Race No. 17

Texaco Grand Prix of Houston
Houston, Texas

October 2-4, 1998

1997 Pole Winner: new event! 1997 Race Winner: new event

Rahal's Last Win?

Having predicted the winner of Laguna pretty well, I feel I should try my luck again. Who are the hot favorites thistime around? It's a new track with no testing opportunity, and a trackunlike other temporary tracks: it's very smooth, but has slippery manholecovers all over the place. It is wide, but with short straightaways.This is a mix that may level the playing field in termsof horsepower, but if passing is difficult (and in 1998 passing has been difficultat just about every road and street track),then fuel economy and good pit strategy may become a major factor.

It is very possible that a surprise winner will take the Houston Grand Prix —remember Alex Barron out in front at Vancouver? But as longas things go the way they have been going this year, I have to pick a Honda/Firstone car for the podium. Dario Franchitti wasdominant at Vancouver and should have no problem to challenge for the win in Houston again. Alex Zanardi cannot be counted out, although he may be a bit handicapped after spending a few days in Spain learning how to brakewith his left foot and shift a semi-automatic pushbutton gearbox...

Bryan Herta not only just won a race and is looking for the almost traditional double win seen by many first time winners in recent years, he was also very fast at Long Beach earlier this year. He may just have the speed to pull off a second win forteam Rahal. There's also Bobby Rahal himself, who has only 3 races left to put another win on his resume. Did Bryan'swin give him a boost, too? He was very fast at Long Beach, too, and may just have the experience with manhole covers from races in downtown Detroit, before CART went to Belle Isle.

Michael Andretti will be racing extra hard in his sponsor's home town and at his owner's newest racing venue. He is still in the hunt for the second place in the championship. Jimmy Vasser, Greg Moore, and Adrian Fernandez havethe same motivation to put on a great performance.

Other drivers are fighting for a 1999 seat and will be extra motivated to turn their seasons around — watch for drivers like Christian Fittipaldi, Patrick Carpentier, Paul Tracy, or Dennis Vitolo try extra hard to get a good result.

The race will be shown live on ABC at 4pm Eastern, 2pm Pacific Time.