Hamilton vows to fight on for IRL championship

The odds favor Kenny Brack, but Davey Hamilton vows not to let history repeat itself.

For the second consecutive year, Hamilton, a Las Vegas resident, is second in points coming into the Indy Racing League's season-ending Las Vegas 500K at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

Last year, the Las Vegas resident trailed eventual champion Tony Stewart by 10 points, took seventh in the race and finished six points behind Stewart for the championship.

This year, Hamilton trails Brack by 31 points and -- barring an early exit by the points leaders -- needs to win Sunday's 208-lap event to have a shot at his first IRL championship.

And even that may not be enough for the likeable Hamilton.

Even if Hamilton wins the race, Brack can clinch the championship by finishing eighth or better.

Hamilton would rather not leave anything to chance.

"We're right back to where we were last year -- I'm coming into my home track and the last race in second place," Hamilton said. "Unfortunately, this year we're a little farther back but mathematically it could be done."

A win by Hamilton on his home track may be just the shot in the arm the three-year-old series needs to survive in Las Vegas. After drawing more than 67,000 fans to the inaugural running of the 500K in 1996, less than 25,000 braved cold weather last fall to watch the upstart open-wheel series.

Last week, the IRL announced its schedule for 1999 and awarded the season finale to Texas Motor Speedway, which has averaged 90,500 fans for its two IRL races in 1998.

While LVMS president Richie Clyne has voiced his support for the series, the IRL in Las Vegas could go the way of the 99-cent breakfast if turnstile counts continue their downward spiral.

Less than two months ago, informed sources told the Sun that only 2,000 tickets had been sold for Sunday's race at the 107,000-seat facility. Clyne amended that estimate to 15,000 a week later but an IRL insider said the league is expecting about the same size crowd as attended last year's race.

The IRL already has had one of its original tracks -- New Hampshire International Speedway -- drop the series due to poor attendance figures.

All this, of course, has little effect on Hamilton in his bid to win his first IRL race and series championship.

Although Brack will be playing it conservatively Sunday while trying to protect his 31-point lead, Hamilton does not see that as any great advantage.

"Anytime you come in with a point lead, you've got the confidence," Hamilton said of Brack. "If it was a little closer, I know that the pressure would definitely be on him. There's not really any pressure on us, we're just going to go out and do the very best we can.

"That's such a good team and a good program and they know what they need to do. Unless they have some mechanical problems, they're going to be awful tough to beat."

And Hamilton should know, considering he drove for A.J. Foyt -- Brack's car owner -- last season.

"I know how good that team is, so I know right where they're coming from," Hamilton said. "We were in a position last year to win a championship so I know what that car is capable of doing."

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