15 Facts About Jimmy Vasser

Jimmy Vasser was the last American to win the CART championship.

Jimmy Vasser made his CART debut in 1992 and qualified for the Indianapolis 500, setting a record for the fastest qualifying run by a first-year driver.

Jimmy Vasser won four races in 1996 and did enough to maintain a lead in the standings for most of the season, clinching the championship at the season's final race.

Jimmy Vasser was outperformed by his teammate and Montoya won the championship on his rookie season.

In 2000, his last year with Chip Ganassi Racing, Jimmy Vasser won the Houston Grand Prix for his first victory since 1998.

For 2001, Jimmy Vasser moved to the Patrick Racing team to drive the No 40 Reynard Toyota.

Jimmy Vasser ran well and finished in 4th place as CART drivers swept the top five spots at the 500.

However, once returning to the CART circuit, back to back crashes in race No 5 at Milwaukee and race No 6 at Detroit seemed to derail the season as Jimmy Vasser finished the final sixteen races of the season with only four more finishes of 5th to 7th.

Success was limited as Jimmy Vasser scored only a 9th at Fontana and a gearbox failure cut short his Indy 500 race.

Jimmy Vasser really finished the year strong with scoring points in each of the final nine races including a podium at Miami and a dominating win at Fontana after a late-race pass of Andretti.

Jimmy Vasser reunited with Rahal Letterman for his final run at an Indianapolis 500 win but was again sidelined with gearbox failure during the race.

Jimmy Vasser retired from open wheel racing in 2006, but remains active in his ownership role.

Jimmy Vasser temporarily came out of retirement to drive in the final Champ Car World Series event at the 2008 Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach.

Jimmy Vasser drove again for Stallings' team beginning at Laguna Seca in May 2008, pairing with fellow Champ Car champion Cristiano da Matta.

In 2013, Jimmy Vasser joined the Stadium Super Trucks and was scheduled to make his debut at Honda Indy Toronto.