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1999 CART Driver Profiles
Posted: Sunday November 07, 1999 11:14 PM
MICHAEL ANDRETTI
Birthdate: October 5, 1962 PROFILE: The veteran is back yet again under the Newman/Haas Racing colors. Recorded his CART-record 37th career victory by winning at Homestead-Miami last year. Begins the season having started 230 races and having won 31 poles, earning the first since 1995 at Road America in 1998 and scoring points in 10 other races. Finished seventh in last year's championship, one spot better than in 1997.
ADRIAN FERNANDEZ
Birthdate: April 20, 1965 PROFILE: His first season with Patrick Racing flourished to a career-best fourth-place finish in the 1998 PPG Cup standings. Drove to victory in Japan and at Mid-Ohio with podium finishes of second at Detroit and third at Rio de Janeiro. Also grabbed his first career pole at Michigan Speedway. Scored points in 15 of 19 races, with 11 top-six finishes. Points total of 154 was more than double his prior career-best of 71 in 1996.
DARIO FRANCHITTI
Birthdate: May 19, 1973 PROFILE: Was a promising prospect during his rookie year in 1997, and capitalized on that last season by finishing third with 160 points. Scored his first three career wins and led the series with five poles. The wins came in a four-race span at Road America, Vancouver and Houston. Placed in points positions in 14 of the 19 events, and gained 93 of a possible 132 points in the final six races, to move from eight to third in the final standings. Qualified in the front row for eight of the final 11 races.
BRYAN HERTA
Birthdate: May 23, 1970 PROFILE: Performed a career-best campaign in his fifth year, including the first victory -- from the pole -- at Laguna Seca. Added podium finishes of third at Long Beach and Portland, and earned points in 11 of 19 races. Was placed on probation for a dangerous opening-lap maneuver involving Dario Franchitti and Jimmy Vasser, which occured at the Mid Ohio Sports Car Course event. The 97 points accumulated was good for eighth place. His standout winter testing was sidetracked by an emergency appendectomy on March 1. Is considered an early favorite to challenge for the PPG Cup in 1999 and will compete at Homestead.
TONY KANAAN
Birthdate: December 31, 1974 PROFILE: Won Rookie of the Year honors, placing a solid ninth in the points. Collected points in 11 of 19 races (92 total) the best for a rookie since Nigel Mansell gained points in 13 races in 1993. Best showings were back-to-back thirds at Laguna Seca and Houston. Placed in points in six of the final eight races.
JUAN PABLO MONTOYA
Age: 23 PROFILE: Will have to impress in the cockpit, signing a three-year deal to replace Alex Zanardi at Target/Chip Ganassi Racing. Won the 1998 championship of the F1A Formula 3000 with four victories and seven poles in the 12-race series. Was also a test driver for the Williams Team on the F1 circuit during 1998.
GREG MOORE
Birthdate: April 22, 1975 PROFILE: The young Canadian continued his improvement in 1998, taking fifth place after finishing ninth and seventh the previous two years in the series. Recorded victories at Rio and Michigan, giving him four in the series in 52 starts. Won all four career poles last year as well. Had seven finishes of sixth or better in the first eight races and ended the year scoring 140 PPG Cup points, good for fifth in the championship. Led a fourth best 251 laps.
MAX PAPIS
Birthdate: October, 3, 1969 PROFILE: Put together an outstanding second part of the season and was elected the Most Improved Driver by his colleagues. Scored points in seven of the final 11 races after going scoreless in the first eight. Best finish was fifth in Houston. Joined Bobby Rahal's racing team after the veteran announced his retirement. Placed 21st in the FedEx Championship with 25 points. He is in his third year in CART and has 39 starts. Nicknamed "Mad Max" and is known as one of the most engaging personalities on the circuit. Had strong training sessions in the offseason.
SCOTT PRUETT
Birthdate: March 24, 1960 PROFILE: Drove to his most successful season in nine years, improving to a sixth place finish in the standings. Although winless in 1998, he recorded eight top-five finishes and scored a career-high 121 points. Earned PPG Cup points in 14 of 19 starts. Has two career wins and four poles, the last taken in the season finale at California Speedway.
PAUL TRACY
Birthdate: December 17, 1968 PROFILE: First season at Team KOOL was less than desirable, with just eight top-10 finishes and points in a mere nine races. Was placed on probation after the Detroit Grand Prix for unjustifiable risk which resulted in contact with Christian Fittipaldi. Also involved in incidents at Portland, Houston and Australia. The incidents cost him a ban from the opening race at Homestead. Has 13 wins and eight poles in 113 starts.
JIMMY VASSER
Birthdate: November 20, 1965
PROFILE: The departure of teammate Alex Zanardi to Formula One
leaves him as one of the favorites to win the championship again.
The 1996 champion was second to Zanardi with 169 points,
placing in the top three drivers in the series for the third
consecutive season. Earned wins at Nazareth, Milwaukee and the
season finale at California Speedway. Won two poles and gained
points in 15 of the 19 races. Scored 11 consecutive top-eight
finishes between Japan and Michigan. Has placed in the points
in 53 of the last 63 races since 1995 at Milwaukee.
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