Columnist Brian Hilderbrand: Lack of sponsorship costs Fisher her IRL ride

Wednesday, April 10, 2002 | 9:42 a.m.

Brian Hilderbrand covers motor sports for the Las Vegas Sun. His motor sports notebook appears Friday. He can be reached at bh@lasvegassun.com or (702) 259-4089.

Sarah Fisher, without a ride in the Indy Racing League for the first three races of the season, has gained her release from Walker Racing.

Team owner Derrick Walker has not been able to field an IRL car for Fisher this season because of a lack of sponsorship. After hiring an attorney last month, Fisher was able to get out of her contract to pursue another ride.

"Derrick Walker and I have agreed to go our separate ways," Fisher said. "During the time I was there, Walker Racing almost became a second family for me. But we haven't been racing in the IRL this season and that is what I need to do.

"I learned an enormous amount during my time at Walker Racing and I will always be grateful to Derrick for that."

Fisher had become increasingly frustrated over her situation at Walker Racing, saying she said she had been offered other rides prior to the season but had to turn them down because of her contract with Walker.

Both parties described the parting as "amicable."

"Sarah wishes to drive in the Indy Racing League and, currently, we have not raised the full-season sponsorship for the Indy Racing League," Walker said. "Sarah had requested to be allowed to pursue other opportunities, and we have agreed to release her from her obligations to the team to allow her to do that.

"I think she has a great future ahead of her in the Indy Racing League and we wish her the best of luck."

Fisher, who passed her IRL rookie test at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in 1999, at 19 became the youngest driver to compete in the IRL when she drove in the season-ending race at Texas Motor Speedway later that year.

In 2000, Fisher became only the third female to race in the Indianapolis 500. She posted a career-best finish of second place in the 2001 IRL season opener at Homestead-Miami Speedway and also had a third-place finish in 2000 at Kentucky Speedway.

Fisher will compete in a pro/celebrity race on Saturday in Long Beach, Calif., prior to Sunday's CART Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach.

Team Green announced Tuesday that the cars of Tracy and teammate Dario Franchitti will be sponsored by convenience-store chain 7-Eleven during the May 26 race.

The Dallara/Chevrolets of Tracy and Franchitti will sport the logos of 7-Eleven and its Big Gulp brand.

According to witnesses, another car bumped into Johnston's while trying to pass on the half-mile clay oval during the modified feature race. Johnston's car broke a large chunk off the concrete guard wall.

Johnston, of Lima, Ohio, was a sprint-car racer at Limaland Motorsports Park for nearly 20 years and was making a rare appearance in a modified race.

Heavy rains forced the cancellation of Saturday's feature racing program, making Furr a main-event winner for the first time in his career.

Mark Kinser, who finished seventh in the main event, regained the WoO points lead. Danny Lasoski took 12th in the "A" feature and slipped to second in the points, two points behind Kinser. Steve Kinser, who finished fourth Friday, remained third in points.