Columnist Brian Hilderbrand: Tracy looking to ride perfect wave at Surfer’s

Friday, Oct. 13, 2000 | 11:37 a.m.

Brian Hilderbrand's motor sports notebook appears Friday. Reach him at bh@lasvegassun.com or 259-4089.

Paul Tracy's goal for this weekend's CART Honda Indy 300 on the streets of Surfer's Paradise in Australia is anything but modest.

The Las Vegas resident is seeking perfection.

Tracy is out to capture the pole, lead the most laps and pick up a win in the penultimate race of the 20-round FedEx Championship Series -- just as his Team Kool Green teammate Dario Franchitti did a year ago.

And, as Franchitti did last year in Australia, Tracy wants to head into the final race as the points leader. The Canadian trails Gil de Ferran by 19 points in his quest for his first championship.

"Dario was virtually flawless in Australia last year when he was battling for the championship and I'd really like to be able to do something like that this year," Tracy said.

"The guys at Team KOOL Green have been successful all year in preparing a great car on street courses and it resulted in wins at Long Beach and Vancouver. We're going to try to use the same formula in Australia."

Although Tracy is de Ferran's closest pursuer, the championship is by far a two-driver battle. Only 36 points separate the top nine drivers with a maximum of 44 points available in the final two races.

"It has come down to a two-race season for the championship and I'm excited about being in a position to win it," Tracy said. "Moving into second place with our performance in Houston was a big help in our bid for the championship because at least now there's only one driver between us and the top.

"But there's no room for mistakes in these last two races of the season. I think it's great that the final two races are on the street course in Australia and the super-speedway in Fontana because it's really going to test our mettle."

In addition to truck races tonight (at Texas Motor Speedway) and Oct. 28 (at California Speedway) and Winston Cup races Oct. 22, Nov. 5, 12 and 21, Busch had a Cup test this week at North Carolina Speedway and others lined up at Phoenix International Raceway and Homestead-Miami Speedway.

"This has been a whirlwind tour for me the past month," Busch said. "I haven't even had a chance to move into my new residence down in Charlotte (N.C.) yet. I'm hoping that after Phoenix I will have a few days to get my stuff moved in and have a new place to call home.

"I'm 22 (years old), so I can handle this right now. Everything has come together so quickly that I find myself just going with the flow of things. (Crew chief Jeff Hammond) and the entire No. 97 team have made the adjustment almost seamless so, besides the obvious, I don't recognize any distractions in my daily life. I'm a race car driver and these are just a few of the concessions you need to make to be successful."

With only two events remaining on the FedEx Championship Series schedule, Gil de Ferran leads Las Vegan Paul Tracy by 19 points with a maximum of 44 points available to a driver in the final two races.

Tracy heads a group of eight drivers who are grouped within 17 points and still in contention for the title. Among those eight drivers is another Las Vegas resident, 1996 CART champion Jimmy Vasser, who trails de Ferran by 36 points.

Vasser is coming off a win in the streets of Houston -- his first victory since the 1998 season finale at California Speedway.

"We have really started to figure out this car and everything seems to be clicking," Vasser said. "It looks like it might be a little too late (to win the championship), but you never know.

"If all the planets are aligned correctly, and we keep racing like we did in Houston, there's still a chance we can come from behind and pull off a miracle. We haven't given up on the championship."

Hamilton will drive the No. 43 Western Star Trucks/PetroMoly Special Dallara/Oldsmobile for Mid America Motor Sports, which has fielded entries this season for Doug Didero and Jaques Lazier. The Excite 500 will be Hamilton's 43rd consecutive Northern Light Series start.

"It's a relief knowing that I'm now racing in the Excite 500 (and) keeping the streak alive," Hamilton said. "Being with the Mid America team for this last race is a good thing in that we're both looking for the same thing. We're both looking to finish and finish with a good result to end the season.

"For the first time in my Indy Racing career, I know what I'll be doing next year," Hamilton said. "That will help me focus on the race. I'm really excited about next year."

Dixon suffered the injury when his dragster crashed violently in Sunday's Top Fuel final against Gary Scelzi. Dixon had surgery Wednesday to have a pin inserted in the bone, just above his ankle.

"I guess it might be considered uncommon in drag racing, but guys like Rusty Wallace and Darryl Waltrip get out there and drive with pins, nuts and bolts in their bodies for hundreds of miles, so I don't think driving with a small little pin for four and a half seconds is all that much to brag about," Dixon said of his quick return to the car.

"Look at Rusty when he barrel-rolled in the MGD car -- that was violent with all those cars hitting him. He got a pin in his leg and was back racing in Rockingham the next week. To me, this might be a big deal in drag racing but it doesn't seem that big a deal in motor sports overall."

First-round eliminations for Top Alcohol Dragsters and Top Alcohol Funny Cars begin at noon on Sunday. Tickets may be purchased by calling the speedway's ticket office at 644-4444 or by visiting www.lvms.com or www.tickets.com. Adult spectator admission is $8 for today, $15 for Saturday and $20 on Sunday. Children 12 and under are admitted free when accompanied by an adult.