Herta Could Fill American Void in F-1 Racing

Formula One racing, like soccer, captivates much of the rest of the world but is not particularly popular in the United States.

Soccer, though, at least, has a USA presence in the World Cup. There is no American presence in Formula One, even though one of its 17 races will be run in Indianapolis next month.

There has not been an American driver in Grand Prix racing since Michael Andretti’s abortive season in 1993, when he and McLaren called off their association with three races remaining. Until a week ago, no American had so much as tested an F-1 car since 1994, when Elton Julian of Beverly Hills drove for the Tourtel Larrousse team in tests but never raced.

Bryan Herta, a veteran of eight years in CART but unemployed since his Zakspeed/Forsythe team folded after the 2001 season, may fill that American void on the Grand Prix roster. The Hart High graduate from Valencia tested a week ago with the Minardi team at Donington Park in England and may drive in this year’s final three F-1 races, including Sept. 29 at Indianapolis.

“I drove 30 laps over two days in a test with three other drivers,” Herta said after returning home. “We were told not to talk about comparative speeds, so I’ll just say that I was very pleased with what I did. I am hoping it will get me in one of Minardi’s cars later this year.”

Also testing were Justin Wilson, last year’s Formula 3000 champion; Matteo Bobbi, Minardi’s regular test driver, and David Saefens, Minardi’s F3000 driver.

Herta, 32, who won two CART races, at Laguna Seca in 1998 and 1999, took an old-fashioned approach to getting a Formula One ride.

“When I saw my chances gone of racing in CART again this year, I flew to England over the winter and knocked on the door of nearly every F-1 team. I said, ‘Hey, I’m interested in doing this. How about giving me a test?’ ”

Australian Mark Webber is Minardi’s No. 1 driver. Alex Yoong, a Malaysian, started the season in the second car but was “given a rest” after failing to qualify for several races. Anthony Davidson, 23, signed for two races, last week in Hungary where he failed to finish, and Sept. 1 at the Spa in Belgium.

“After that, the seat is open for Monza, the U.S. and Japan,” Herta said. “I felt confident after the test. I was very comfortable in the car, a last year’s Minardi with a Cosworth engine. I know their cars are some of the slowest on the Grand Prix grid, but I would like to get my foot in the door and I have heard that Minardi has plans for some exciting changes next year.”

Besides following a rigorous physical training program, Herta has tried to stay sharp by driving a Panoz sports car with Bill Auberlen of Redondo Beach in the American LeMans series and the 24 Hours of LeMans. They have four top-five finishes in six races.

“In 1991, when I drove in the Formula Ford World Cup in England, I wanted to drive in Formula One but I couldn’t raise enough money to stay in Europe so I came home and drove Indy Lights and CART champ cars,” Herta said.

“It’s tough getting in over there. They don’t think very highly of American champ-car drivers. They have an elitist attitude and their last experience with Michael Andretti didn’t do much to improve their idea of the American image.”

Earlier this year, Herta, a karting champion in the 1980s, filed suit against CART when it appeared that the national karting program he had helped sponsor would be dropped by the sanctioning body.

“We’ve worked things out and it looks like it will be a happy ending for everyone,” he said. “Karting will continue to be the first step up the ladder to CART. We had 40 races this year and the Grand National championship at Las Vegas in November will give owners an opportunity to identify talent at a young age.

“Karting has become the way to start for nearly all of the top drivers now, even NASCAR. Kevin Harvick, Tony Stewart and a lot of other stock car drivers [are former kart drivers].”

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The Home Scene

Rip Michels’ twin wins in NASCAR’s super late model stock cars last week at Irwindale Speedway gave him a 38-point lead over Brandon Loverock with four races remaining, including Saturday night’s main event. Michels, from Mission Hills, was the track’s Grand American modified champion in 2000.... Drag racers will compete tonight at Irwindale Dragstrip in a 32-car manufacturers’ challenge event.

Ventura Racing Assn. 360cc sprint cars, after racing at Perris Auto Speedway while the county fair took over Ventura Raceway, return to their home track Saturday night.... While Sprint Car Racing Assn. cars continue their Midwestern tour, Perris Auto Speedway turns to stock cars and cruisers for its Saturday night program. The SCRA will return Sept. 1 for a rare Sunday night main event.

The ninth annual International Jet Sports Boating Assn. race for personal watercraft from Long Beach to Catalina and back will start at 9 a.m. Saturday under the Queensway Bridge, near the Queen Mary. Billy Womack will be going for his fourth consecutive victory in the 46-mile round trip.

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The Injury Roll Call

Actor-driver Jason Priestley has been moved from the intensive care unit at Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis to a private room, his condition listed as stable. Priestley, who suffered multiple injuries in an accident during practice Aug. 11 at Kentucky Speedway, underwent surgery Monday to repair fractures in his nose and bones in his face. He previously had surgery to repair fractures in his back and feet.

Indy Racing League driver Richie Hearn is recovering from surgery last week on a badly broken right ankle. In an accident at Kentucky Speedway, Hearn broke his ankle in five places, requiring four screws.... Shane Scully, U.S. Auto Club western midget car series points leader, has been released from Northridge Hospital and is recuperating at home in Encino from injuries suffered during an Aug. 2 race in Belleville, Kan. Scully suffered a closed head injury, broken right hand and contusions.

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Drag Racing

Top-fuel driver Kenny Bernstein once trailed Larry Dixon by 259 points in NHRA standings, but with his victory over Dixon in the finals Sunday at Brainerd, Minn., cut the deficit to 80 points with seven events remaining.

“If we’re successful in winning the championship after being down 259 points earlier in the season, it will be one of the biggest comebacks in NHRA history,” said Bernstein, who is retiring after this season.

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Speedway Motorcycles

Former world champion Greg Hancock of Balboa moved into first place in the AMA National Speedway championship series with a win last Friday at Auburn, Calif. One round remains, Sept. 20, at Auburn.

Hancock, the national champion in 1995, 1998 and 2000, finished ahead of three-time winner Mike Faria, Billy Janniro and former world champion Billy Hamill. Hancock leads the standings with 36 points to 35 for Hamill and 34 for Janniro, all of whom are racing on European circuits. The first American-based rider is Faria with 28.

Costa Mesa Speedway, where Hancock and Hamill got their start, is not involved because it is not an AMA-sanctioned track. It will host its own U.S. Nationals on Oct. 12. Saturday night’s weekly program will feature Harley-Davidsons on the tiny oval in addition to speedway bikes and sidecars.

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Last Laps

Boris Said of Carlsbad won his fourth Trans-Am series feature at Road America, extending his lead to 20 points over former champion Paul Gentilozzi.... Paul Bonaccorsi of Rancho Cucamonga won his second SCCA Pro Racing World Challenge touring car race at Mosport, Canada. James Sofronas of Newport Beach was sixth.