Columnist Brian Hilderbrand: ‘Outlaw’ Lasoski savors his IROC race victory

Wednesday, April 7, 2004 | 9:45 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.

Danny Lasoski stands to earn $1 million if he can win the Crown Royal International Race of Champions title, but money isn't his motivating factor.

That was clear Friday night when Lasoski, the 2001 World Of Outlaws champion, became only the second WoO driver to win an IROC race when he led all 67 laps at Texas Motor Speedway.

"A million dollars is unbelievable, but I would probably pay to drive these cars," Lasoski said after holding off NASCAR Nextel Cup star Kevin Harvick in the closing laps for his first victory in the all-star series. Lasoski, who drives for Tony Stewart Motorsports in the WoO Sprint Series, is only one point out of first place in the IROC series after two of four races.

"With five laps to go, I told myself, 'if Harvick is going to beat me, he'll have to run right through me.' Tony (Stewart) talked to me before the race. He kept preaching to save my right front tire and go after it in the final 10 laps. Winning this race was the toughest thing I've ever done, and I'm the happiest guy in the world right now."

Lasoski joined Steve Kinser (1994) as the only Outlaws driver to win an IROC event. Lasoski is tied with Nextel Cup driver Jimmie Johnson for third place in the IROC standings with 32 points. Kevin Harvick and Ryan Newman are tied for the lead with 33 points.

"When you're mentioned in the same breath with Steve Kinser, it's an honor," Lasoski said. "Winning that race was probably the single best thing that's ever happened to me -- and that's saying a lot.

"I've won the Knoxville Nationals three times, which is like the Daytona 500 or the Indy 500 for us in the World of Outlaws, but winning the IROC race, I've gotten more response than anything else. I'm still elated ... I probably still haven't slept more than three hours a night since the win."

The third IROC race will be Sept. 9 at Richmond International Raceway.

Saldana drove his family's No. 17 Maxim and Full-Throttle Racing's No. 50D Cox Design and Metal Fabricating Maxim during the first six events of the season. He is 14th in the WoO points standings.

The test, at Sebring International Raceway and the road course at Homestead-Miami Speedway, was the drivers first chance this year to test their cars. It also was their first test with new teammate Rodolfo Lavin.

"We all had a good test," Tracy, the defending series champion, said. "We made a lot of changes on the cars over the week and got a lot of miles in.

"The car felt really good and was balanced pretty well. It's hard to say exactly how the car will feel until we get to Long Beach and see what the track conditions are like, but we feel pretty good."

Carpentier, who briefly was out of a ride for the 2004 season until team owner Gerald Forsythe opted to run three cars, also was pleased with the test.

"Gerry Forsythe promised me I'd be running in a competitive car this year, and I'm very pleased to be with my guys again for the season," he said. "The testing went really well, the Team was great and I'm very much looking forward to the season."

The Champ Car World Series team did not specify which of its two drivers would pilot the entry in the May 30 race, but Bruno Junqueira has been testing the team's Indy car since late last year. Sebastien Bourdais, the 2003 CART Rookie of the Year, also drives for the team co-owned by actor Paul Newman and Carl Haas.

Newman/Haas Racing's best finish in the Indy 500 was second place with Mario Andretti in 1985 and Michael Andretti in 1991. Andretti also sat on the pole for the 1987 race in a Newman/Haas car.