable from Jones, and a neck injury during May's practice runs removed him from the competitive mount; his replacement, Raul Boesel, placed the car on the front row.