Columnist Brian Hilderbrand: LV’s Jaskol among ‘Stars of Tomorrow’ kart testers

Wednesday, Dec. 12, 2001 | 11:08 a.m.

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

Four young karting drivers, including Matt Jaskol of Las Vegas, tested in a Team Rahal Champ Car Monday at Firebird Raceway near Phoenix as part of CART's Stars of Tomorrow program.

Jaskol, who drives for Paul Tracy Kart Racing, was one of four winners of the 2001 Stars of Tomorrow competition that concluded last month at the Las Vegas Karting Center. Other winners were Californians Scott Speed, Colin Fleming and Chris Carmody.

Mark Johnson, director of operations for Team Rahal, and former Toyota Atlantic champion Buddy Rice supervised the test as each driver turned 20 laps.

"These kids showed that they are quick learners and they did a great job under what has to be some difficult circumstances," Johnson said. "Not only is this their first time in a car with this kind of power, but to have several of your peers standing there watching you has to make for a nerve-wracking experience."

The Stars of Tomorrow program was founded last year by CART driver Bryan Herta and Hollis Brown, Herta's partner in the Las Vegas Karting Center. The program is recognized as the starting point in the CART ladder system to Champ Car competition.

Team Rahal co-owner Bobby Rahal said the Stars of Tomorrow program will help identify the open-wheel stars of the future and set them on a path in professional racing.

"I remember how frustrating it was when I was first starting out," Rahal said. "This is my way of giving back to this great sport and to the people like (former car owner) Jim Trueman who were so good to me. Team Rahal has been supportive of a number of young drivers and we have tried to take the time to help them."

Through a partnership between CART and the North American Karting Association, the CART Stars of Tomorrow program will expand next year, with six to eight NAKA-sanctioned races to be held during CART event weekends.

A national karting championship, made up of regional NAKA events, will culminate with the season finale at the Las Vegas Karting Center in November 2002.

Helio Castroneves and Kenny Brack were named to the second team while Buddy Lazier and Scott Sharp were accorded third-team honors.

Formula One chief Bernie Ecclestone visited the site in May and said when the circuit is completed, it is "highly possible" an F1 race could be held there.

The Infiniti Pro Series is scheduled to debut on July 8, 2002, at Kansas Speedway.

Celebrities reported to be in Scotland for the wedding included Michael Douglas and his wife Catherine Zeta Jones, actresses Sandra Bullock and Gwyneth Paltrow and drivers David Coulthard and Colin McRae.