MAY 12, 2002

A good idea...

INDIANAPOLIS 500 qualifying on Saturday resulted in an interesting grid headed by former Williams test driver Bruno Junqueira. But one of the most impressive showings was that of Sarah Fisher, the 21-year-old American girl who qualified ninth at 229.439mph in his Dreyer and Reinbold Racing G Force-Infiniti, ahead of such luminaries as Tomas Scheckter, Al Unser Jr., Helio Castroneves, CART Champion Gil de Ferran and a host of others. Even more impressive was the fact that Fisher only landed the drive recently.

Fisher has been out of work since the Kroger grocery chain withdrew its Walker Racing sponsorship after last season. When another sponsor failed to materialize, Fisher asked Walker to release her from her contract. At the moment the deal is only for the Indianapolis 500 and it might be a good idea if Formula 1 went to have a word.

The sport has been looking for a young American for some time and a woman would be an added bonus at a time when the sport is trying to get a little more excitement into the racing...

Fisher was the youngest person ever to compete in IRL back in 2000 and her best result to date was second at Homestead.

No doubt out there somewhere are sponsors who would be interested in backing an American woman on the world stage...