CART: Portland Preview
Christian Fittipaldi Returns
PORTLAND, OREGON: Christian Fittipaldi never had a chance to be anything but a race driver. Following in the footsteps of his father (Wilson) and his uncle (Emerson), the bright star of the future began racing go-karts at age eleven. By the age of 17 he was winning races in FF2000. After progressing through FIA Formula 3000 and F1, he made his Championship Auto Racing Teams (CART) debut in 1995.
Fittipaldi quickly impressed big name teams and sponsors when he stormed onto the CART scene. He finished fifth in his first Indy Car start at Miami. He continued to make sponsors smile as he finished second a few months later in his first Indianapolis 500. By the end of that impressive season, the talented Brazilian had won the hearts of race fans and big time sponsors. He had hit the big time. At the end of the 1995 season, he was hired to drive for Paul Newman and Carl Haas, one of the most successful teams in Indy style racing history.
Christian Fittipaldi
Things couldn't have been better for CART's newest star. Things were put on an abrupt hold during the Australian Gold Coast Grand Prix. Fittipaldi got together with Gil De Ferran on the first lap and all hell broke loose. Pieces of the bright red Budweiser car were spread over hundreds of yards. Christian Fittipaldi was a helpless passenger as the car sailed through the air into the catch fence. His legs were exposed as he continued down the track. When the car stopped, Christian pounded the steering wheel. It was not so much the intense pain of the compound fracture to his leg as it was the frustration. He knew was hurt. He knew he would be a spectator for the next several races.
Fittipaldi said of the crash, "I remember everything. De Ferran hit me from behind and I hit the wall in front of the pits. The second hit was absolutely unbelievable. I went in head on. I couldn't feel anything in my right leg so I was worried. It hasn't set in yet what this means to my season or the next few races. I'll think about that later."
Fittipaldi is done thinking. His spectator days are over. He ran practice laps at Mid Ohio Sports Car Course last week. He has missed seven races since the tragic Australia accident in April. He will once again be driving the car this weekend in Portland for the Budweiser/G.I. Joe's 200.
Fittipaldi's teammate is Michael Andretti. The team is using the American made Swift chassis with Ford power. Andretti has had great success with the new design. Fittipaldi is anxious to cash in on some of that team success. He is also anxious to end the dominance of Mercedes- Benz. That power plant has been in the winning car for the last six races on the PPG Cup circuit.
Another CART star is prepared to return to the driver's seat. Paul Tracy missed the race at Detroit. He is expected to return this weekend as long as he passes his re-evaluation at the Mayo clinic in Scottsdale, AZ. Tracy withdrew from the Detroit race with benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) combined with severe muscle spasms.
The green flag will fly at Portland International Raceway this Sunday, June 22, at 2 PM (PT) (5 PM ET). The event will be telecast live on ESPN. The teams and drivers will race for 102 laps on the 1.95 mile circuit.
Terry Callahan — The Auto Channel
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