RACER PROFILES : (1) JIMMY VASSER.Hometown: Las Vegas Las Vegas (läs vā`gəs), city (1990 pop. 258,295), seat of Clark co., S Nev.; inc. 1911. It is the largest city in Nevada and the center of one of the fastest-growing urban areas in the United States. , Nev. Age: 31 1997 CART Series ranking and points: sixth, 15 1996 CART Series finish: first Career victories: 4 Team: Target/Chip Ganassi Racing Chassis: Reynard Engine: Honda Biography: Last year was a breakthrough season for Vasser, who won his first CART Series championship and became just the second driver in CART history to win $3 million in a single season ($3,071,500). Vasser's four victories in 1996 included Long Beach, where with four laps left, Vasser overtook daylong leader Gil de Ferran Gil de Ferran (born November 11, 1967) in Paris, France to Brazilian parents, is a former racing driver. De Ferran was the 2000 and 2001 Champ Car champion driving for the Penske Honda Team and the winner of the 2003 Indianapolis 500. , whose car was suddenly stricken with engine trouble. Vasser's other wins came in the Grand Prix Grand Prix n. pl. Grand Prix Any of several competitive international road races for sports cars of specific engine size over an exacting, usually risky course. of Miami, the Sunbelt Indy Carnival in Australia and at the Michigan 500. (2) AL UNSER This article is about the automobile racer. For the baseball player, see Al Unser (baseball). Alfred Unser (born May 29, 1939 in Albuquerque, New Mexico) is a former American automobile racing driver, the younger brother of Bobby Unser and father of Al Unser, JR. Hometown: Albuquerque, N.M. Age: 34 1997 CART Series ranking and points: 19th (tied), 0 1996 CART Series finish: fourth. Career victories: 31 Team: Marlboro Team Penske Chassis: Penske Engine: Mercedes Benz Mercedes Benz expensive automobile and status symbol. [Trademarks: Crowley Trade, 368] See : Luxury Biography: Nicknamed the King of the Beach for his six Long Beach victories, Unser has the second most career victories among active CART drivers. Despite going without a victory in 1996 - his first winless season since 1987 - Unser was high in the season standings with two runner-up and eight top-five finishes. Unser began the season as the CART career earnings record-holder with $17,735,906 in winnings. (3) PAUL TRACY Paul Tracy (born December 17, 1968 in Scarborough, Toronto, Ontario) is a professional automobile racer in the Champ Car World Series. He also goes by the nickname "The Thrill from West Hill". Hometown: Paradise Valley Paradise Valley may refer to:
Age: 28 1997 CART Series ranking and points: fifth, 17 1996 CART Series finish: 13th Career victories: 10 Team: Marlboro Team Penske Chassis: Penske Engine: Mercedes Benz Biography: Winless in 1996, Tracy nonetheless had some memorable moments, setting a track record at the Nazareth Speedway Nazareth Speedway was an auto racing track in Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania which operated from the 1910s to 2004. The track is often associated with local drivers Mario and Michael Andretti. It was associated with Frankie Schneider in its earlier dirt track history. in Pennsylvania (190.73 mph) and winning to pole starts. Tracy was second to Michael Andretti Michael Mario Andretti (born October 5, 1962 in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania) is an American retired CART and Formula One driver with Italian heritage. He now co-owns the Andretti Green Racing team in the Indy Racing League. earlier this season at the Miami Grand Prix. (4) ALEX ZANARDI Alessandro "Alex" Zanardi, (born October 23, 1966 in Bologna, Italy), is an Italian racing driver. He won two CART championship titles in North America during the late 1990s. He also had a less successful career as a Formula One driver. Hometown: Monte Carlo Monte Carlo (môNtā` kärlō`), town (1982 pop. 13,150), principality of Monaco, on the Mediterranean Sea and the French Riviera. , Monaco Age: 30 1997 CART Series ranking and points: fourth, 20 1996 CART Series finish: third Career victories: 3 Team: Target/Chip Ganassi Racing Chassis: Reynard Engine: Honda Biography: All three of his career victories and rookie of the year Rookie of the Year may refer to:
The Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course is located just outside of Lexington in Troy Township. , and Laguna Seca. Zanardi won front-row starts at his final eight races last year and was the series' highest scorer on road courses. racepay (5) GIL DE FERRAN Hometown: Fort Lauderdale Fort Lauderdale (lô`dərdāl), residential, commercial, and resort city (1990 pop. 149,377), seat of Broward co., SE Fla., on the Atlantic coast; settled around a fort built (c.1837) in the Seminole War, inc. 1911. , Fla. Age: 29 1997 CART Series ranking and points: seventh, 10 1996 CART Series finish: sixth Career victories: 2 Team: Walker Racing Chassis: Reynard Engine: Honda Biography: De Ferran set the track qualifying record (109.639 mph) here last year and led the race for 100 of its 105 laps before engine trouble dropped him to fifth. Also set a track record at Cleveland, where he won the race from the pole with an average speed of 133.736 mph. (6) MICHAEL ANDRETTI Hometown: Nazareth, Pa. Age: 34 1997 CART Series ranking and points: first, 35 1996 CART Series finish: second Career victories: 35 Team: Newman/Haas Racing Chassis: Swift Engine: Ford Cosworth Biography: The all-time career win leader had a rough appearance at Long Beach last year, finishing sixth and getting put on probation for rough driving. Nonetheless, Andretti went on to win a series-high five races last year, finishing second to Vasser in total points. The 1986 Long Beach winner got 1997 off to a good start, however, winning the opening race at Miami. (7) BOBBY RAHAL Robert "Bobby" Woodward Rahal (born January 10, 1953 in Medina, Ohio) is an American auto racing team owner and former driver, spending most of his driving career in the CART open-wheel series, winning three championships there. Hometown: New Albany, Ohio New Albany is a village in Franklin and Licking Counties in the U.S. state of Ohio, just northeast of the state capital of Columbus. Most of the village is located in Franklin County; only a small portion of the village extends into adjacent Licking County. Age: 44 1997 CART Series ranking and points: 15th (tied), 3 1996 CART Series finish: seventh Career victories: 24 Team: Team Rahal Chassis: Reynard Engine: Ford Cosworth Biography: Fifteen years following his 1982 rookie of the year campaign, Rahal is the oldest driver on the CART circuit and the only driver/owner. His most recent victory came in 1992, when he won four times and won the series championship. Was a runner-up twice last year, both times to Michael Andretti. (8) BRYAN HERTA Bryan Herta (b. May 23 1970, Warren, Michigan) is an American race car driver. He currently drives for Andretti Green Racing, which is co-owned by former CART and IRL driver Michael Andretti, in the ALMS, although his career has primarily been spent in open-wheel cars Hometown: New Albany, Ohio Age: 26 1997 CART Series ranking and points: 15th (tied), 3 1996 CART Series finish: eighth Career victories: 0 Team: Team Rahal Chassis: Reynard Engine: Ford Cosworth Biography: A graduate of Hart High School Hart High School may refer to:
(9) DARIO FRANCHITTI Hometown: Indianapolis, Ind. Age: 24 1997 CART Series ranking and points: 13th (tied), 4 1996 CART Series finish: 1997 rookie Career victories: 0 Team: Hogan Racing LLC (Logical Link Control) See "LANs" under data link protocol. LLC - Logical Link Control Chassis: Reynard Engine: Mercedes Benz Biography: Had one victory and fourth overall finish for Mercedes last year on the International Touring Car Championship circuit. A native of Scotland. (11) CHRISTIAN FITTIPALDI Hometown: Sao Paulo, Brazil Age: 26 1997 CART Series ranking and points: 19th (tied) 0 1996 CART Series finish: fifth Career victories: 0 Team: Newman/Haas Racing Chassis: Swift Engine: Ford Cosworth Biography: A nephew of CART great Emerson Fittipaldi, Christian Fittipaldi broke his leg in crash in Australia Sunday and will not compete in Long Beach. Fittapaldi was one of the circuit's most consistent drivers in 1996, his sophomore campaign. In 16 races, he was in the top 10 13 times, including a second at the Detroit Grand Prix Detroit Grand Prix may refer to:
(16) PATRICK CARPENTIER Hometown: Indianapolis, Ind. Age: 25 1997 CART Series ranking and points: 13th (tied) 4 1996 CART Series finish: 1997 rookie Career victories: 0 Team: Bettenhausen Motorsports Chassis: Reynard Engine: Mercedes Benz Biography: The Canadian native proved himself worthy of promotion last season, winning nine times in 12 events on the Player's/Toyota Atlantic championship circuit, never finishing lower than fourth. (17) MAURICIO GUGELMIN Hometown: Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Age: 33 1997 CART Series ranking and points: ninth, 8 1996 CART Series finish: 14 Career victories: 0 Team: Pac West Racing Group Chassis: Reynard Engine: Mercedes Benz Biography: Gugelmin was runner-up at the U.S. 500 last season, matching the best finish of his career. The Brazilian native is a former Formula One racer. (18) MARK BLUNDELL Hometown: Paradise Valley, Ariz. Age: 31 1997 CART Series ranking and points: 11th (tied) 5 1996 CART Series finish: 16 Career victories: 0 Team: Pac West Racing Group Chassis: Reynard Engine: Mercedes Benz Biography: Blundell was third in rookie of the year points despite missing three races after fracturing his foot in an accident at the Rio 400 in Rio de Janeiro Rio de Janeiro, city, Brazil Rio de Janeiro (rē`ō də zhänā`rō, Port. rē`  thĭ zhənĕē`r . His best finish was a fifth at the U.S. 500. (19) MICHEL JOURDAIN JR. Hometown: Mexico City Age: 20 1997 CART Series ranking and points: 19th (tied) 0 1996 CART Series finish: 37th Career victories: 0 Team: Payton Coyne Racing Chassis: Lola Engine: Ford Cosworth Biography: Jourdain became the youngest driver to ever compete in a CART race when he drove at Long Beach last year (19 years, six months, 12 days). He was 23rd in that race. His season best was 16th at Vancouver. (20) SCOTT PRUETT Hometown: Crystal Bay, Nev. Age: 37 1997 CART Series ranking and points: second, 30 1996 CART Series finish: 10 Career victories: 1 Team: Brahma Team Sports Chassis: Reynard Engine: Ford Cosworth Biography: Long Beach figures prominently in Pruett's racing life. The former Sacramento resident put his life savings into his first Indy Car start here in 1988. He finished 18th and has been on the CART most of the time since, banking almost $4 million in winnings. His only career win was at the 1995 Michigan 500. (21) RICHIE HEARN Hometown: Henderson, Nev. Age: 26 1997 CART Series ranking and points: 17th (tied) 2 1996 CART Series finish: 29 Career victories: 0 Team: Della Penna pen·na n. pl. pen·nae A contour feather of a bird, as distinguished from a down feather or a plume. [Latin, feather; see pet- in Indo-European roots. Motorsports Chassis: Lola Engine: Ford Cosworth Biography: Made only three CART starts in his rookie 1996 season, a 10th place finish at Long Beach was his best. Finished third at the Indianapolis 500, run last year by the CART rival Indy Racing League The Indy Racing League, better known as IRL, is the sanctioning body of a predominantly American based open-wheel racing series. The League consists of two series, the premiere IndyCar Series . Was raised in Glendale. (24) HIRO HIRO High-Resistance Open (telecommunications) MATSUSHITA Hometown: San Clemente Age: 36 1997 CART Series ranking and points: 19th (tied) 0 1996 CART Series finish: 28 Career victories: 0 Team: Arciero-Wells/Panasonic Racing Chassis: Reynard Engine: Toyota Biography: A Swift chassis developed by Matsushita's engineering company was driven by Michael Andretti to a win in Miami earlier this year. Matsushita hasn't fared as well as a driver, the top finish of his eight years on the CART tour a sixth in Michigan in 1994. Was the 1980 Japanese motocross motocross Form of motorcycle racing in which cyclists compete on a closed course marked out over natural or simulated rough terrain. Courses vary widely but must be 1.5–5 km (1–3 mi) in length, with steep inclines, hairpin turns, and mud. champion. (25) MAX PAPIS Hometown: Newport Beach Age: 27 1997 CART Series ranking and points: 19th (tied) 0 1996 CART Series finish: 27 Career victories: 0 Team: Arciero-Wells/MCI Racing Chassis: Reynard Engine: Toyota Biography: Papis PAPIS Precision Approach Path Indicating System replaced Jeff Krosnoff on the Arciero team after the La Canada native was killed last year in a crash at the Molson Indy race in Toronto. The Italian native finished the season, competing in three of the final four CART races, his best finish was a ninth at the Road America race. (27) PARKER JOHNSTONE Hometown: Brush Prairie, Wash. Age: 35 1997 CART Series ranking and points: 11th (tied), 5 1996 CART Series finish: 17 Career victories: 0 Team: Team KOOL KOOL Kentucky Offender Online Lookup KOOL K-Based Object Oriented Language Green Chassis: Reynard Engine: Honda Biography: Johnstone was second last year at Long Beach, his best CART finish of his four years on the circuit. Won three straight International Motor Sports Association The International Motor Sports Association (generally referred to as IMSA) is an American auto racing sanctioning body based in Braselton, Georgia. It was started by John Bishop, a former employee of SCCA (Sports Car Club of America), and his wife Peggy in 1969 with help (IMSA IMSA Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy IMSA International Motor Sports Association IMSA Insurance Marketplace Standards Association IMSA International Municipal Signal Association IMSA Illinois Mini Storage Association IMSA Institute of Marine Safety Auditors ) Camel Lights championships between 1991 and 1993 and was the IMSA's all-time winningest driver when he left that tour in 1994. (31) ANDRE RIBEIRO Hometown: Sao Paulo, Brazil Age: 31 1997 CART Series ranking and points: eighth, 9 1996 CART Series finish: 11 Career victories: 3 Team: Tasman Motorsports Group Chassis: Lola Engine: Honda Biography: Ribeiro has had his greatest success on oval tracks, winning last year at Rio de Janeiro and the Michigan Speedway and at New Hampshire New Hampshire, one of the New England states of the NE United States. It is bordered by Massachusetts (S), Vermont, with the Connecticut R. forming the boundary (W), the Canadian province of Quebec (NW), and Maine and a short strip of the Atlantic Ocean (E). in 1995. He finished second in season points on the 1994 Indy Lights Tour and was voted the year's rookie of the year. (32) ADRIAN FERNANDEZ Hometown: West Bloomfield, Mich. Age: 31 1997 CART Series ranking and points: 17th, 2 1996 CART Series finish: 12 Career victories: 1 Team: Tasman Motorsports Group Chassis: Lola Engine: Honda Biography: A native of Mexico, Fernandez won his first CART race last season, taking the flag at Molson Indy race at Toronto. He had six other top 10 races last season, his first with the Tasman team. (34) PAUL JASPER Hometown: Lake Forest, Ill. Age: 27 1997 CART Series ranking and points: 19th (tied), 0 1996 CART Series finish: 1997 rookie Career victories: 0 Team: Payton Coyne Racing Chassis: Lola Engine: Ford Cosworth Biography: Jasper will be making his first CART start Sunday after winning rookie of the year honors last year on the Player's Toyota Atlantic Championship series. A fitness buff and all-around athlete, Jasper was drafted by a minor league hockey team after high school, has played semi-pro beach volleyball, boxed on the University of Arizona (body, education) University of Arizona - The University was founded in 1885 as a Land Grant institution with a three-fold mission of teaching, research and public service. club team and run triathlons. (36) JUAN FANGIO II Hometown: Miami, Fla. Age: 40 1997 CART Series ranking and points: 19th (tied), 0 1996 CART Series finish: 23 Career victories: 0 Team: All American Racers Chassis: Reynard Engine: Toyota Biography: Nephew of five-time Formula One Juan Manuel Fangio  This is the current !Help improve it to match the quality of an ideal F1 article as shown in the style guidelines. - for whom he is named - Fangio twice won season championships on the IMSA GTP GTP (guanosine triphosphate): see guanine. series. His best CART finish in three seasons of racing is a seventh in 1995. Fangio is a native of Argentina (40) RAUL BOESEL Hometown: Key Biscayne, Fla. Age: 39 1997 CART Series ranking and points: 10th, 6 1996 CART Series finish: 22 Career victories: 0 Team: Brahma Sports Team Chassis: Reynard Engine: Ford Cosworth Biography: A runner-up five times in his 12-year CART career, Boesel has yet to win on the circuit. His highest finishes last year were sevenths at Rio de Janeiro and Michigan. (64) DENNIS VITOLO Hometown: Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Age: 40 1997 CART Series ranking and points: 19th (tied) 0 1996 CART Series finish: 38 Career victories: 0 Team: Project Indy Chassis: Lola Engine: Ford Cosworth Biography: A former hydroplane hydroplane, small, high-powered racing boat designed to skim along the surface of the water. Its hull is so shaped that at high speeds the bow is tilted up out of the water, reducing the effect of frictional drag. Hydroplanes are commonly powered by outboard motors. racer, Vitolo made Long Beach his only CART start last year and finished 17th. He plans a more extensive CART campaign this season. (77) GUALTER SALLES Hometown: Miami, Fla. Age: 26 1997 CART Series ranking and points: 19th (tied) 0 1996 CART Series finish: 1997 rookie Career victories: 0 Team: Davis Racing Chassis: Reynard Engine: Ford Cosworth Biography: The Brazilian driver was a three-time winner on the Indy Lights circuit last year and was contending for the season title before three straight no finishes dropped him to third. Salles finished seventh in British Formula 3 racing in 1995. (98) PJ JONES Hometown: Rolling Hills Age: 28 1997 CART Series ranking and points: 19th (tied) 0 1996 CART Series finish: 26 Career victories: 0 Team: All American Racers Chassis: Reynard Engine: Toyota Biography: The eldest son of Indy driver Parnelli Jones, Jones joined the CART tour last season, and had a season-high finish of ninth at the Detroit Grand Prix. Has also competed in NASCAR NASCAR (National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing), organization that sanctions American stock-car races, est. 1948. It held its first race in Daytona Beach, Fla. events. (99) GREG MOORE Hometown: Maple Ridge, British Columbia “Maple Ridge” redirects here. For other uses, see Maple Ridge (disambiguation). Maple Ridge is a District Municipality in British Columbia, located east of Vancouver on the Fraser River. Age: 21 1997 CART Series ranking and points: third, 28 1996 CART Series finish: 9 Career victories: 0 Team: Player's Forsythe Racing Team Chassis: Reynard Engine: Mercedes Benz Biography: The 1995 Indy Lights champion and 1996 CART rookie of the year runner-up could be one of the rising stars on the circuit. His best finish last season was a second at the Bosch Grand Prix at Nazareth, Pa. Is the youngest person to win a CART sanctioned event, having taken the flag at an Indy Lights race in Phoenix in 1994 at the age of 18. CAPTION(S): 27 Photos, Map Photo: (1) JIMMY VASSER (2) AL UNSER JR. (3) PAUL TRACY (4) ALEZ ZENARDI (5) GIL DE FERRAN (6) MICHAEL ANDRETTI (7) BOBBY RAHAL (8) BRYAN HERTA (9) DARIO FRANCHITTI (10) CHRISTIAN FITTIPALDI (11) PATRICK CARPENTER (12) MAURICIO GUGELMIN (13) MARK BLUNDELL (14) MICHAEL JOURDAIN JR. (15) scott pruett (16) RICHIE HEARN (17) HIRO MATSUSHITA (18) MAX PAPIS (19) PARKER JOHNSTONE (20) ANDRE RIBERO (21) ADRIAN FERNANDEZ (22) PAUL JASPER (23) JUAN FANGIO II (24) RAUL BOESEL (25) DENNIS VITOLO (26) GAULTER SALLES (27) GREG MOORE Map: LONG BEACH GRAND PRIX
The Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach is the premier circuit in the Champ Car World Series. It is an open-wheel race held on a temporary road course in Long Beach, California. |
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