When Jimmy Vasser began preparing for a one-race return to an open-wheel cockpit after a two-year retirement, he was ready to hop immediately into a high-speed vehicle. But it wouldn’t have been the Panoz DP01 he will be driving in Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach.
“I started running and practically needed an ambulance, I felt so” poorly, Vasser says. “I looked in the mirror after that and said, ‘All right, let’s see what you’re made of.’ I finished my last beer, took a big burp and went right into this.”
Several teams are fielding extra cars to fill out the 20-driver field. Vasser is in a third car for KV Racing Technology, which he owns with Kevin Kalkhoven, who talked his partner into a swan song on Shoreline Drive.
“I wouldn’t have suggested this if I thought he’d go out on the first lap,” Kalkhoven says. “He’s still very competitive. I believe he could finish in the top 10 or even top five.”
“I’ve always had a relaxed driving style, and I’m never as tired as some fitter guys because I manage my energy better,” Vasser says.
He still took his fitness seriously. “The first few days were very ugly,” he says. “I woke up in the night sweating this stuff out. After one week, I feel great. I won’t be at peak performance, but I’ve done everything to not embarrass myself.”
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