Fisher wants to win, but first she must finish

Paul Newberry

Thursday, July 20, 2000 | 11:05 a.m.

HAMPTON, Ga. - Sarah Fisher looked tired.

The 19-year-old had just taped a TV program for school children. She already had made an early morning TV appearance, stopped by a radio station to chat and conducted several interviews at Atlanta Motor Speedway.

Oh, yeah, she also found time to drive an Indy car at more than 200 mph.

"You get used to it," said Fisher, escaping from the hectic schedule - albeit briefly - in the privacy of her trailer. "You learn to catch a nap when you can."

After only seven races, Fisher already is one of the Indy Racing League's most recognizable drivers. Just listen to the cheers when her name is announced. Just watch the crowds descend on her as she tries to walk through the paddock.

Not bad for someone who has made it to the checkered flag only three times, never finishing higher than 12th.

"It hasn't been as good a season as I wanted it to be," said Fisher, 22nd in the points standings heading into the final two races of the year. "I've made a few mistakes. But what's important is that I've learned from each and every one of them."

The IRL, struggling to gain a toehold on the American racing scene, seems to have pinned its hopes on Fisher to escape the abyss of mediocre attendance and lackluster TV ratings. She's the only woman driving full time in any of the three major American-based series.

"She's big for motor racing, not just the IRL," said Eddie Cheever, the 1998 Indianapolis 500 winner. "I have an 11-year-old daughter who just loves Sarah."

Now, his daughter wants to be a race car driver.

Cheever smiles.

"I wish she'd never heard of Sarah Fisher," he said.

The 5-foot-2, 120-pound Fisher demonstrated plenty of potential in the midget and sprint car ranks, winning five feature races in 1999 before she making the big jump to the IRL.

Last week, she became the highest-qualifying rookie in Indy-car history, starting fifth in the Midas 500 Classic. But Fisher quickly dropped back in the field and spun into the wall late in the race after her engine blew.

It was her fourth wreck in six races this season.

"She's is more than capable of driving fast," Cheever said. "But she hasn't learned what racing is yet. If she's patient and continues to learn, there is no reason she can't be running with the lead pack sooner or later."

Like most teen-agers, Fisher finds it hard to be patient. Her main goal is completing races, but almost in the same breath she expresses a burning desire to make it to victory lane - the sooner, the better.

"Certainly, my goal is to win a race and not just finish it," she said.

Cheever can relate to that sort of attitude. After all, he got his big break as a 19-year-old test driver for Ferrari's famed Formula One team.

"She needs to set some different goals," he said. "First, try to finish the race. Then, try to lead a lap. Then, try to be in the lead group.

"I remember what it was like at that age when people expect so much out of you. It takes time, but she's the real deal."

Fisher shrugs off all the attention she gets for being a woman in a male-dominated world. After last week's qualifying run at the Atlanta track, she was asked what it meant to break Lyn St. James' female record from the 1994 Indianapolis 500.

"Nothing," Fisher replied. "Not a single thing."

Clearly, though, it does matter. Just as Tiger Woods' impact on golf was magnified by his race, Fisher is helping to break down gender barriers at the track.

"Racing is a science that can be taught," said two-time Indy 500 winner Al Unser Jr.. "Whether you're male or female, black or white, whatever size or shape, it doesn't matter."

With a little more experience and savvy, Fisher could reshape the look of her sport.

"She could do the same thing that Tiger Woods did for golf," Unser said. "Tiger started a whole new generation of golfers hitting the green when they were 6 or 7 years old. If Sarah can be successful, she'll start a whole new generation of young men and women getting behind the wheel of a race car."

Just a year removed from high school, Fisher downplays that sort of talk. Certainly, she doesn't consider herself a savior for the still-fledgling IRL.

"I want to help it grow, but that's not my main purpose," she said. "My purpose is to win races."