Columnist Brian Hilderbrand: Lazzaro impressive in test for Schmidt-Treadway team

Wednesday, Jan. 16, 2002 | 10:39 a.m.

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

Sam Schmidt's new partnership with Treadway Racing already is paying dividends.

Driver Anthony Lazzaro took part in his first test session since Schmidt merged his Indy Racing League operation with Fred Treadway's earlier this month and Lazzaro's results on the 1.5-mile Homestead-Miami oval were impressive.

Lazzaro turned a fast lap of 27.70 seconds (162.455 mph) during a one-day test last week, which would have put him in the fourth row of the starting lineup for last year's IRL race at Homestead-Miami.

"The objective (of the test) was to get Anthony comfortable with the car and start the communication process between Anthony and (team engineer) Tim (Neff) and the Treadway mechanics," Schmidt said. "Everything went smooth with no mechanical difficulties whatsoever. We were happy we were able to run that speed with a full tank load.

"Our objective wasn't to reach top speed, it was to have a nice, comfortable car."

Schmidt, a Henderson resident, said Lazzaro would take part in the IRL's Test in the West at California Speedway on Feb. 6 and Phoenix International Raceway Feb 8-9 and was contemplating testing at Las Vegas Motor Speedway after the Phoenix test.

The 2002 Indy Racing season starts March 3 at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

Vasser, who will be driving with Ford power for the first time since 1995, said he was pleased with the way his first test went with his new team.

"Things went real good for our first time out," Vasser said. "We didn't really try to go fast, but we went quick the first day and were able to run a lot of miles over the two days.

"This is a very strong group of people and I think we are well positioned to contend for the championship."

Vasser takes over in the Shell-sponsored car that Kenny Brack drove to four wins last season in the CART FedEx Championship Series. Brack moved to Target/Chip Ganassi Racing following a second-place finish in the championship.

The track, opened in 1999 and co-owned by Chip Ganassi and Charles Bidwell III, is scheduled to host both a CART race and a NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race this summer. CMS officials are not commenting on the report.

"We think Montoya is a good driver," Ferrari sporting director Jean Todt said in a statement posted on the team's website. "His first year in Formula One, at the wheel of a competitive Williams car, was a positive one. However, Ferrari has never had any contact with him, either directly or indirectly."