Testing cut will send some drivers from CART to karts

Thursday, Nov. 18, 1999 | 1:48 a.m.

The decision by Championship Auto Racing Teams (CART) to reduce the amount of testing its teams can conduct next season will save team owners a lot of expense.

But the move may prove costly to at least two of the series' regular drivers.

Las Vegas resident Paul Tracy and Southern California native Bryan Herta said the 40 percent cut in testing will give them more time to indulge in their favorite hobby -- kart racing.

Both Tracy and Herta were at the Las Vegas Karting Center -- which Herta co-owns with Hollis and Carol Brown -- last weekend, enjoying the start of their three-month off-season by preparing and racing shifter karts for the third annual SuperNationals.

"I think it's good because the testing season is pretty long," Tracy said of CART's decision to reduce testing from 50 days to 30. "Having to do 30 or 35 days of testing on top of all the racing we do gets pretty tough ... it just makes for a really long season.

"Even though they cut (testing) back from 50 days total to 30 days, we'll still be pretty busy."

Herta, who is in the process of finding another ride after being released by Team Rahal at the end of this past season, had mixed emotions about the cut in testing.

"I like testing, so I didn't mind the way it was before, but I can see why they did what they did and I think they have good reasons to do it," Herta said.

"I think, overall, it's a good thing. The number of days they're giving us should be plenty for the teams to sort out the cars. With the number of races that we've got, it's probably a good move for everybody."

Everybody, that is, except for drivers who spend a good deal of their free time -- and money -- racing shifter karts.

"This is worse than racing because you don't see anything for it," Tracy said as he surveyed his stable of about a half-dozen karts. "It's a lot of work and no (financial) rewards with karts. But it's a lot of fun and the competition is really good."

Tracy and Herta got their starts driving karts as teen-agers and both said they spend a fair amount of their free time at the facility, which is located at 15000 Las Vegas Blvd. South, near Jean.

"This is my hobby and I love it," Herta said. "It's fun for me to come back to my roots here in karting."

Tracy said he often is joined at the 7/10-mile road course by fellow CART drivers and Southern Nevada residents Jimmy Vasser, Richie Hearn and Patrick Carpentier when their schedules allow.

"Vasser and I are out here a lot," Tracy said. "I spend a couple of days a week out here practicing. It's good exercise and good training for what I do. It keeps you sharp and it's fun."

Although the amount of testing days will be reduced next season, Herta said he isn't counting on having all that much more free time to make the 45-minute flight from Southern California to Las Vegas to visit his karting track.

"There will still be a fair amount of promotional work -- (our sponsors) will find things to fill our time," Herta said. "They don't want us to have too much free time. We get into trouble like this when they give us a lot of free time."