September 26, 1998
CART: Team Rahal Scoop From Houston
First And Last
Bobby Rahal
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Team Rahal owner and driver Bobby Rahal comes to the Texaco Grand Prix of
Houston this weekend for the first and last time as a driver. Rahal, who
has three races remaining in his 25-year driving career before turning his
full attention to team ownership and his directorship in the CART
organization, is glad the series has arrived in the Lone Star state. "Texas
is a market we've coveted for a long time," he said. "We are fortunate to
have a lot of loyal fans in this area of the country, and it will be nice to
be able to race in front of them before I hang it up. This event is also of
keen importance to our sponsors - many of whom have major operations and
sizeable customer bases here. I think it's going to be great marriage for
the city, the state and the series."
Trendy
A pattern has emerged in CART recently which has seen drivers earn a second
series win soon after their first. Jimmy Vasser (Miami and Australia,
1996), Greg Moore (Milwaukee and Detroit, 1997), Mark Blundell (Portland and
Toronto, 1997) and Dario Franchitti (Road America and Vancouver, 1998) have
set the trend. "That's a trend we'd certainly like to see continue," said
Team Rahal driver Bryan Herta, who took his inaugural series victory two
weeks ago at Laguna Seca Raceway. "There's probably a certain amount of
confidence from winning that first race that carries over into the next few.
It certainly doesn't make it any easier, though."
First Impressions
Bryan Herta had the opportunity to tour the Grand Prix track this summer
during a visit to Houston. He also got a first-hand look at what's going in
to preparing the downtown for its very first FedEx Championship Series
event. "I've been on the streets that will make up the track," Herta said,
"but they were obviously still in use when I did. We had to drive in the
opposite direction from the one we'll race, so it was hard to develop a
mental picture of what exactly it will be like. I must say I was very
encouraged by the effort I saw being put into the event. There is a real
buzz about the race around the city and an obvious commitment to its
success. As (primary sponsor) Shell's hometown, we have added incentive to
perform well here. We want to give our very best effort."
Qualified Success
Qualifying always seems to be among the keys to success on street circuits.
If that holds true in Houston, Bryan Herta would be a pretty good bet to
perform well. The 28-year-old Herta has qualified in the top five in eight
of the last nine CART FedEx Championship Series events, including front-row
starts in each of the last three. He sat on the pole for the Long Beach
street race earlier this year, one of three poles he's claimed already this
season. "There's little arguing the importance of qualifying on tracks like
this one," Herta said. "It also happens to be something we've been doing
quite well of late. A lot of that has to do with the fact that I think
we've got the very best equipment combination right now. It also has to do
with the fact that our team has really hit its stride."
Probationary Win
As a guest on last week's CART media teleconference, Bryan Herta was
informed that Chief Steward Wally Dallenbach had lifted his probation
following his win in the Grand Prix of Monterey. "I guess I can really go
wild, now," was Herta's tongue-in-cheek response. He is the fourth CART
driver to win a race while on probation.
One Man Speakers Bureau
Bobby Rahal has been called an ambassador for racing before. That title was
never more well-earned than last week, when Rahal addressed both the Chamber
of Commerce in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and the Advertising Federation of
Columbus, Ohio, on the business of racing.
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