Rahal prepares team for Gold Coast Indy

Dennis Passa

Friday, Oct. 15, 1999 | 4:27 a.m.

SURFERS PARADISE, Australia - When Bobby Rahal was growing up in the United States, he included American Mario Andretti among his racing heroes as well as overseas drivers Jackie Stewart and Bruce McLaren.

More than 25 years later, and with the United States-based CART Fed Ex race series facing a major drain of American drivers next year, Rahal figures racing fans in the United States feel the same way.

"I think the value of a series is not where everyone comes from, but the level of their talent," Rahal said Friday as he prepared his Miller Lite team of Italian Max Pappis and American Bryan Herta for Sunday's Gold Coast Indy.

Juan Montoya of Colombia is leading Scotland's Dario Franchitti for the season points title, with Canadian Paul Tracy third. Brazil leads the country standings, with Canada second and the United States third.

There have been only two CART wins by American drivers this year - Michael Andretti and Herta. Next year, it might not get much better.

Al Unser Jr., is leaving the Penske team to drive in the rival Indy Racing League, Scott Pruett is going to NASCAR, Herta's contract is not being renewed by Rahal - although Herta could be signed by another team - and P.J. Jones lost his ride this year with Patrick Racing.

Alex Barron - currently without a ride but reported to be under consideration as Herta's replacement - Jimmy Vasser, Richie Hearn, Memo Gidley, Andretti and Robby Gordon - also rumored to be considering NASCAR - would be the only American drivers left on next year's CART series.

That would leave as few as five Americans - possibly less - out of 28 drivers.

That doesn't concern Rahal, who said he will look for the best available driver to replace Herta.

"Like the National Hockey League or major league baseball, it doesn't really matter where they come from as far as I'm concerned," Rahal said. "I'd like it to be American, but that's not the deciding factor."

Rahal said turnover on the circuit and the emergence of young drivers is the reason for the high number of foreign drivers.

"This series has gone through a tremendous youth movement the last several years," Rahal said. "You don't get guys like me who hung around for 15 or 17 years, although Michael (Andretti) has been around a lot longer and he started much younger."

CART president and chief executive officer Andrew Craig said Friday that one of the primary reasons the series acquired the Indy Lights and Toyota Atlantic series was to establish a ladder system that will increase opportunities for American drivers.

But, Craig added, "we're a sport with no borders and we believe that our fans expect to see the premier drivers wherever they come from in the world."

Rahal said foreign drivers like Pappis - "a very charismatic guy" - attract race fans wherever they go.

"I think it adds value to have the variation we have with nationalities, I don't think it harms the series," Rahal said. "I think people are attracted to whoever puts their foot in it. Their names might be a little bit unusual, but talent is talent."