Columnist Ron Kantowski: Racing takes back seat for troubled IRL driver

Tuesday, Aug. 15, 2000 | 10:20 a.m.

Ron Kantowski's notes column appears Tuesday. His Page One column appears Thursday. Reach him at ron@lasvegassun.com or 259-4088.

Well, at least now there's an explanation why Indy Racing League driver Scott Harrington crashed his go-kart into anything that moved during a recent fund-raiser at Las Vegas Motor Speedway for paralyzed colleague Sam Schmidt.

Harrington, the 1999 IRL rookie of the year, last week was arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol -- again. It was the third time this year and the sixth time since 1984 he was picked up for DUI. In another alcohol-related incident, Harrington was arrested by the Marion County Sheriff's Department for confinement and battery of his wife, Tracy, last August.

Sadly, it appears Sen. Ted Kennedy was a bigger inspiration to Harrington's career than Mario Andretti.

Incredibly, given his past history and the fact that one of his accident victims still suffers from brain damage, Harrington was cleared to drive in this year's Indy 500 (although he failed to qualify).

"I've got to get some help and deal with these problems," Harrington, 36, told the Indianapolis Star's Robin Miller. "This is not an isolated experience. You don't do things like this without having a problem."

In addition to the personal embarrassment, Harrington also has given his sport a black eye. Part of the reason auto racing is so appealing to fans is that its participants are virtually always law-abiding citizens.

And you have to wonder how the other drivers will react to having raced with Harrington, now that his story is out.

It's hard enough to avoid 32 sober guys while running around in circles for more than three hours at speeds approaching 225 mph, much less one who might be sipping gin and tonic instead of Gatorade during pit stops.

All jokes aside, Harrington needs help. The IRL can start by revoking his license.

"I hope it's not the end of my career, but racing is secondary right now," Harrington said. "I've got to get myself together."

A source close to the proceedings said Arum will get off with a lecture and a fine when he goes before the NSAC on Wednesday morning. The fine could go as high as $250,000, but that's a drop in the spit bucket for a guy like Arum.

Generally speaking, Arum may be as guilty as the next guy walking around boxing's periphery with a fat wallet. But remember in this case, it wasn't his idea to pay then-IBF chief Bob Lee up front for finagling the rankings in George Foreman's favor when Arum still had a big piece of Foreman's contract.

It may or may not be this year.

An unexpected delay (aren't they all?) means the paving of the west parking lot -- the one where most season-ticket holders tailgate -- is behind schedule and/or won't be finished in time for the Rebels' home opener against North Texas on Sept. 16. In fact, it may be until Oct. 7, and the Rebels' third home game against rival Nevada-Reno, before all the potholes are patched up.

You may remember that many of the luxury boxes in the new press box tower that were supposed to be completed in time for the second game of last season never did get finished.

Like the Rebels' passing attack, the suites proved to be a work in progress.

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