Vasser to race in final Champ Car event

By Brian Hilderbrand

Tuesday, April 1, 2008 | 1:07 p.m.

Longtime Las Vegas resident and former CART champion Jimmy Vasser announced Tuesday that he would race in this month’s Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach, which will be the final race for the Champ Car World Series.

Vasser, 42, has been retired since the Long Beach race in 2006 and has been concentrating on his position as co-owner of the KV Racing Technology team.

"I don't expect to be fighting for the victory, having been out of the car for two years, but it will be a lot of fun and a great honor to take part in the Champ Car World Series' final race," Vasser said. "It will also be great to compete one more time in front of all the Southern California fans that have been so supportive of me throughout my career."

Vasser will drive one of three KV Racing Technology entries in the April 20 race and his car will sport the familiar No. 12 that he drove for much of his CART/Champ Car career. Oriel Servia and Will Power also drive for KVRT.

Champ Car is being absorbed by the IndyCar Series as part of the reunification of open-wheel racing and will cease to exist after the Long Beach race.

Vasser won on the streets of Long Beach in 1996 – the same year he won the CART championship. He earned 10 victories during a 14-year career and he holds the series record for consecutive starts with 211.