Columnist Brian Hilderbrand: Indy racing LV for F1 race

Friday, Aug. 21, 1998 | 10:55 a.m.

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

Formula One boss Bernie Ecclestone may prefer to bring his racing series to Las Vegas, but he isn't putting all of his spark plugs in one basket.

While he awaits word on a Sept. 1 vote by the Clark County Commission that will determine whether a local group gets the go-ahead to build a 2.9-mile F1 road course at the south end of the Strip, Ecclestone is conducting negotiations with the Indianapolis Motor Speedway should the Las Vegas project fall through.

"We do not yet have a deal with Formula One but we are continuing to negotiate," IMS vice president of corporate communications and public relations Fred Nation said.

"We don't expect to have anything finalized for at least a couple of weeks ... but Bernie Ecclestone ... is saying positive things about being at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway."

Ecclestone was in South Africa this week to announce the international racing series' return to that nation in 2001. Ecclestone has said he wants to return F1 to the United States for a season-ending race beginning in 2000.

IMS president Tony George is awaiting a definitive word from Ecclestone on an F1 date at Indy before he begins construction of an infield road course that would incorporate part of the famed 2.5-mile oval.

Representatives from the cities of San Francisco and Atlanta also have been lobbying Ecclestone for the American F1 race.

Ecclestone said back in April that Las Vegas was his first choice to host an American Grand Prix race. But the County Commission twice has voted to postpone selection of one of three proposals to developed 155 acres of vacant land at Las Vegas Boulevard, south of Russell Road.

Tommy Baker, president of a local group that is trying to bring the American Formula One race here, said that Ecclestone has gone along with the last two delays but may lose his interest in Las Vegas if the County Commission doesn't award the development contract to Baker's group Sept. 1.

"I think Las Vegas is good for us and I think we would be good for Las Vegas," Ecclestone said earlier this year after touring the proposed Las Vegas site. "It's one of those situations where it's a good marriage -- but we shouldn't have got divorced the last time we were here."

The F1 World Championship series raced in Las Vegas in 1981 and 1982 on a temporary road course behind Caesars Palace. But F1 has not had a presence in the United States since Phoenix last hosted the series in 1991.

* NASCAR: During his four-race winning streak, Jeff Gordon has led 316 of the 650 laps run and has started from the pole once, started second once and third twice. Gordon will be attempting to establish NASCAR's modern-era record of five victories in a row when he takes the green flag Saturday night at Bristol Motor Speedway. NASCAR's all-time winning streak is 10, set by Richard Petty in 1967. ... Ted Musgrave will drive the No. 23 Team Winston Ford in place of Jimmy Spencer, who is recovering from a concussion he suffered at the Brickyard 400. ... Jimmy Hensley won last weekend's NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race in Nashville after starting 30th in the 34-truck field. It was team owner Richard Petty's first victory in the truck series.

* CART: The latest "Silly Season" rumor to come out of the CART garage area has Robby Gordon as the leading contender to replace the retiring Bobby Rahal in the Miller Lite Reynard/Honda. Rahal also has held talks with Las Vegas resident Jimmy Vasser and Henderson's Richie Hearn, but it appears Vasser will return to his Target/Chip Ganassi ride and Hearn will remain under contract with Della Penna Motorsports. If Della Penna loses its sponsorship with Budweiser, however, Hearn will be released from his contractual obligations. Gordon will be replaced at Arciero-Wells by Scott Pruett, who announced last week that he would leave Patrick Racing at the end of this season.

* IRL: Las Vegas resident Davey Hamilton finished fifth in the Radisson 200 Indy Racing League event last weekend at Pikes Peak International Raceway in Fountain, Colo., despite an ill-handling car. Hamilton led for 38 laps, giving way to eventual winner Kenny Brack with 35 laps remaining. Hamilton, now fourth in points, explained that the right front tire on his car was out of balance, causing big vibration problems. "We have the speed, the great team and everything it takes to win," Hamilton said. "We just need a little racing luck and hopefully we'll have that soon. We had a very good race. That was the last time we'll run the G-Force (chassis) and we'll switch to the Dallara for the rest of the season. Everyone is looking forward to coming to Las Vegas." Hamilton has finished in the top 10 in each of the past five races in the Reebok/Nienhouse Motorsports entry. The IRL is in Atlanta Motor Speedway on Aug. 29 and visits Texas Motor Speedway Sept. 20 before concluding the season with the third annual Las Vegas 500k on Oct. 11. ... According to an informed source, less than 2,000 tickets have been sold for the Las Vegas 500K at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. After drawing a crowd of 67,000 to the inaugural IRL race here, an estimated 25,000 turned out for last year's race on a cold October night. This year's race will be run on Sunday afternoon. ... Greg Ray, who has had an interesting season on the IRL circuit, will finish it right where it began -- with the Thomas Knapp Motorsports team. Ray qualified second for the Indianapolis 500 with this small team and finished a close second to Billy Boat at the True Value 500 on June 6 at Texas Motor Speedway with TKM. The team was forced to park the car after that race due to a lack of money, but recently landed sponsorships with Best Access Systems and Mitsubishi. Ray will drive for TCM in the final three races of the season, including Las Vegas.

* BACKMARKERS: Las Vegas-based White Lightning Racing scored its first-ever Trans Am victory last weekend as Yorba Linda, Calif., resident Stu Hayner drove the Westward Ho Casino-sponsored Chevy Camaro to an 0.333-second win at Road America. "The White Lightning crew gave me an incredible car and they deserve a lot of the credit," Hayner said. "I have competed in a number of Trans Am events over the past few years but this is my first win and that makes it very special and definitely exciting." Team owners Dale White and Mike Petersen likewise were thrilled. "This is our fourth Trans Am race and we have earned three podium finishes," White said, referring to a second at Long Beach and a third at Watkins Glen. "We couldn't be more pleased." Hayner earned fast-lap honors in the race, touring the 4-mile, 14-turn course in 2:12.947 (109.613 mph) on the last lap of the race. "It was a great day -- one of those days you dream about," Hayner said. "Running under the White Lightning banner is great and I'm really looking forward to doing a full season next year. I simply couldn't ask for a better team."

Four divisions return to the 3/8ths-mile paved oval at Las Vegas Motor Speedway Saturday night for another stop in the NASCAR Winston Racing Series. Included will be Late Model, Limited Late Model, Grand American Modifieds and Legend divisions. Gates open at 4 p.m., with preliminary events set for 7 p.m. and main events slated for 8. ... The drawing for starting positions in 16 classes for cars and trucks will be held today for next month's SCORE Las Vegas Primm 300 desert race. Round 5 of the six-race 1998 Laughlin SCORE Desert Series will feature nearly 150 vehicles. It will be held in the desert just north of Primm on Saturday, Sept. 12. ... Less than 100 of 600 tickets remain for the special beachfront tent and courtyard of the Hospitality Chalet for next month's Las Vegas Cup boat races on Lake Mead. While admission to the race is free because Lake Mead is a national recreation area, tickets for the special Las Vegas Cup Hospitality Chalet can be reserved now by calling 390-5439. Cost, including food and beverage is $20 daily or $50 for a three-day Las Vegas Cup Super Pass. The Las Vegas Cup will once again feature both the 200 mph-plus unlimited hydroplanes and the Formula One P.R.O.P. Tour tunnel boats.

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