Ganassi rolls dice to keep dynasty going

Mike Harris

Thursday, Nov. 4, 1999 | 8:02 a.m.

Chip Ganassi can't leave well enough alone.

The team owner who has won an unprecedented four straight CART championships is like a conservative poker player suddenly trying to draw to an inside straight.

"I'm not a gambler," Ganassi insists. "I just know the only way to keep an edge on the competition is to take some chances."

That he'll do, when Target/Chip Ganassi Racing switches engines next year. Out will be Honda, producer of 30 victories and all four titles. In will be Toyota, winless in its four years on the circuit.

But Toyota's Indy V-8 engine, further developed by four middle-of-the-pack teams this year, has shown great improvement.

Rookie Cristiano da Matta gave the company a best-ever fourth-place finish in Nazareth, Pa. Arciero-Wells teammate Scott Pruett won Toyota's first pole, last Saturday in Fontana, Calif.

"We know the basics are there for us to keep winning races and championships," Ganassi said.

Of course, it helps to have drivers Juan Montoya, who won the title last Sunday at California Speedway, and Jimmy Vasser, who won the first title for Ganassi.

"You give those guys the right equipment and they'll get the job done for you," Ganassi said.

But with the death of Greg Moore at Sunday's season-ending race, Ganassi and Montoya were in no mood to celebrate.

Entering the Marlboro 500, Montoya trailed Dario Franchitti by nine points. Montoya finished fourth and Franchitti 10th, meaning they were tied with 212 points.

The title went to Montoya, based on his 7-3 edge in victories.

"All I can tell you is this kid is one of the greatest drivers in the world," Ganassi said of the 24-year-old Montoya. "We almost gave away the championship, but we had enough to come back and win it.

"Right now, we're all feeling very sad, and no one feels like celebrating. But the championship will endure."

Montoya said the championship race with Franchitti was decided fairly.

"I won double the races he won, and that should count more than just finishing races and scoring points," Montoya said. "Winning races in this series is hard, very hard."

Montoya and Ganassi insist the Great Juan will not follow the trail blazed by the man he replaced behind the wheel, 1997-98 CART champion Alex Zanardi, who jumped to Formula One. Montoya will be back next year, and perhaps beyond.

Vasser, who had a mediocre year, finishing ninth in the points and failing to win a race, expects to bounce back, engine change or not.

"This team is still going to be a force," he said. "Any time you make a change like this, it's a gamble. But we still have all the other ingredients that got us to the top of the heap."

Ganassi nodded when told of Vasser's comments. He sees success as a combination of team philosophy, makeup and confidence.

"None of that is going to change a bit," Ganassi said. "In the end, it's people who make the difference. Our team will make a huge effort and, ultimately, we'll win."