Columnist Brian Hilderbrand: Henderson’s Richie Hearn joins Bradley IRL team

Wednesday, Aug. 8, 2001 | 11:34 a.m.

Brian Hilderbrand covers motor sports for the Las Vegas Sun. Reach him at bh@lasvegassun.com or 259-4089.

Richie Hearn of Henderson has joined the Bradley Motorsports Indy Racing League team, which is considering running a two-car team next season.

For the time being, Hearn will serve as a test driver for Bradley Motorsports, which fields the IRL entry driven by Buzz Calkins, but team owner Brad Calkins did not rule out the possibility of Hearn driving in a race before the end of this season.

"We feel that adding a second driver will help accelerate the results of our testing program," Brad Calkins said. "Although there are many capable and deserving drivers out there, Richie's name kept coming up first.

"David (Cripps, team manager) and I both feel that Richie and Buzz's talents complement one another. It is my view that Richie can give us a real advantage. Nothing is definite but, if everything were to go well with the testing program, we'd like to run Richie in a race before the year is out."

Hearn, who lost his ride in the rival Championship Auto Racing Teams (CART) at the beginning of last season, competed in one IRL race this season, finishing ninth at Pikes Peak International Raceway in a one-race stint with Sam Schmidt Motorsports.

"I've been sitting around looking for something to do," Hearn said. "I am really excited about getting back in a car and getting to work with David again. We had a lot of success together in the past. I am also looking forward to working with Brad and Buzz. Hopefully, I can contribute to the team and we can put our program together to join Bradley in the near future."

Hearn was scheduled to take his first test laps for his new team last Friday at Kentucky Speedway, but Buzz Calkins crashed on his fifth lap and Hearn's test was canceled. Calkins was not injured in the incident, which he blamed on the 1.5-mile banked oval.

"There are some track issues that need to be addressed," Calkins said. "It wasn't a hard hit but we packed it up and headed back to the shop. We'll see what the IRL sorts out."

The IRL visits Kentucky Speedway this weekend for Sunday's Belterra Casino Indy 300.

McGehee earned his first pole position and won the American Cities Racing League (ACRL) race Sunday at Road America.

Brack's finish in the series standings was the highest in IROC by an open-wheel driver since Robby Gordon took second in 1996.

Brack finished behind NASCAR drivers Bobby Labonte (who also won the series championship) and Tony Stewart on Saturday.

"It's fun to race with them," Brack said. "There was a lot of banging and shoving out there and I did some, too. I hope they invite me back next year. If the schedule works out, I'd like to come back and beat them the next time."

Franchitti shares the track qualifying record of 124.395 mph with Gil de Ferran and has won two poles in four attempts at Mid-Ohio.

"I love coming to Mid-Ohio," Franchitti said. "It is a tough track to race at but it suits my style of driving and I've always qualified well there. I haven't been able to get the finish I want but I'm sure it is just a matter of time before I visit the winner's circle."