Columnist Brian Hilderbrand: Vasser's strong run opens door for '99

BRIAN HILDERBRAND is a Las Vegas SUN sportswriter. His motor sports column appears Fridays. He can be reached on the Internet at [email protected]. For the latest in the world of auto racing, check out the SUN Racing web site at http://www. lasvegassun.com/sports/racing/

Jimmy Vasser has been a part of one of the most dominant teams on the FedEx CART Championship Series for the past three years. And he would like it to remain that way.

Vasser, a Las Vegas resident, and Target/Chip Ganassi Racing teammate Alex Zanardi have combined to win the past two series championships, four of the seven races this season and 17 of the past 40 races.

But Vasser acknowledged that the formidable team could break up this year because both drivers are in the final year of their contracts with Ganassi. Vasser confirmed that he has been approached by two high-profile teams about driving for them next year and Zanardi is rumored to be looking at Formula One in 1999.

"It's been a great run and it's one of those situations where you hate to have the team break up," Vasser said this week from his Las Vegas home. "We're both in contract years and Chip is working really hard to keep it all together (and) I hope we can."

Vasser said he has been approached by Team Rahal owner/driver Bobby Rahal to replace Rahal in the seat of the Miller Lite Reynard/Ford when the venerable driver retires at the end of this season. Vasser, third in PPG Cup points this season, said he has not kept the offers a secret from Ganassi.

"There have been some teams that have called and I've let Chip know -- I'm not hiding anything and he's doing the best he can to keep it all together," Vasser said. "I've talked to Bobby and another team but I really was hoping to not really address this issue right now ... because I wanted to concentrate on the racing. But it comes up and it's something I have to deal with.

"Right now, it's kind of up in the air. Bobby has a fantastic team but I've got a lot of seniority with Chip and a lot of good chemistry with the guys there and we're still winning races. I think I'm probably going to stay at Target unless something unforeseen happens."

As far as Vasser is concerned, you don't tamper with something that's working -- especially something that is working better this year than it has in the past.

After struggling on short ovals last season, Vasser and Zanardi swept the mile ovals this year, with Vasser winning at Nazareth Speedway and The Milwaukee Mile and Zanardi taking the checkered flag at Gateway International Raceway.

The CART series now moves to the road-course portion of its schedule, running 10 of its next 12 events on road courses -- starting with Sunday's Detroit Grand Prix.

* NASCAR: Although it has not been formally announced by NASCAR, the Winston Cup Series apparently is returning to Las Vegas Motor Speedway in 1999. The Speedway has sent out order forms to ticket holders for the inaugural Las Vegas 400, giving them the opportunity to renew their seats for the Feb. 28, 1999 race. LVMS is only accepting orders from previous ticket holders at this time, and no phone orders are being taken. ... Rumors are running rampant through NASCAR circles that LVMS is up for sale and that the France family is the leading candidate to purchase the $200 million facility. Speedway chairman Richie Clyne, as usual, is not talking. Clyne has not returned numerous phone messages left by the Sun seeking comment on the rumors.

* BACKMARKERS: Las Vegan Rob MacCachren won the Championship Off-Road Racing (CORR) Series season opener in Beaver Dam, Wisc. The race will be televised on ESPN2 Sunday and again next Friday and Saturday. MacCachren will be competing this weekend in Antigo, Wisc., in Round Two of the CORR Series. ... Las Vegas Citizens Area Transit driver Dana Young will go for his second straight Pro ET victory Saturday night when NHRA/Craftsman ET drag racing resumes at LVMS. The Chevy II-driving Young moved into a first-place tie with Carl Cannavo for the division points lead May 23, when he captured his first victory of the year. John Sparrow has two triumphs this year in his Pontiac Firebird and maintains the Sportsman Division points lead with 324 points. Gates open at 3 p.m., with eliminations set for 8 p.m. ... Bandit Sprints, Western Dirt Late Models and Modifieds will be highlighted Saturday night at the LVMS half-mile clay oval. Gates will open at 5 p.m., with the first races set to start at 7:30 p.m.

Mike Ray, who collected his seventh victory of the year last weekend, extended his lead in the Pacific Coast Region of the NASCAR Winston Racing Series. Ray, who has failed to win only one Late Model event this year at LVMS, tops the region with a Competition Performance Index of .8884. The index is used to rank the track leaders in each of the 10 regions across the country. Other Las Vegas drivers in the regional points include Jerry Spilsbury (18), Scott Gafforini (27), Bob Barker Jr. (36) and Bobby Pangonis (47). ... Tommy Bradley captured Class 1 and Tammie Tarbett won the Sportsman Buggy division in the Southern Nevada Off Road Enthusiasts' 26th annual KC Midnight Special last weekend. Other class winners were William Goerke in Class 10; Rob Guevara in Class 1-2/1600; John Phegley in Heavy Metal; Rick Harrah in Mini Metal; Mark Bunderson in Class 9; Mike Powada in Class 5-1600; and Mark Pettit in Sportsman Truck. The next SNORE event is the Napa Auto Parts 250, Aug. 14-15, in Ely.

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