Race No. 15

Molson Indy
Vancouver — Canada
August 29 — August 31, 1997

1996 Pole Winner: Alex Zanardi
1996 Race Winner: Michael Andretti
1996 SpeedCenter Report
Vancouver Weather Forecast

8th Annual Molson Indy Vancouver
And Then There Were Five
By Ray Sprouse

Entering the '96 Molson Indy Vancouver, Alex Zanardi, then fourth in thepoint standing, was in the hunt for the PPG Cup championship along withleading team mate Jimmy Vasser. Zanardi trailed his team mate by 32points, Michael Andretti trailed in second place by only 14 points, andthird place was held by Al Unser, Jr. with a 17 point deficit. Themathematical possibilities going into the next-to-last race alsoincluded Christian Fittipaldi in fifth and Gil de Ferran in sixth.

The 1996 PPG Cup hopes for Zanardi were whisked away on the 19th lap ofthe event when, while leading the race, he attempted an outside pass onback-marker P.J. Jones. Zanardi's attempt resulted in contact and the #4Target Chip Ganassi Reynard Honda was nearly up-ended. The suspensionwas damaged beyond repair and Zanardi was forced to retire.

As preparations are made to return to the Vancouver, British Columbia,Canada venue, and with three races remaining, only five drivers have amathematical chance to capture the $1 million dollar prize at the end ofthe rainbow.

Zanardi, with 168 points, carries a commanding 38 point lead over secondplace Gil de Ferran (Valvoline/Cummins Reynard Honda HRR) with 130points. Others with a chance are third place Paul Tracy with 121 points,Greg Moore with 111 points and Michael Andretti with 108 points. Withonly a total of 66 points available (1 point for the pole, 1 point forleading the most laps, and 20 points for a first place finish) for theremaining three races, even Andretti's chances are waning with his DNFat Road America on the 17th of August. Zanardi can clinch the '97 titlewith only 18 total points in the remaining three races.

But never say never. Andretti comes to the Labor Day Concord PacificPlace venue the defending champion. Greg Moore has matured in hisdriving skills over his '96 effort, but still suffers a lack of patienceas was exhibited when he attempted to pass Bobby Rahal at Road America,only to end up parked in the gravel pit at Canada Corner. Paul Tracy,after an early showing of skill and luck combined, has suffered lateseason doldrums and ended his race at RA with his car resting on it'sroll bar. The realistic challenger, though, is Brazilian Gil de Ferran,who has only placed outside the top seven in two of the last ten races,those at Rio with 11th place, and at Toronto, where de Ferran retiredafter 40 of 95 laps with brake problems. His efforts have been theepitome of consistency, which is well rewarded by the PPG CART WorldSeries point system.

The circuit at Concord Place is currently listed as 1.704 miles aroundthe last of the '97 season's temporary street circuits. Omega Timingwill re-measure the track using their own methods of measurement toset-up for their timing equipment. Omega measures the outsidecircumference, then the inside circumference around the track to get anexact average distance for the tracks.

You can bet that the Maple Leaf flags will be waving high, and that thefans will be cheering the efforts of Canadians Greg Moore and PaulTracy. Moore, born in nearby New Westminster, B.C. Canada, is consideredthe home-town favorite. Tracy, though now residing in Paradise Valley,Arizona, was born in Toronto, and has always presented the Canadiancontingency with a hopeful winner.

Not to take away from the thrill of victory for Zanardi, but I, for one,would like to see the points battle tighten for the final two races atLaguna Seca and Penske's new facility at California Speedway. It'salways a little more thrilling to see the points battle decided at thefinal race of the year, and I'd bet that Roger Penske would agree.

The two hour race will be televised after a one hour tape delay on ESPNat 5:00PM EDT.

©1997 SpeedCenter Internet Publishing, Inc.