Columnist Brian Hilderbrand: Despite Pikes Peak mishap, IRL’s Rice confident

Wednesday, Aug. 25, 2004 | 10:27 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.

Indianapolis 500 winner Buddy Rice's Indy Racing League championship hopes took a hit when he spun out exiting the second turn during Sunday's opening lap at Pikes Peak International Raceway and dropped out of the race.

Rice, who trailed series leader Tony Kanaan by 50 points entering the race, lost 18 points to Tony Kanaan, who finished fifth. With four races remaining in the 2004 IndyCar Series season, Rice said he believes he still can overtake Kanaan in the championship battle.

"It sure didn't help our situation in the championship," Rice said of the spin, "but the championship isn't over yet. I know we'll be ready for Nazareth."

Rice has good reason to be optimistic as the IndyCar Series heads to Nazareth Speedway for Sunday's Firestone Indy 225. The 1-mile oval was the site of Rice's first oval-track victory when he was driving in the Toyota Atlantic Championship.

"I won my first Atlantic race at Nazareth in 1998 and I enjoy that track," Rice said. "It is tight and you have to be ready to make a move at any time. We had a very good test at Nazareth a few weeks ago and I feel confident about the race.

"We need to put together a strong weekend after the past one in Colorado. I know this Rahal Letterman team can get us right in the fight for the lead."

Rice trails Kanaan, who posted his 12th consecutive top-five finish Sunday, by 68 points and Dan Wheldon is 82 points off the lead in third place.

Sunday's race will be the 100th event since the Indy Racing League was formed in 1996. It also will mark the final race -- of any kind -- at Nazareth Speedway, which will close immediately after the race.

VASSER'S STREAK: Las Vegas resident Jimmy Vasser will break Al Unser Jr.'s Champ Car record of 192 consecutive starts this weekend when the series heads north of the border for the Molson Indy Montreal.

The race also will be Vasser's 214th career start, which ranks second only to fellow Las Vegan Paul Tracy (219) among active drivers.

"My career has been such a roller coaster ride and it will continue to be because that's motor racing," Vasser, the 1996 series champion, said.

"But I have some of the greatest memories of my life so far in that time period. I'm just fortunate to have experienced a lot of emotion -- up and down -- because that's what life is all about. If you were on an even keel going exactly down the middle, you would be a robot."

Vasser, who won a career-high four races during his championship season, has 10 victories and 31 podium finishes in his 13-year Champ Car career.

CHAMP CARS IN PORTLAND: Officials from the Champ Car World Series and the city of Portland have come to an agreement that will keep the series at Portland International Raceway for the next three years.

It had appeared as if the Champ Car series would not return to PIR after a 21-year run when city officials began courting the rival Indy Racing League earlier this year. When the IRL opted not to add a road-course race in Portland to their 2005 schedule, Champ Car and the city renewed talks.

"It has always been our position that we wanted to continue racing in Portland," Champ Car president Dick Eidswick said. "The Portland market is very important to the series, our drivers enjoy the track and this past year's race showed the potential that this event has.

"We believe that a strong partnership between Champ Car, city officials and community business leaders will help us build strong events in Portland for years to come."