Tracy finishes 2nd in CART race

Monday, Aug. 16, 1999 | 9:55 a.m.

Paul Tracy continued his bid for his first Championship Auto Racing Teams (CART) series championship as the Las Vegas resident finished second in Sunday's Miller Lite 200 at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington, Ohio.

It was the fourth consecutive podium finish for the 30-year-old Tracy and moved him to within two points of third-place Michael Andretti (124-122) in the championship with six races remaining.

It also marked Tracy's eighth consecutive points-paying finish in the series, the longest active streak among CART drivers.

"We need to get up on that top rung (of the podium) a little more if we want to contend for the championship," Tracy said. "We're running very consistent races and scoring points. Hopefully, we're going to continue to move up in the standings (but) we need to get a couple of more wins if we're going to challenge Juan (Montoya) and Dario (Franchitti).

"We're happy with the performance today. The Team Kool Green guys did fantastic work in the pits. I drove my heart out in the last half of the race. You always want to win, but I'm very happy for Team KOOL Green -- this was another great result, coming on the heels of 1-2 finishes in Toronto and Detroit."

Sunday's race marked the third time this season that Tracy and Franchitti have scored podium finishes in the same race.

Tracy, who started third on the grid, took the lead for one circuit on lap 55 of the 83-lap race, before yielding to eventual race winner Montoya. Montoya, the CART rookie who scored his fifth victory of the season, trails Franchitti by one point (152-151) in the championship standings.

Tracy has become accustomed to the runner-up position at Mid-Ohio; Sunday was his fourth second-place showing in seven career starts on the 2.258-mile permanent road course.

"It's good to be the bridesmaid here," Tracy said. "Finishing second (at Mid-Ohio) is kind of my tradition. I'm quite happy with the way the day went.

"I was quite surprised at the pace Juan ran at. When he passed me (for the lead), he got a good run on me going into the corner. I tried to protect the line and I made him go wide, but Juan went in a little deeper than me and he braked late. It was a good pass."

It also proved to be a good day for the other two Southern Nevada residents competing in the CART FedEx Championship Series. Jimmy Vasser of Las Vegas celebrated his 100th consecutive CART start with a fourth-place finish and Richie Hearn of Henderson was 12th.

Vasser moved up one spot to 10th place in the championship with 66 points while Hearn remained 22nd with 13 points.

The FedEx Championship Series continues with its sixth event in seven weeks, the inaugural Target Grand Prix, next Sunday at the new Chicago Motor Speedway in Cicero, Ill.