CART: Youngest American Driver Herta Kicks Off Season in Mexico

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel

CART's Youngest American Driver: At just 30 years of age, Herta enters his eighth CART season, and will make his 101st start this weekend at the inaugural Tecate Telmex Grand Prix, presented by Herdez.

Full-Time Job: After just six starts in the 2000 CART season, Herta returns to compete full-time in the 2001 CART FedEx Championship Series with Zakspeed/Forsythe Racing. Herta and the Zakspeed/Forsythe crew recently completed an intense pre-season development program, including tests at permanent road courses such as Sebring, Laguna Seca and Firebird; as well as several oval tests at Phoenix International Raceway and Homestead Speedway.

Zakspeed/Forsythe Racing Debut: Peter Zakowski and Gerald Forsythe have combined their years of racing knowledge to form Zakspeed/Forsythe Racing, which will make its Champ Car debut in Monterrey, Mexico. Zakowski ispart owner of well-known German engineering stronghold Zakspeed, a company his father started over 30 years ago. Zakowski still competes as a driver in Europe under the Zakspeed banner; where he recently finished second in the 24 hour of Nurburgring endurance race. Forsythe, a member of CART's Board of Directors, has a leading role in the CART FedEx Championship Series as well as the FIA Formula One Championship. He is the co-owner of Player's Forsythe Racing and Zakspeed/Forsythe Racing in the CART arena, as well as a limited partner of the British American Formula One team. Forsythe is also a partner in Rockingham Speedway, where CART will make its UK debut later this year.

Herta on the Season Opener: "It is great to be back. The crew has done a good job preparing for the season. We spent a lot of time testing, and for the most part it was very successful. This weekend will be a good judge of our pre-season preparations. I am definitely looking forward to that first session on Friday, and trying out the new track. From everything I've seen it looks good, but I think it will be a challenging track to pass on. Racing in front of a sold out crowd in Mexico will be a nice way to start the season."

Text Provided By Katie Welch

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