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Tuesday, April 3 Drivers to Watch ESPN.com news services Check out a short list of drivers to keep an eye on this weekend at Long Beach. Michael Andretti Debut with Team Motorola was good with a fourth place on March 11 at the Monterrey GP in Mexico; announced last week he will compete in the Indianapolis 500 this year for the first time since 1995; owns nine top-10 finishes at Long Beach and three poles (the last in 1995) in 16 career starts; one of his 40 career victories was recorded at the venue in 1986; has led a total of 126 laps, 13 of which last year before a 14th place finish. Kenny Brack Rookie season with Team Rahal was excellent; and the start this year was where he left off; finishes fifth in Mexico last month for his sixth top-five result in the last 10 races; awarded Rookie of the Year honors last year; top performer at in every series competed in. Helio Castroneves The eighth place finish in the season's first race in Mexico was his sixth straight points paying finish; 25-year-old Brazilian won three races last year, three poles and finished a career-best seventh in the series standings; wins were at Detroit, Mid-Ohio and Laguna Seca; was runner-up to Paul Tracy in the Grand Prix of Long Beach. Gil de Ferran The 2000 CART champion finished on the podium in four of his last six races including runner-up at the season-opening inaugural event in Mexico; the 16 points earned, puts him second behind Cristiano da Matta in the standings; started from the pole three time on the streets of Long Beach and holds the qualifying record set last year at 104.969 mph; finished seventh in the race. Dario Franchitti The personable Scotsman started the year with a ninth-place finish in Mexico; earned points in three of four appearances at Long Beach, highlighted by successive second-place finishes in 1998 and 1999; completed just nine of 20 races last year, but made those count with podium finishes at Motegi, Japan; Michigan; Vancouver and Monterey, California. Cristiano da Matta Holds the top position in CART for the first time in his career by way of his victory at the season-opening Monterrey GP in Mexico on March 11; it was his debut with the Newman/Hass team, replacing the departed Michael Andretti to Team Motorola; led 32 of the 78 laps, including the final 18 for his second career win in the Champ Car series. Paul Tracy Stormed from 17th starting position to take the checkered flag at the Grand Prix of Long Beach in 2000 (it was the second deepest position on the grid from which anyone has driven to victory in a CART road or street-course race -- he also holds the record); led the final 21 laps en route to a 3.19-second margin of victory ahead of Helio Castroneves; made his CART debut at Long Beach in 1991 and claimed his first career victory two years later; earned pole in 1994; started 2001 with a strong third place result in Mexico. Jimmy Vasser Owns six top-10 finishes in nine career starts at Long Beach including win in 1996 and third on the podium last year; scored points in seven of his last eight starts dating to last year; finished sixth in the season opener in Mexico in his debut with Patrick Racing. Alex Zanardi Return to the CART series with Mo Nunn Racing was not positive as he made contact on lap 39 and finished 24th; won two of three career starts on the streets of Long Beach, in 1997 and 1998, his championship seasons; started from the front row in 1996 and 1997; has 15 victories in Champ series and 10 poles while with Target Chip/Ganassi.  Send this story to a friend | Most sent stories
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