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Win or lose, Rahal is pleased with drivers

The car owner says Vasser, Jourdain Jr. are coming along nicely.

©Associated Press
August 15, 2002

LEXINGTON, Ohio -- One of open-wheel racing's biggest winners almost sounds as if he is starting to accept losing.

Bobby Rahal says he is pleased with his team's drivers, Jimmy Vasser and Michel Jourdain Jr., though they are winless this year.

"Jimmy just can't buy a break. In his case, if it weren't for bad luck, he'd have no luck at all," Rahal said at last weekend's CART Grand Prix at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. "As for Michel, he's doing far better than I'd imagined, especially considering we didn't sign him until late in the off-season when a sponsorship deal came together."

Vasser started first and finished second at the season's second race in Long Beach. Since, his year has been a series of disappointments.

He has left three races in first-lap accidents, had mechanical problems twice and left the Vancouver event early because of his second collision this season with Kenny Brack, who drove for Team Rahal last year.

Vasser, 36, in his 11th CART season, said his experience keeps him from getting too upset about the early exits.

"I've been racing long enough that I know you can't let a few bad breaks get to you," the 1996 champion said. "There's still a half-season to go and you can't draw conclusions too soon."

Vasser's bad luck reminds Rahal of 1986, when he won his first of three CART titles.

"It seemed like I couldn't do anything right that year, but I came on really strong in the second half, (winning four of the final seven)," he said. "I think something like that could happen with Jimmy, because he's been driving well enough to deserve a better fate this year."

As for Jourdain, Rahal said he wants him to have better practice runs.

"He seems to struggle during qualifying, but come race day, he always gets it together. It's always difficult to make up ground when you start in back of the grid, but he seems to have the ability to do it," Rahal said.

Jourdain's top-10 start this year came in the opening race in his native Mexico, but he has finished in the top 10 in every race except two. He is the only driver to finish and score points in all 12 races, putting him fifth with 76 points.

Jourdain, 25, is in his seventh CART season. He was the youngest driver in series history as a rookie in 1996. Before signing with Rahal, he spent six years as part of a sponsorship deal with Mexico's Gigante.

Jourdain said being part of the well-funded Team Rahal has improved his outlook.

"Sometimes in the past I've had to worry about a lot of things other than driving, and now it's a lot different," he said.

"When the results aren't coming, you wonder when they are going to come. Every race might be your only chance all year for a good finish. Now I can feel confident that if there's a problem in one race, I can go out for the next one and compete strongly again."

Some drivers have announced plans to move to the Indy Racing League or NASCAR next year. That, combined with the series' financial difficulties, has caused speculation about CART's future.

"I've spent 11 years in this series and I wouldn't like to change at this point," Vasser said.

"Long-term, anything is possible, but next year I want to be in CART," Jourdain said. "It's the best series in the world in terms of the variety of tracks."

IRL INJURIES: Richie Hearn, who broke his right ankle in a crash Sunday during the Belterra Casino Indy 300, will be out 8-to-10 weeks, forcing him to miss the rest of the season. He is 13th in points. Kelley Racing crewman Bernie Hallisky, who broke his right leg and left hip and had multiple pelvis fractures after a pit accident, needs more surgery.

PRIESTLEY UPDATE: Three days after his car smashed into a wall at Kentucky Speedway, actor Jason Priestley had surgery on his broken back and feet in Indianapolis. His condition will be announced today. Before surgery, Priestley was in serious condition.

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