Columnist Brian Hilderbrand: Brack reportedly to leave Rahal for Target/ Ganassi

Wednesday, Aug. 15, 2001 | 12:04 p.m.

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

According to published reports, CART points leader Kenny Brack will leave Team Rahal at the end of the season to drive for Target/Chip Ganassi Racing.

ESPN.com's Robin Miller reported this week that Brack already has signed with Ganassi for the 2002 season, although neither Brack nor Ganassi would confirm that a deal has been struck.

Brack didn't exactly deny the rumor in his comments to Miller.

"I would certainly have to consider Target/Ganassi as a possibility because they are an exceptional team and they would give me the best opportunity to win -- that's always what a driver looks for," Brack said. "But I really can't say anything else. I have to make no comment."

Fueling the speculation that Brack is headed to TCGR is the fact that he enjoyed himself so much in the International Race of Champions (IROC) series this year that he reportedly would like to drive in the Daytona 500. That is something he easily could accomplish with Ganassi, who also fields two cars in NASCAR's Winston Cup Series.

Team Rahal general manager Scott Roembke tried to downplay the rumors of Brack's leaving Team Rahal.

"Kenny Brack is under contract with Team Rahal and is the ... driver for the remainder of the 2001 season," Roembke said. "Kenny, the Shell team and the rest of Team Rahal remain focused on our bid for the 2001 CART championship.

"Team Rahal will announce a driver lineup for 2002 and beyond at the appropriate time."

ESPN.com also reported that driver Max Papis will be out of his ride with Team Rahal at the end of the season. For the second time in three races, Papis ran into Brack in Sunday's Miller Lite 200 at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course and Brack's once-hefty lead in the championship has dwindled to one point as a result.

There also has been speculation that team owner Bobby Rahal would replace Papis in the seat of the Miller Lite Ford/Cosworth as soon as this weekend's race at Road America.

Rahal denied that rumor.

"Contrary to some reports, there will be no change in the Team Rahal driver lineup for this weekend," Rahal said.

Rob Correa, senior vice president of programming for CBS, confirmed the deal on Tuesday and said the network would televise seven races per year for the next three years "schedule permitting."

CART, in the final year of contracts with ABC Sports and ESPN, is expected to place the rest of its 22-race schedule for 2002 and beyond with Fox, which would spread the races over its Speedvision, FX and Fox Sports Net outlets.

"There's always some looking around that goes on but I didn't actively go out and pursue other drives," Franchitti said. "I'm very happy with the situation here at Team Kool Green and I think this is my best opportunity to win races and win championships."

Schumacher, who has six wins this season, leads McLaren's David Coulthard by 37 points with 50 still up for grabs. If Schumacher wins on Sunday, he will warp up the title no matter where Coulthard finishes.

Schumacher has sat on the pole four times in Hungary -- including last year -- and twice has won the race.

The quarter will feature an Indy racing car imposed over the state, with a circle of 19 stars to the left side of the coin. The state flag also includes 19 stars in recognition of Indiana becoming the 19th state in 1816.