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Hitting the Jackpot, and the Wall, in VegasThe Ganassi decision to let Vasser go and hire two rookies waiting for F-1 seats to open up continues to intrigue. Bouncing into an oval wall ain't not big thing. Even the best do it - see the story about de Ferran's adventure below - but, all the same, Ganassi runs a high-profile, high-dollar team, and he can't continue the lucky streak he began with Zanardi and continued with Montoya. Or can he? Are foreign drivers simply that much better because they get more left-right driving experience as youngsters? "Bruno and Nicolas ran very well and benefited greatly from this experience. The track here is very similar to the high speed ovals they'll see at Motegi and the new track in Germany." said Target Chip Ganassi Racing managing director Mike Hull in a newsletter mailed to fans. "Junqueira had a little bad luck. Nearing the end of the test session, a mechanical problem caused his #4 Toyota-Lola to spin 180 degrees and touch the wall. Bruno was checked and released with no complications. 'I really liked this oval,' said Junqueira, 'Even with the problem at the end of the day, I was very happy with how we ran today.'" Up from Down UnderScott Dixon is creating a buzz on the email lists and discussion forums. The guy's young and obviously talented. Hey, he's not even going to be 21 'til the seasons about half over. He's got some decent equipment - a Toyota powered Reynard - and PacWest knows how to win. "Twenty-year-old rookie Scott Dixon, who will be the youngest driver to compete in the 2001 FedEx Championship Series, ran for the first time of the season on an oval, and his first time ever at PIR. 'I think my test went relatively well,' Dixon said. 'I'm still learning a lot every time I strap myself into a Champ Car, and running on this oval for the first time ever provided me with an opportunity to learn a new track, which I enjoy. We worked on a lot of different setups Thursday and tested various components on the car during the day. I was battling some oversteer in Turn 2, but other than that, we were OK.'" De Ferran Crash Punctuates Phoenix TestAs noted, even the best of them make a mistake now and then, but, reading this story, you get the impression what everyone was happiest about - other than de Ferran not breaking any bones - was that the car was repairable. Phoenix is a tricky oval, for sure. Now about Texas ... I'm wondering if it was a good idea for CART to sign on for an appearance at Bruton's high-bank oval in the Lone Star state.
The copyright of the article Forty Days to Monterey! in CART Auto Racing is owned by Gary Presley. Permission to republish Forty Days to Monterey! in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
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