SEPTEMBER 21, 1998

Vasser stays in America

CART star Jimmy Vasser has signed a new three-year deal with Target Chip Ganassi Racing, ending speculation that he would switch to Formula 1 next year.

CART star Jimmy Vasser has signed a new three-year deal with Target Chip Ganassi Racing, ending speculation that he would switch to Formula 1 next year. With Jacques Villeneuve racing in F1 and Alex Zanardi expected to join him next season, Vasser - who is 32 - is the only CART champion of the current generation left in action in the United States.

Although former champions Michael Andretti and Al Unser Jr. - both 36 - continue to race in CART the series is struggling to create new stars who do not head off to Grand Prix racing.

Retaining Vasser is, therefore, a good move for CART although up-and-coming stars such as Dario Franchitti and GregÊMoore talk openly about moving to Formula 1 once they have achieved success in America.

With Formula 1 planning to return to the United States in the year 2000 we would expect Grand Prix racing to try to recruit more men from CART in the course of the next 12 months - with the primary targets being Franchitti and Moore, particularly if one or the other is successful next season.