Q&A: What former Indy champ Jimmy Vasser loves about vintage racing

Put it down to serendipity (mostly anyway), but at this past weekend’s Ariens Art on Wheels with VSCDA at Road America, we caught up with veteran racer and team owner Jimmy Vasser. He was enjoying a fun weekend with friends while piloting a 1978 Crossle 32F Formula Ford for Rod Bolhous’ TIP 189 Racing.

We spoke briefly with Vasser late Saturday afternoon after a day busy with morning qualifying (10th in class, after first in class in P1 Friday afternoon) and an afternoon sprint race (retired after two laps), which, well, necessitated post-race repairs.

Photography Credits: James Heine

For more than three decades, Vasser has been a fixture at the highest levels of motorsports–Formula Atlantic, CART/ChampCar (1996 CART PPG Indy Car World Series champion), IndyCar, NASCAR.

Since retiring from racing in 2005, as a team owner he has recorded wins at Indianapolis (in 2013 with KV Racing Technology and driver Tony Kanaan) as well numerous IMSA races with Texas businessman James “Sulli” Sullivan, his partner in Vasser Sullivan Championship Racing. Last year, with Lexus, the team claimed IMSA’s GTD PRO Driver, Team and Manufacturers Championships.

Photography Credits: IMSA/Michael L. Levitt

Vasser began his climb up the motorsports ladder in Formula Ford, winning the SCCA’s 1986 Formula Ford title at Road Atlanta in a Swift DB1. That prompted our first question:

Classic Motorsports: Tell us about your current Formula Ford efforts.

Vasser: It’s the fourth year I’ve been with the team [TIP 189 Racing]. It’s based here. They’re dear friends, and I’ve been fortunate to have been invited to participate. Once a year I come to run the car they own and prepare. This is my second time at Elkhart Lake. We’ve also done races at Indianapolis and COTA.

Classic Motorsports: How many times have you raced here at Road America?

Vasser: I’ve pretty much raced here every year since 1990, up until I retired in 2005. In 1990 and 1991, we were in Atlantics, and then starting with my IndyCar career every year until I retired. We’ve also tested quite a bit up here.

Classic Motorsports: What do you still find enjoyable about Formula Ford, especially since you began your career in Formula Ford?

Vasser: Yes, it’s just that simple. Formula Ford is a great starting formula for a young driver, and in vintage, it’s the best bang for your buck for fun. It’s great, competitive racing, good people, the cars are pretty equal, and it’s not outrageously expensive.

Classic Motorsports: So far, how has your weekend gone?

Vasser: It’s been pretty good. We had a malfunction during the last race. We lost a halfshaft and blew a brake rotor, so we’re trying to get it back together for tomorrow.

Classic Motorsports: How was the Formula Ford East versus Formula Ford West Challenge race yesterday afternoon?

Vasser: It was good. We finished third. We were just out there having fun, and it was great fun. We had a good battle with Phil Kingham [1976 Zink C10C] for second. The guy who won [Reid Hazelton, 1992 Van Dieman RF92] was just on a different planet. He was seconds faster per lap.

Classic Motorsports: Overall, what are your impressions of the weekend and of Road America?

Vasser: I’ve spent a lot of time here, and I’ve always loved Road America. When the weather is like this, it’s one of the most beautiful places on the planet.

Comments

View all comments on the CMS forums

You'll need to log in to post.