1998 Pole Winner: Jimmy Vasser 1998 Race Winner: Adrian Fernandez 1998 SpeedCenter Report

Can Fernandez Repeat in 1997 Car?

Adrian Fernandez returns to Japan to defend his 1998 win at Motegi driving a two year old car. At least that's what he rolled outfor the first day of practice.Recent tests in Nazarethconvinced the team that the older Reynard was still the better bet for finishing up front in Japan. Since no CART team spends the big dollars to test in Japan, all teams heavily depend on their 1998 setups and data. After the vintage Reynardcar performed very well in Homestead, the choice to bring the old car back to Japan makes a lot of sense.

The man who was on Adrian's heels in '98 will be watching from home this year - the injured Al Unser Jr. will be replaced by rookie Tarso Marques. Marques was appointed to fill in for Unser Jr. after impressing with good speed in a recent testat Nazareth.

Motegi, a track very similar to Homestead, provides an arena for drivers and teams to back up their performances fromHomestead. Since several more ovals follow in the early part of the CART season, it is crucial for teams to get up to speed by Japan. Fernandez took the points lead at Motegi last year, and he was able to hang on to a top position allseason long. Teams who struggled during the early races in '98 never really were able to catch up to the topperformers. PacWest was in such a situation last year, and will be trying extra hard in 1999 not to fall behindagain.

Many observers will have their eyes on the Toyota cars this weekend. Was da Matta's qualifying run at Homestead a one-of-a-kindlap, or is the engine truly up to the performance level of the competition? the Toyotas qualifying at Motegi will have to back upthe very promising speeds from Homestead.

Following the first lap accident at Homestead, Walker Racing will only field one car in Japan - rookie Naoki Hattori will be confined to watching from the sideline, while no spare driver has been appointed to pilot his #15 car for the coming races.

Michael Andretti's second race on Firestone tires will come at a Firestone-sponsored event. He ran extremely well last year until a fuel miscalculation cost him the race. Will he be able to capitalize on his fast 1998 setup with the proven consistencyof Firestone rubber? His second place in Homestead this year clearly makes him one of the favorites for this event. Maybe thequestions should be "can he shake off the gremlins that usually cost him a win,"rather than will the tires make the difference this time around...

Adrian Fernandez
I'm looking forward to going back to Japan especially as the defending champion. The people are so niceand treat us so well I am going over a little early so I can spend some time sightseeing and just relaxing."

It was very special to win the inaugural race in Japan because I was new to the team andbecause it was such an important win for Firestone. I think that a big part of my victory last yearwas because of the durability of the Firestone tires. During the last segment of the race the Firestone tires were stillproviding a lot of grip and that gave me an advantage and allowed me to hold off, and in fact increase my lead, over AlUnser Jr."

PJ Jones
I'm excited about going to Japan and getting back in the Visteon/Patrick Racing Ford-Cosworth. Overall I ampleased with the results of the first race of the season, but I know the Visteon/Patrick Racing team can do better.Considering it was my first time with this package I think we rebounded well from a tough qualifying session. Iam most impressed with the power and driveability of the Ford engine and the Firestone tires are proven winners."

Max Papis
"The pressure is only what you put on yourself and I always look to improvemy performance. I want to be successful and do a good job forTeam Rahal. I know if Bobby wanted me on the team it is because he believesin me as a person and in my driving abilities. He knows that my drivingcapabilities can fulfill his expectations."

Bryan Herta
"Fortunately we have a lot of good data built up from Bobby's great run lastyear. Since Motegi is the one true oval none of us in CARThave a chance to test, it is difficult to make up ground if your team fallsbehind early. The information from last season's success will give us agreat starting point for 1999."

Alex Barron
"I'm looking forward to competing again at Motegi. Due toTRD's hard work we have a newlydeveloped engine which promises more power for therace weekend. We've done a lot of testing in the lastmonth with the new Eagle 997 chassis. A good resultin Motegi would be especially meaningful in Toyota'shome country."

Robby Gordon
"From all indications, the pieces are in place for Team Gordon to mounta charge to the front of the pack. We showed everyone atHomestead that we are for real. From there, we know it's essential thatwe keep pushing ahead and make significant progress every time we hitthe track. Having top-notch racing people in our camp is one thing. But the best part about Homestead is that we showed we have thatall-important chemistry to be effective as a unit. And these guys aretough as nails."

Tony Kanaan
"When we go to Motegi, it is the same type of pressure as when I race inmy home country of Brazil because it is Honda's house and I want to dowell. For Firestone as well, I feel like I have a big responsibility togo there and bring home a good result. I scored the first points of myChamp Car career at Motegi last year, so for sure I will always rememberthat race. Motegi is a very fast oval and a world-class facility.

"We had a disappointing start to the season with the fuel system problemat Homestead, but for me that is part of the past already. I am lookingforward to Japan. Our season starts now."

Gil de Ferran
"I think you're going to see a lot of exciting overtaking going on at bothends of the track. There's definitely more than one groove around the track,and it's fairly easy to get clean air, so you're going to see passing both onthe straights and on the turns. Turns 1 and 2 are extremely fast -- flat out-- we're over 200 mph. Turn 3 is different. You have to touch your brake, andstill exit at over 200 mph. The track is fast."

Naoki Hattori
"Racing in front of Japanese motor race fan in Motegi was one of my biggestdreams in this year. Especially, I had been working toward that since Istarted racing the Indy Lights two years ago. I am terribly disappointed atthis moment not to be able to race my champ car in my home country"

Paul Tracy
I'm looking forward to Motegi for a lot of reasons. Number one, it'll bemy first race of the year so I'm anxious to get going and to get my '99season with Team KOOL Green off to a good start. I'm confident I cando that, because we had a strong race at Motegi last year and we werecompetitive on the speedways throughout the season. Plus, I'm sureHonda and Firestone will pull-out all the stops. "

"Although this is only our second race at Twin Ring Motegi, I have lots offond memories of the track. The first time I drove for Team KOOLGreen was at the CART open test at Motegi in the fall of '97 and Iremember thinking at the time just how fortunate I was that fate had putme at Team KOOL Green with Dario."

"I also remember the day the Honda people organized a trip down to theNorth Short Course where Alex Zanardi and I got to drive the HondaSide-by-Side formula cars. Naturally, Alex and I went at it pretty goodbut the best part was that Mr. Kawamoto, the head of Honda, was rightthere cheering us on, taking pictures with a camera and having the time ofhis life."

"The track itself was finished then, of course, but a lot of the really neatthings like the hotel and the museum were still under construction and itwas just amazing to come back here last year and see the whole placecompleted. It really is the finest racing facility I've ever seen."

Dario Franchitti
"Ever since my experience racing touring cars at Suzuka (winner in '96),I've looked forward to racing in front of the Japanese fans who are veryknowledgeable and enthusiastic. I'm looking forward to improving lastyear's race result and, now with a full season's worth of experience withTeam KOOL Green, I feel I can do that. And it would be especially niceto bring Honda and Firestone a good finish at their home race."

"The Motegi track is one of the most interesting ovals we race on, withtwo very different corners. One you run flat-out and the other is tightenough that it requires braking and even a downshift; it makes for aunique challenge when it comes to car set-up."

"Then there's the facility. Fantastic. I mean, you go up into the mountainsand there it is, like something out of a James Bond movie! It leads theway in racing facilities – from the hotel to the road course, to the garages,to the Honda museum, to the dirt oval and drivers training facilities – it'sthe complete package."