By Dick Mittman
indy500.com
Saturday, May 17, 2003
Jimmy Vasser has had many emotional moments in his racing career - qualifying for his first Indianapolis 500 in 1992, leading Indy in 1995, earning his first CART victory and first CART championship in 1996 and returning to Indy in 2000 after an absence of four years.
And he added another to that list May 11 when he watched friend and former teammate Alex Zanardi climb into a race car and drive 13 laps at the CART race at Eurospeedway in Germany. It was Zanardi's first time back in a race car since he lost both legs in a terrifying accident at the same track in 2001.
"He's just an amazing person with what he has achieved in such a short amount of time," Vasser said. "His comeback has been phenomenal, one of the coolest things - because I love him; he's a friend, a great friend - I've been able to witness in my lifetime.
"It was a tremendous weekend. I got the honor of waving the checkered flag at the end of his 13-lap run, and it was really something special for me."
And now Vasser is focused on the quest for his first checkered flag as the winner of the Indianapolis 500. Just because he's attempting to qualify on Bump Day on Sunday doesn't mean Vasser is conceding victory to other drivers.
"The race is 500 miles, and if the car is good and we're prepared to win the race, we can do it from there," Vasser said. "I'm really energized to be here to compete in the race and for the race win, not just to participate. This team and car package can win the race, and I'm excited about that."
Vasser didn't arrive in Indianapolis from Germany until last Tuesday and turned laps in his No. 19 Argent Rahal/Letterman Racing Dallara/Honda/Firestone on Wednesday. He quickly worked his car up to speed and will be a contender for fast qualifier Sunday.
Team owners Bobby Rahal and David Letterman have 1999 Indianapolis 500 winner Kenny Brack as their primary driver in the IRL IndyCarTM Series and Indianapolis 500. Brack did the pre-May testing, practice work when the Indianapolis Motor Speedway opened and qualified on the outside of the second row with a speed of 229.509 mph in the No. 15 Rahal/Letterman/Miller Lite/Pioneer Dallara/Honda/Firestone. The same setups were put on Vasser's car so it was ready when he arrived.
"I was running that speed (above 225) in three or four laps," Vasser said. "They did a lot of work before, so it wasn't like we just unloaded all green. The team has been doing the (right) things. It made my job a lot easier."
Vasser qualified 19th last year at 227.743 mph coming in from CART, but a balky gearbox took him out after 87 laps. His best start was seventh in 2000 and his best finish fourth in 2001. He led 20 laps and was in front of the field when he hit the wall on Lap 171 in 1995.
Vasser had a two-year arrangement with Rahal, winner of the 1986 Indianapolis 500, to drive at Indy. But then a financial problem developed, and it wasn't until last month that Vasser was assured that he would be at the Speedway.
"I'm really appreciate of the opportunity," he said. "It's probably one of, if not the best, or equal to one of the best chances of car and engine combinations I've had."
Vasser thinks this year's potential starting field as one of the most competitive he has seen. He said nearly all of the 24 cars that qualified the first weekend have race-winning potential.
"There's a lot of talent in the race teams, and in the driver seats and the battle between the engine manufacturers going on," he said. "That makes it very high-level competition."
Vasser has watched pole sitter Helio Castroneves, who seeks his third consecutive Indianapolis 500 victory, develop over the years and saw sparks of greatness very early.
"He's always been somebody, even when he was racing Indy Lights, who was a front-runner as a teammate with Tony Kanaan," Vasser said. "They have a rivalry that goes back a ways."
Castroneves moved up to Tony Bettenhausen's CART team from Indy Lights and then moved to Carl Hogan's team, displaying flashes of brilliance. Castroneves then joined Penske Racing in 2000.
"He's a great talent," Vasser said. "He's a kid who came up (the ladder); he didn't come out of nowhere. I think the big break for him obviously was getting on Team Penske. This is not an opportunity a lot of drivers get. But it's one that needs to be coveted, and I'm sure he appreciates it. He's done a great job."
Vasser expects more great things out of Castroneves in the future - with a catch.
"Hopefully, not in the 87th running," Vasser said with a laugh about Indy.
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