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Jason Leffler is another one of the talented open wheel drivers who've chosen to make their racing future in NASCAR. Knowledgeable racing fans can list many of the names in rapid-fire succession. Kenny Schrader, Jeff Gordon, Robby Gordon, Kenny Irwin, Mike Bliss, Tony Stewart, Dave Blaney and Scott Pruett are the most notable. Don't forget however that king of the World of Outlaws Steve Kinser made a try at Winston Cup racing in the Kenny Bernstein Quaker State number 26 a few years ago. Kinser didn't have much success and he returned to the Outlaws before completing a full season in NASCAR. Before Kinser, Sammy Swindell had a limited run in the NASCAR Busch series and had some Winston Cup starts too. USAC's Dave Steele ran the NASCAR Busch series during the early part of this season and is now trying to get regular rides in USAC again. P.J. Jones has also seen limited duty in the Busch series during the 2000 season but thus far hasn't done anything noteworthy. A few seasons back former USAC Midget champion Stevie Reeves made a hard try in the NASCAR Busch series but has since given up and now he's grabbing open wheel rides whenever he can get them. I'm sure there are others I'm forgetting, but my point is this. Indy car racing is losing too many potential stars to NASCAR. NASCAR doesn't need these guys but both CART and the Indy Racing League need them badly.

I don't know why the owners in CART are so perplexed by the continuing drop in popularity for their series. Even Robin Miller seems blind to CART's biggest problem. It's the drivers stupid! Sure CART draws big crowds to its street races in large metropolitan centers. These are places where there's a lot of ethnic diversity. Fans, of various nationalities, can relate to the CART regulars, but there's no place for American drivers in CART right now. Michael Andretti and Jimmy Vasser are the only U.S. drivers who have regular rides in the series. It's natural that the average fan can relate to American drivers and not relate to a starting field of drivers that is comprised mostly of South Americans. The longest running track on the CART schedule Michigan Speedway has a constituency of these "average fans." As a result NASCAR racing draws huge crowds in excess of 140,000 to Michigan twice each summer while something less than 50,000 come to Michigan in late July when CART appears. That number seems to shrink each July, which is ironic because Michigan is where CART usually puts on its best race each season.

The Indy Racing League certainly does better than CART in giving rides to American drivers. Of the 25 cars starting the IRL race at Atlanta Motor Speedway two weeks ago, 20 cars had American drivers. That's a hell of a lot better than having three Americans (Andretti, Vasser and Memo Gidley) in last weekend's CART race at Michigan.

In many ways Tony George's intention to give American drivers a chance in the Indy Racing League has been successful. I will admit however and I imagine Tony George would concur that there should be more USAC graduates in IRL cars. The situation isn't too bad but it could be better. Donnie Beechler, Billy Boat, Jimmy Kite, Tyce Carlson, Sarah Fisher, Davey Hamilton all have USAC experience and have full time rides this season in the IRL. At the Atlanta race USAC drivers J.J. Yeley and Stevie Reeves were also in the starting field. What I can't understand however is why Dave Darland and Tracy Hines don't get a chance in the IRL. For that matter how could they let Ryan Newman and Jason Leffler get away? These guys are naturals for the Indy Racing League. But then I still can't understand how the IRL let Tony Stewart get away. The sting from Stewart's loss still lingers although its been lessened somewhat by bringing Al Unser Jr. to the series this year.

Jason Leffler has profited from his close association with Tony Stewart. Leffler drives a USAC Silver Crown car, which is owned (at least partially) by Tony Stewart. It was Stewart who persuaded Joe Gibbs to put Leffler in the same Pontiac Tony ran in the Busch series in 1998.

Thus far Leffler's performances in the Gibbs MBNA Pontiac haven't been that noteworthy. Leffler ran four Busch events in 1999 without a top ten finish and was in position 74 in the final season point standings. This season after 19 races Jason ranks in points position 23. The highlight of Leffler's 2000 Busch season was a pole position at Texas Motor Speedway. I believe it will be interesting to see how long Joe Gibbs sticks with Leffler unless Jason begins to show some potential.

Jason Leffler's 2000 NASCAR Busch Grand National record through July 22

Jason Leffler became one of 13 USAC competitors who've qualified for the "Indianapolis 500" since the beginning of Indy Racing League competition in 1996. He joins a list that includes Tony Stewart, Davey Hamilton, Paul Durant, Billy Boat, Tyce Carlson, Andy Michner, J.J. Yeley, Jimmy Kite, Jack Hewitt, Donnie Beechler, Andy Hillenburg and Sarah Fisher.

I thought perhaps Leffler might've blown his chances for the Indy Racing League in the 1999 season opener at Walt Disney World. After running thousands of test miles for Fred Treadway during 1998 Jason crashed on lap two. After that he was not heard from as far as IRL competition was involved. At the same time Al Unser Jr., who had been injured in the CART opener at Miami, suggested that Roger Penske give Leffler a test in one of the team's Marlboro Penske - Mercedes champ cars. Unfortunately Jason never turned a wheel in one of the Marlboro Penskes. Tarso Marques tested before Leffler and got the chance to substitute for Unser Jr. Then another opportunity came Leffler's way. When Brian Barnhart ruled Shigeaki Hattori ineligible for IRL competition Treadway was in a jam as he already had Hattori's sponsorship money from Epson. Leffler got the call and was running well at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Jason was running a solid third when his G-Force pushed into the wall on lap 167 of 208.

Roger Penske was looking for a way to be involved in the 84^th "Indianapolis 500." As compensation for Leffler's earlier lost opportunity with Penske Racing Penske asked Fred Treadway if he could sponsor a car for Leffler at Indianapolis. Treadway accepted and Leffler qualified in a G-Force sponsored by Penske's United Auto Group. Penske Racing manager Tim Cindric and Rick Mears were dispatched to Indianapolis to assist Leffler. Roger Penske was present at the "Indianapolis 500" for the first time since 1995.

Leffler's race wasn't anything to get excited about. He qualified 17^th and that's where he finished three laps off winner Juan Montoya's pace. I expected better. After the race Leffler indicated a strong desire to return for another shot at the "500." Wouldn't it be so neat next May if Roger Penske showed up with Ryan Newman and Jason Leffler at the Speedway rather than Gil de Ferran and Helio Castroneves?