Columnist Brian Hilderbrand: IRL champ Hornish looking forward to finale

Wednesday, Sept. 5, 2001 | 9:30 a.m.

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

Sam Hornish Jr. has plenty of time to celebrate his Indy Racing League championship before the next race Sept. 16 at Texas Motor Speedway, but the 22-year-old plans to begin his preparation for the season finale today.

Although Hornish has plenty of reason to dwell on becoming the youngest champion of a major North American open-wheel racing series, he said he is taking a cue from veteran NFL quarterback and co-owner of his Panther Racing team, Jim Harbaugh.

"We go by the Harbaugh Rule which is 48 hours after something good or bad happens, you move on to the next thing," Hornish said.

Hornish, who clinched the IRL championship Sunday with a second-place finish at Chicagoland Speedway, certainly had a better day than his boss: the Detroit Lions released Harbaugh on the same day his driver was celebrating the championship.

"He wanted to make sure he talked to me Sunday night after the race," Hornish said of Harbaugh. "He told me that I did a good job and congratulated me.

"Even though he wasn't going through the greatest point in his life at that point in time, he was still focused on the (racing) team and on the positive. That's one of the things that makes him such a great person and such a great leader."

Actually, Hornish said he began thinking about the future as he was making the drive from Chicago to his home in Defiance, Ohio, after the race.

"(I was thinking) it's going to be hard to have a repeat season next year," Hornish said. "(Ten) top-five finishes out of (12) races this year is really hard to come by. This team did such a great job and I'm sure we'll be right up there next year as long as I keep my head on my shoulders and keep the car out of the wall."

Infiniti Q45 engines will power new Dallara Automobili chassis being built exclusively for the series. The V8 engines will produce approximately 450 horsepower.

IRL founder Tony George said costs and development for the Indy Racing Infiniti Pro Series would be tightly controlled by the IRL. It is estimated that a full season of competition for a single-car team will cost $800,000.

"To be that close and have a win go through our fingers is disappointing, no doubt about it," Tagliani said. "More than anything, I'm saddened, rather than angry about it. But we proved we could run at the front. Team Player's is the strongest out there at this stage of the season, and I'm extremely proud of this team. We're definitely the team to beat right now.

"It just wasn't to be, but we're going to come back in the next race because we have what it takes to win; we're going to get that victory before this season is over. I'm not giving up by any means. In fact, (Sunday's race) makes me even more determined."

Tagliani's disappointing 23rd-place showing Sunday snapped his string of six consecutive top-10 finishes.

Burti was forced off the track, slid over a gravel trap and impacted the tire barrier and guardrail. He suffered a concussion and bruises in the dramatic crash that stopped the event after four laps.

"I cannot yet tell what really happened," Burti said Tuesday. "I remember being quite fast and trying to overtake Eddie Irvine, but I don't remember the crash. I want to get out from the bed as soon as possible and catch up again with my driver routine but I must rest for a few more days."

Pruett, who won the 24 Hours of LeMans LMGTS class in June, will drive a XKR for team owner Paul Gentilozzi.