Columnist Brian Hilderbrand: Hearn tabbed as Hamilton’s fill-in

Friday, June 15, 2001 | 10:06 a.m.

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

Sam Schmidt didn't have to look too far to find a replacement driver for the injured Davey Hamilton.

Schmidt on Thursday hired fellow Henderson resident Richie Hearn to drive Schmidt's No. 99 Dallara/Oldsmobile in Sunday's Indy Racing League Radisson Indy 200 at Pikes Peak International Raceway.

"I have always been impressed with Richie, who has a tremendous amount of raw talent," Schmidt said. "I have been aware of Richie's talents since he was racing (Toyota) Atlantics and I was racing in Formula 2000 in 1994. I never thought I would be in a position as a car owner to hire Richie but this in an opportunity for me and an opportunity for him that I think he deserves."

Hearn, who won the inaugural IRL race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in 1996, has been without a full-time ride since he was let go by Championship Auto Racing Teams owner John Della Penna before the start of the 2000 CART season. Hearn competed in the 2000 Indianapolis 500 for Pagan Racing and was scheduled to serve as a relief driver for Tony Stewart (Target/Chip Ganassi Racing) in this year's Indy 500, but was not needed.

Hearn made five IRL starts with Della Penna Motorsports in 1996 and posted three top-five finishes, including his win at Las Vegas and a third-place finish in the Indy 500. He also captured the pole for the race at New Hampshire International Speedway in August 1996.

In three full seasons in CART, Hearn made 56 starts and posted a career-best finish of fifth place at Michigan Speedway in 1998.

"We needed someone with experience who can get in the car and get up to speed in basically one day," Schmidt said. "This weekend doesn't afford us a lot of time and I feel Richie has the ability to step in there and help us out."

Schmidt said that he is unsure how many of the remaining six IRL races his team would compete in if he is unable to land a primary sponsor for the car.

"There are no guarantees (for Richie) for the long term but hopefully we'll do well this weekend and keep going," Schmidt said. "I hope to turn this into a long-term relationship."

Hamilton suffered severe foot and leg injuries in an accident in last Saturday's Casino Magic 500 at Texas Motor Speedway. Hamilton has undergone numerous surgeries to restore blood flow to his left foot and reconstruct the foot.

"We're racing this weekend with Davey's blessings," Schmidt added.

Allison will join TNT's NASCAR broadcast team on July 8 for the Busch Series race at Watkins Glen and will do her first Winston Cup event on July 29 at Pocono.

As a roving reporter for TNT, she will report on the personal aspects of the lives of drivers and other personalities and also will do live interviews throughout the day from around the track.

TNT and NBC will handle the second half of the Winston Cup and Busch Series seasons as part of NASCAR's new six-year television contract. ...

Greg Biffle, the subject of numerous media reports that have him leaving Roush Racing at the end of this season, laid those rumors to rest this week.

"At this point in the season, the rumors start to fly about which driver is doing what for next season." said Biffle, who drives in the Busch Series for Roush. "Yeah, I've had a few calls about going other places, but I'm just not interested in doing so."

"It's very flattering to have big name teams calling me at this point in my career, but I'm driving for one of the biggest names in the industry that has a team of racing and marketing people committed to helping my career."

Castroneves' fence climbing originated at last year's Grand Prix of Detroit when he pulled into the wrong location after taking the checkered flag. Rather than pulling into pit lane, Castroneves stopped on the track, jumped out of his car and celebrated his win by climbing the fence near the start/finish line.

"Words cannot describe how I felt that day -- it is a memory I will have for a lifetime," Castroneves said. "Everything went perfect; it was the way I always dreamed of winning."

"After the race, I was so overcome with emotions that I needed to celebrate so I ran to the first people I saw and that was the fans. It was very special for me to share that moment with them." ...

Defending CART champion Gil de Ferran led a successful test this week at Michigan Speedway in which lap speeds were sufficiently reduced from last year as a result of newly mandated superspeedway engine and aerodynamic changes.

De Ferran ran a top lap of 224.278 mph, and was the only driver among the group of Christian Fittipaldi, Dario Franchitti, Max Papis and Bryan Herta who posted a lap above 222 mph.

IRL officials determined that Sam Hornish Jr., who was credited with second place in the unofficial results, passed Giaffone during a caution period. They also found that Donnie Beechler, who was credited with fifth place, passed Boat under a late caution period.

Dixon goes into this weekend's 37th annual Pontiac Excitement Nationals at National Trail Raceway in Ohio second in Top Fuel points -- 80 behind front-running Kenny Bernstein.

"As far as the points race goes, there is only one other car out there doing better than we are, so I can't be too (unhappy) with that," Dixon said.

Trickle, who took over the No. 70 Chevrolet after his son, Chris, died in 1998, has won on Father's Day weekend at the Bullring for the past two years.

Saturday night's racing program will feature twin main events for the NASCAR Late Models as well as racing in Grand American Modifieds, Chargers, Legends Cars and Bandoleros. Gates will open at 5 p.m. ...

The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway will host High School eliminations and an open Test 'n' Tune this evening beginning at 6. The eighth Junior Dragster points race of the season is slated for Saturday beginning at 4 p.m.