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Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach -- Notebook

TOYOTA GRAND PRIX OF LONG BEACH NOTEBOOK

Target/Chip Ganassi Racing driver Jimmy Vasser (Target Reynard Honda)
became the first driver since Mario Andretti in 1985 to claim three of
the first four races in a PPG Indy Car World Series season.

Vasser won the season opener at the Marlboro Grand Prix of Miami,
finished eighth at the Rio 400 and then reeled off consecutive victories
at the IndyCar Australia and Sunday's Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach.
Vasser, who entered the season seeking his first career victory, leads
the PPG Cup standings, 67-44, over Scott Pruett (Firestone Patrick
Racing Lola Ford).

Andretti also had his only miss at victory in 1985 come in the second
race of the season. He won from the pole at Long Beach, finished
runner-up at Indianapolis and followed with victories at Milwaukee and
Portland. His victory at Milwaukee also came from the pole.

Interestingly enough, Andretti's hot start did not result in the PPG Cup
championship. He did not win another race after Portland and finished
fifth in the PPG Cup race. Al Unser Sr. won the title by a point over
his son, Al Jr.

Vasser, however, has a current streak that works to his advantage. Two
of the last three drivers who have won the PPG Cup -- Jacques Villeneuve
in 1995 and Nigel Mansell in '93 -- won the season-opening race.

* YOUNG AT HEART (AND BODY)

Michel Jourdain Jr. became the youngest driver in history to start a PPG
Indy Car World Series race when he took the green flag in the Grand Prix
of Long Beach. Jourdain, 19 years, 6 months 12 days, eclipsed the mark
set by Unser Jr., who was 20 years, 4 months and 10 days when he started
at Riverside (Calif.) International Raceway on Aug. 29, 1982.

Jourdain qualified 27th in the 28-car field and finished 23rd in the
No. 22 Herdez/Perry Ellis/ALTA Natural Spring Water Lola Ford for Team
Scandia. "I felt very good," said Jourdain Jr., who exited after 46 laps
because of a radiator problem. "I let everyone pass that needed to, but
I also passed two or three cars. I think I was doing good."

His recent feat, however, may force him to have a small chat with Josele
Garza, who ran Jourdain's Formula 2 team in Mexico. Garza has two
birthdays in Indy Car annals and depending on which one he decides to
use he could be disputed as the youngest driver to start a PPG Indy Car
World Series event. Garza listed his birth date as March 17, 1959 on his
race entry for his debut March 22, 1981 at Phoenix, making him 22 years,
5 days old. But Garza apparently found the "Fountain of Youth" later
in his career. He later listed his birth date as March 15, 1962, which
would have made him 19 years, 7 days old in his 1981 debut.

* CHAMPIONSHIP UPDATE

Honda, with victories in all four events, leads the Manufacturer's
Championship with 80 points. Mercedes-Benz is second at 54 and Ford
Cosworth third with 50. In the Constructor's Championship, Reynard, with
three triumphs, leads with 72 points. Lola is second with 56 and Penske
third with 39. … The United States, thanks to three victories by Vasser,
is ahead in the Nation's Cup race with 76 points. Brazil is second with
58 and Canada third with 32. … Greg Moore (Player's Ltd./Indeck Reynard
Mercedes) leads the Rookie of the Year race with 20 points. Alex Zanardi
(Target Reynard Honda) is second with 14 points and Eddie Lawson (Delco
Electronics High Tech Team Galles Lola Mercedes) third with 10 points.

* COSTLY MOVE

Christian Fittipaldi (Kmart Budweiser Lola Ford) drew an automatic fine
of $5,000 for unsportsmanlike conduct because of his actions after he
and Moore were involved in an incident on Lap 47. After the two cars
made contact, Fittipaldi exited his car, went over to Moore and pulled
him out of his car by the visor. "It was just something that happens in
the heat of the moment," Fittipaldi said. In addition to the Fittipaldi
incident, IndyCar Chief Steward Wally Dallenbach and Vice President of
Competition Kirk Russell met with several competitors for nearly three
hours after the race. More than one incident involving several teams and
drivers were discussed and reviewed. Disciplinary action will be taken
early this week.

* GORDON'S FAN-TASTIC PROPOSAL

Robby Gordon (Valvoline/Cummins/Craftsman Reynard Ford) made a wedding
proposal Sunday morning at the Racers Private Motor Sports Club, but
those wedding bells are not ringing for him. Gordon, an Orange, Calif.
resident, was asked to perform the task on behalf of one of his fans,
John Williamson, who was marrying -- who else -- but another Gordon fan,
Juliana Page. After Gordon delivered the news to Page, Williamson got
down on one knee and made the official proposal himself before 225 fans
of Gordon. Gordon then presented the couple with an autographed bottle
of Domain Chandon. "I'm not ready to jump into something like this, but
if I can help out one of my fans and if they are ready to make the step,
then I'm more than happy to help them out. I'm just glad she didn't say
'No' to him and 'Yes' to me.'"

* WHERE'S KRAMER?

Television star Jerry Seinfeld served on Al Unser Jr.'s pit crew during
Sunday's race. At the personal invitation of Unser Jr., Seinfeld --
outfitted in a Marlboro Team Penske fire suit -- held the "Reset Fuel
Meter" sign during Unser's pit stops. Seinfeld is a big racing fan and
was thrilled by the opportunity to participate in an IndyCar event.

* ODDS AND ENDS

NFL Hall of Fame running back Walter Payton, who also is the co-owner
of Payton-Coyne Racing, drove the pace car for the start of the Toyota
Grand Prix of Long Beach. Payton, who starred for the Chicago Bears,
is the NFL's all-time leading rusher. … When Gil de Ferran (Pennzoil
Special Reynard Honda) led the first lap, it marked the first time a
team with Goodyear tires had led since the latter stages of the Rio
400, a span of 94 laps. … Vasser has completed 435 of a possible 436
laps this season, finishing a lap off the pace at the Rio 400. Scott
Pruett (Firestone Patrick Racing Lola Ford) and Fittipaldi were the only
drivers entering the Long Beach event that had completed every lap. On
Sunday, Pruett finished 103 of 105 and Fittipaldi 47.