Columnist Brian Hilderbrand: Vasser on new CART team, eyes NASCAR in future

Wednesday, Nov. 14, 2001 | 10:52 a.m.

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

Jimmy Vasser is switching CART teams next season but the 35-year-old Las Vegas resident may be switching series in a few years.

Vasser, who won the 1996 CART championship while driving for Target/Chip Ganassi Racing, said he may one day team with Ganassi again -- in the NASCAR Winston Cup Series. Vasser, who was released from his CART contract with Ganassi last year, spent this season with Patrick Racing and will replace Kenny Brack in the No. 8 Team Rahal Shell car in 2002.

"I'd like to drive (in CART) for probably three to five more years," Vasser said. "We'll see how strong CART is in the future and possibly look at doing NASCAR."

Before Vasser signed with CART team owner Pat Patrick at the end of last year, he tested one of Ganassi's Winston Cup cars in Lakeland, Fla.

"I did a test for Ganassi last year and it went well," Vasser said. "He still seems interested in doing something, so I'm keeping that as a possibility."

Although some may view NASCAR's enclosed stock cars as a safer alternative to the open-cockpit cars of CART, Vasser was quick to disagree.

"Is NASCAR really safe these days?" Vasser said. "They've hurt a lot of guys -- killed a lot of guys -- in that form of racing recently. I think there are a lot of unturned stones in safety in NASCAR and they're just embarking on it because of pressure.

"I don't look at it as a safer thing; I just look at it as an alternative form of racing. It's the highest profile racing in North America."

Herta said he was not surprised by the move because Forsythe has been unable to find a primary sponsor for the car.

In a press release advancing its first test for the 2002 season at Daytona International Speedway, IROC said that reigning Indianapolis 500 winner Helio Castroneves would be testing an IROC car in preparation for the 2002 season.

Castroneves only would be able to compete in the 2002 IROC series if he were running in the IRL next season because of conflicting CART/IROC dates.

There is speculation that Penske may run Castroneves in the IRL with sponsorship from Marlboro and keep two-time CART champion Gil de Ferran in that series with different sponsorship.

Paul Tracy proteges A.J. Allmendinger of Hollister, Calif., and Matt Jaskol of Las Vegas finished second and third, respectively, in the 125cc race. Jaskol took second in the championship and Allmendinger was third.

By winning the championship, Speed will earn a Champ Car test with Team Rahal, $5,000 in cash, a three-day stint at the Skip Barber Racing School and a fully funded ride in the 2002 Skip Barber Formula Dodge series.