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That is how Alex Zanardi describes this driver. Hopefully, Sunday will not be his last race in a Champ car. Here is the article:
MILLER: Jimmy Vasser - "The Teammate Everybody Wants"
Written by: Robin Miller
Indianapolis, IN – 11/3/2005 Jimmy Vasser is part of Champ Car's glorious past and its seemingly optimistic future. (Photo: Donald Miralle/Getty Images)
If Jimmy Vasser steps out of a Champ Car for the final time this Sunday afternoon in Mexico City, as expected, he'll walk away with one championship, 10 wins, nine poles and a multitude of memories.
He'll be remembered as a smart, clean racer who knew the limit and respected it.
An American success story that began in the SCCA ranks and drove to the top of open wheel racing.
A graceful guy who never forgot the people that helped him up the ladder.
And, as Alex Zanardi will be happy to tell you, a rarity in motorsports.
"When I came to CART in 1996 I have to admit I was a little bit envious because I was not enjoying the great results that Jimmy was getting," recalled the two-time CART champ. "And, you know, Jimmy was being nice to me but I thought that would probably end if I started winning or the results were reversed.
"But, in the three years we were together, he never changed. He was always very generous and very honest with me. He never lied. He did many nice things for me and, at first, I felt uncomfortable with this kind of consideration because I hadn't done anything to deserve it.
"Of course we became great friends and I'll always consider myself so lucky to have had this happen to me. You ask me to describe Jimmy Vasser. Well, he was a very good driver and a very special person.
"He's the teammate everybody wants."
Whether you were a cocky rookie like Juan Montoya, a guy trying to improve his craft like Michel Jourdain or a guy trying to prove his worth like Zanardi, Vasser treated then all as equals because he was the consummate team player.
"It's a whole team atmosphere and I'd like to think I promote that. You know, I don't promote screw your teammate mentality," said Vasser. "Sure, I want to beat my teammate, don't get me wrong. But, if I can't, I'm happy for them if they win the race.
"But all these guys work together in the shop, we have sponsors on both cars and if the other guy wins our sponsors are happy. You can't make a division between two sides. The guys I've been paired with are reasonable, sensible people and I think they understood.
"It's the team that's most important. That's the best feeling about winning a race or a championship. You were able to deliver your part of the deal and you helped the team reach its ultimate goal."
Vasser was an integral part of Chip Ganassi's Target thunderbolt that captured four consecutive CART titles from 1996-1999 with Vasser, Zanardi and Montoya. He tutored those Formula One boys on the art of ovals and gave them a sounding board on road courses.
If he resented their presence, he masked it well, and provides a splendid anecdote of this formidable twosome.
"I had won the championship in '96 and pretty much got pummeled by Zanardi in '97 and '98 even though I finished second and third in the points," continued Vasser. "When he went back to F1 I thought to myself, 'Well, there's no way I can get a teammate who's going to come in here that will be as competitive as Zanardi.
"Then, lo and behold, Juan Pablo Montoya shows up."
The native Californian chuckles at that irony since Montoya remains the most impressive rookie since Mario Andretti.
"Jimmy has always been fast but not Holy [email protected]#t fast...he makes very few mistakes. - Paul Tracy (Photo: Darrell Ingham/Getty Images)
Vasser's ascension to No. 1 wasn't nearly as quick. After six wins in Toyota Atlantic in 1991 for Rick Galles, he moved up to CART in '92 with an old car, a small budget and eyes wide open.
"Jim Hayhoe was instrumental in me making the jump to CART, as well as Rick Ellis, Rick Cole, John Della Penna and Angelo Ferro," he said. "I remember my first race at Long Beach and I finished right behind Rick Mears and that was cool since I used to sit in the stands and watch him a few years earlier.
"Then we go to Indy and I'm the fastest rookie qualifier. In the race, I tucked right in behind A.J. Foyt followed him around for the first 150 miles because I figured that would be the right thing to do. Those are my two early memories."
After being hired by Ganassi in 1995, J.V. had all the planets align in '96. He had a Reynard/Honda on Firestone tires and a badass Italian teammate to push him to the title in CART's heydays of competition.
"I had four second places in '95 so '96 was special because I got my first win and three more after that, plus the championship," he said. "I guess the U.S. 500 stands out the most. None of us imagined we wouldn't be running Indy but here we are at Michigan in front of 100,000 fans and I guess I kinda became the poster boy for that race.
"Remember, in victory lane I was joking with my crew and I said, 'Who needs milk?' and that instantly became quoted everywhere. We got back to the shop on Monday morning and there was a bottle of milk with a death threat. So, you know, the war begins, right?"
Ganassi was the first to cross battle lines in 2000 when he took Montoya and Vasser to Indianapolis but Jimmy still missed four Mays in his prime and four more this decade.
"I've won three 500-milers and finished second in another three so I would have liked to have had more opportunities at Indy, for sure," said Vasser, whose last lap duel with the late Greg Moore and Zanardi at Michigan in 1998 remains a classic. "I love Indianapolis. I'm able to separate Indy from the IRL and Indy is certainly not the way it used to be but it's still Indianapolis."
Vasser's laid back style on and off the track has been his calling card but Paul Tracy offers a quaint description of his longtime rival.
"Jimmy has always been fast but not Holy [email protected]#t fast," said Tracy. "He's not a stand out guy, he's not the fastest guy but he goes fast when he needs to and makes very few mistakes."
Although his last win came in a 500-miler at Fontana in 2002 when he edged Michael Andretti, Vasser is not an embarrassing roadblock like some guys who hung on too long. He's coming off back-to-back podiums and has out-paced teammate Cristiano da Matta much of the season.
Still, at 39 (he'll be 40 on Nov. 20), J.V. is realistic about his profession. He's co-owner of PKV Racing with Dan Pettit and Kevin Kalkhoven and wants to grow his team into a winner. Last August he said: "I think this is probably going to be my last year but I'm going to sit down with my partners and we'll work things out.
"I don't want to take up a seat if somebody is faster but I also don't want to give it up if they can't beat me."
In the final analysis, Jimmy Vasser has been a fast act and a class act for 14 years. He developed into a champion in CART's heydays and he's remained fiercely loyal to the series that nearly imploded a couple years ago. He's part of Champ Car's glorious past and its seemingly optimistic future.
"Quitting is a tough thing to think about and I'll always respect the way Gil de Ferrean retired at the top," he said. "He was respected by his peers up and down pit lane and that's the way to go out.
"I feel like I'm still competitive but, for now, the focus is on what's best for the team."
Naturally.
Jeeemy Article
It is a good read. He discusses the "Who needs milk" comment and his love for Indy.
Jimmy is a class act. I have never heard or read about a teammate saying one bad word about him. Alex has some great things to say about him. They are still great friends.
I certainly hope Sunday is not his last race. I would love to see him race in 2006 and even try Indy again. He is my favorite driver, and the racing season would not be the same without him. He is not the greatest driver of all time, but he was and is good.
But more important, he is a good person and teammate. I remember first meeting and talking with him at the first Houston Grand Prix. He talked to my friends and I for over 15 minutes, just BSing. I had on a Shell Houston Open shirt. He teased me that Herta should be my favorite driver, then called Herta over and introduced us to him. I have always enjoyed talking with Jimmy at the races I got to attend. He is a class act. CCWS and open wheel were better for having Jimmy Vasser race. And the racing world will miss him.
Good luck Sunday, Jimmy.
MILLER: Jimmy Vasser - "The Teammate Everybody Wants"
Written by: Robin Miller
Indianapolis, IN – 11/3/2005 Jimmy Vasser is part of Champ Car's glorious past and its seemingly optimistic future. (Photo: Donald Miralle/Getty Images)
If Jimmy Vasser steps out of a Champ Car for the final time this Sunday afternoon in Mexico City, as expected, he'll walk away with one championship, 10 wins, nine poles and a multitude of memories.
He'll be remembered as a smart, clean racer who knew the limit and respected it.
An American success story that began in the SCCA ranks and drove to the top of open wheel racing.
A graceful guy who never forgot the people that helped him up the ladder.
And, as Alex Zanardi will be happy to tell you, a rarity in motorsports.
"When I came to CART in 1996 I have to admit I was a little bit envious because I was not enjoying the great results that Jimmy was getting," recalled the two-time CART champ. "And, you know, Jimmy was being nice to me but I thought that would probably end if I started winning or the results were reversed.
"But, in the three years we were together, he never changed. He was always very generous and very honest with me. He never lied. He did many nice things for me and, at first, I felt uncomfortable with this kind of consideration because I hadn't done anything to deserve it.
"Of course we became great friends and I'll always consider myself so lucky to have had this happen to me. You ask me to describe Jimmy Vasser. Well, he was a very good driver and a very special person.
"He's the teammate everybody wants."
Whether you were a cocky rookie like Juan Montoya, a guy trying to improve his craft like Michel Jourdain or a guy trying to prove his worth like Zanardi, Vasser treated then all as equals because he was the consummate team player.
"It's a whole team atmosphere and I'd like to think I promote that. You know, I don't promote screw your teammate mentality," said Vasser. "Sure, I want to beat my teammate, don't get me wrong. But, if I can't, I'm happy for them if they win the race.
"But all these guys work together in the shop, we have sponsors on both cars and if the other guy wins our sponsors are happy. You can't make a division between two sides. The guys I've been paired with are reasonable, sensible people and I think they understood.
"It's the team that's most important. That's the best feeling about winning a race or a championship. You were able to deliver your part of the deal and you helped the team reach its ultimate goal."
Vasser was an integral part of Chip Ganassi's Target thunderbolt that captured four consecutive CART titles from 1996-1999 with Vasser, Zanardi and Montoya. He tutored those Formula One boys on the art of ovals and gave them a sounding board on road courses.
If he resented their presence, he masked it well, and provides a splendid anecdote of this formidable twosome.
"I had won the championship in '96 and pretty much got pummeled by Zanardi in '97 and '98 even though I finished second and third in the points," continued Vasser. "When he went back to F1 I thought to myself, 'Well, there's no way I can get a teammate who's going to come in here that will be as competitive as Zanardi.
"Then, lo and behold, Juan Pablo Montoya shows up."
The native Californian chuckles at that irony since Montoya remains the most impressive rookie since Mario Andretti.
"Jimmy has always been fast but not Holy [email protected]#t fast...he makes very few mistakes. - Paul Tracy (Photo: Darrell Ingham/Getty Images)
Vasser's ascension to No. 1 wasn't nearly as quick. After six wins in Toyota Atlantic in 1991 for Rick Galles, he moved up to CART in '92 with an old car, a small budget and eyes wide open.
"Jim Hayhoe was instrumental in me making the jump to CART, as well as Rick Ellis, Rick Cole, John Della Penna and Angelo Ferro," he said. "I remember my first race at Long Beach and I finished right behind Rick Mears and that was cool since I used to sit in the stands and watch him a few years earlier.
"Then we go to Indy and I'm the fastest rookie qualifier. In the race, I tucked right in behind A.J. Foyt followed him around for the first 150 miles because I figured that would be the right thing to do. Those are my two early memories."
After being hired by Ganassi in 1995, J.V. had all the planets align in '96. He had a Reynard/Honda on Firestone tires and a badass Italian teammate to push him to the title in CART's heydays of competition.
"I had four second places in '95 so '96 was special because I got my first win and three more after that, plus the championship," he said. "I guess the U.S. 500 stands out the most. None of us imagined we wouldn't be running Indy but here we are at Michigan in front of 100,000 fans and I guess I kinda became the poster boy for that race.
"Remember, in victory lane I was joking with my crew and I said, 'Who needs milk?' and that instantly became quoted everywhere. We got back to the shop on Monday morning and there was a bottle of milk with a death threat. So, you know, the war begins, right?"
Ganassi was the first to cross battle lines in 2000 when he took Montoya and Vasser to Indianapolis but Jimmy still missed four Mays in his prime and four more this decade.
"I've won three 500-milers and finished second in another three so I would have liked to have had more opportunities at Indy, for sure," said Vasser, whose last lap duel with the late Greg Moore and Zanardi at Michigan in 1998 remains a classic. "I love Indianapolis. I'm able to separate Indy from the IRL and Indy is certainly not the way it used to be but it's still Indianapolis."
Vasser's laid back style on and off the track has been his calling card but Paul Tracy offers a quaint description of his longtime rival.
"Jimmy has always been fast but not Holy [email protected]#t fast," said Tracy. "He's not a stand out guy, he's not the fastest guy but he goes fast when he needs to and makes very few mistakes."
Although his last win came in a 500-miler at Fontana in 2002 when he edged Michael Andretti, Vasser is not an embarrassing roadblock like some guys who hung on too long. He's coming off back-to-back podiums and has out-paced teammate Cristiano da Matta much of the season.
Still, at 39 (he'll be 40 on Nov. 20), J.V. is realistic about his profession. He's co-owner of PKV Racing with Dan Pettit and Kevin Kalkhoven and wants to grow his team into a winner. Last August he said: "I think this is probably going to be my last year but I'm going to sit down with my partners and we'll work things out.
"I don't want to take up a seat if somebody is faster but I also don't want to give it up if they can't beat me."
In the final analysis, Jimmy Vasser has been a fast act and a class act for 14 years. He developed into a champion in CART's heydays and he's remained fiercely loyal to the series that nearly imploded a couple years ago. He's part of Champ Car's glorious past and its seemingly optimistic future.
"Quitting is a tough thing to think about and I'll always respect the way Gil de Ferrean retired at the top," he said. "He was respected by his peers up and down pit lane and that's the way to go out.
"I feel like I'm still competitive but, for now, the focus is on what's best for the team."
Naturally.
Jeeemy Article
It is a good read. He discusses the "Who needs milk" comment and his love for Indy.
Jimmy is a class act. I have never heard or read about a teammate saying one bad word about him. Alex has some great things to say about him. They are still great friends.
I certainly hope Sunday is not his last race. I would love to see him race in 2006 and even try Indy again. He is my favorite driver, and the racing season would not be the same without him. He is not the greatest driver of all time, but he was and is good.
But more important, he is a good person and teammate. I remember first meeting and talking with him at the first Houston Grand Prix. He talked to my friends and I for over 15 minutes, just BSing. I had on a Shell Houston Open shirt. He teased me that Herta should be my favorite driver, then called Herta over and introduced us to him. I have always enjoyed talking with Jimmy at the races I got to attend. He is a class act. CCWS and open wheel were better for having Jimmy Vasser race. And the racing world will miss him.
Good luck Sunday, Jimmy.
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