rpm.espn.com: Drivers to Watch

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Wednesday, August 29
Drivers to Watch
ESPN.com news services

Check out a short list of drivers to keep an eye on this weekend at Elkhart Lake, Wis.

Michael Andretti
In 2000 at Vancouver, he started eighth and finished 12th; started from pole at the temporary street course in 1990, 1991 and 1992, winning the first two times; also won in 1996; in all 10 starts at Vancouver, he qualified in the top eight; chasing the Canadian double after also winning in Toronto on July 15; Team Motorola was back on the podium after three straight DNF; finished second in the Motorola 220 at Road America; fourth in the standings with 89 points.

Kenny Brack
Lost the championship points lead to Helio Castroneves after a 14th place finish at Road America; held the lead for nine straight races since winning his first career Champ Car race in Japan; trails Castroneves 110-105; won two other races this season and has not scored any points in four events; as a rookie last year, he finished ninth here.

Patrick Carpentier
Two years ago he finished second behind Juan Montoya; at the time it was the best result by a Canadian in the 10-year history of the Vancouver race; won the Harrah's 500 at Michigan Speedway last month for his first career CART triumph; finished on the podium in three of the past four races; in the last event at Road America, he placed ninth; other points finishes were fifth in Portland and eighth at the Grand Prix of Detroit; remained eighth in the standings with 69 points -- 33 on road courses and 36 on ovals.

Helio Castroneves
The seventh place finish in the Motorola 220 combined with a non-points finish by Kenny Brack made the Brazilian driver the new series points leader with 110 points, five in front of Brack; earned points in 10 races this year and also won the IRL-sanctioned Indianapolis 500; three CART wins were the GPs of Long Beach and Detroit and the Miller Lite 220 at Mid-Ohio.

Scott Dixon
The 20-year-old rookie from New Zealand won his first career CART race at Nazareth in May; 2000 Indy Lights champion is having a good campaign with eight other points finishes; best results were third at Milwaukee and a pair of fourths at Chicago and Elkhart Lake; up to fifth in the championship standings with 82 points; runs better on ovals where he scored 53 of his points.

Gil de Ferran
Has finished in the top-five in four of six appearances at Vancouver, with second as best in 1995; was fifth last year after overcoming a blend-line violation that resulted in a pit lane penalty midway through the race; posted good runs the last three events at Chicago (3rd), Mid-Ohio (2nd) and Road America (5th); remained third in the standings with 99 points, certainly within distance of the top two in an effort to retain his title.

Dario Franchitti
Won in Vancouver from the pole in 1998; last year he was runner-up to teammate Paul Tracy; a mechanical problem in the Motorola 220 forced him out after 31 laps for his third DNF of the year; finished in the points in eight races including victory in Cleveland last month which ended a two-year winless streak; 81 points earned puts him sixth in the championship.

Cristiano da Matta
Started year with win at the inaugural race in Mexico; an overall good season with points scored in nine races; another good finish was second in the Grand Prix of Long Beach; one of the most improved drivers in the last two years; seventh in last year's Vancouver event; 1998 Indy Lights champion.

Roberto Moreno
Brazilian veteran has finished in the points in seven of the last eight races; top finish was second at the Portland 200, preceded by a third in Detroit; back in the top-10 of the standings with 54 points; 10th in Vancouver in 2000, his best career year.

Paul Tracy
Defending champion of the Molson Indy Vancouver, by 0.384 seconds ahead of Team KOOL Green partner Dario Franchitti; an up-and-down season with seven points-paying finishes, but also five DNFs; ninth in the standings with 65 points.

Jimmy Vasser
Recorded two podium finishes in last four starts in Vancouver; last year he was sixth; in 1997, he led a race high 46 laps; also captured the pole in 1995.

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