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Thursday, March 8
Last year's runner-up now an owner
Associated Press
MONTERREY, Mexico -- It seems fitting that Fernández Racing, the dream come true for Adrián Fernández, will begin it's first season with a race in Mexico.
Fernández is a national hero in his native country and will be the center of attention throughout the inaugural Tecate Telmex Monterrey Grand Prix.
|  | | Last year's CART runner-up Adrián Fernández is in his first season as an owner/driver. |
"Security was tough enough when he went to Houston, where they have a big Mexican population," team co-owner Tom Anderson said. "It's going to be wild in Mexico."
The hero worship certainly will be a distraction for last year's CART runner-up, but the only owner-driver in the Champ Car field can't afford to let his attention waver.
"As a team, we have accomplished a lot and worked really hard to be ready for this weekend," said Fernández, who walked away from the established Patrick Racing to race for his own team. "Our game plan is to stick to the basics. I think if we stick to the basics and not try anything fancy, we will do very well."
Anderson, who helped guide Target Chip Ganassi Racing to CART titles from 1996-99, said Fernández Racing -- with second-year driver Shinji Nakano of Japan in the second car -- is about as ready as possible at this point.
"We're feeling somewhat optimistic for a new team going into the first race," he said. "Obviously, this group of people has never worked together before as a team at a race venue, and testing is very different from racing. It will be very interesting to see what problems come up that we are not anticipating, but I believe that we have the talent available to handle the problems."
Actually, there are a lot of unanswered questions for everyone in CART.
Everything will be new for Fernández and the rest of the drivers on Friday when they take to the 2.1-mile permanent road course built in the downtown Fundidora Park on ground once occupied by Latin America's first steel mill. Promoters have said the race, expected to draw about 60,000 spectators, was a sellout within hours of the tickets going on sale.
"There is a lot of anticipation for the race," Fernández said. "I have not experienced anything like this before, and I think it will be a unique experience for the CART community.
"They have not seen anything like this. It is a very, very well supported race."
If Fernández is to replace Gil de Ferran as champion of the open-wheel series, he needs to get off to a strong start. Besides having a new and untried team and being the object of fan frenzy in Mexico, Fernández is facing another obstacle this weekend.
Pain and swelling in his left wrist that began during winter testing has been diagnosed as a form of tendinitis called intersection syndrome.
"It's not going to be a problem, but it's in the back of my mind," Fernández said. "I have worked very hard to prepare physically for the season and this is the only thing bothering me."
Fernández, who has seven career victories, had his best year in CART in 2000 thanks to consistency. He led the series with 17 points-paying finishes in 20 races.
"With the kind of competition we have in this series, with maybe a dozen drivers who can win in any race and challenge for the championship, you have to run up front and finish all the time to have any kind of chance," Fernández said. "I can't wait to get started."
For the first time in CART's 22-year history, there will be no qualifying on Friday at road races. The opening day will be practice only, with one round of time trials on Saturday.  Send this story to a friend | Most sent stories
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