Twenty-five years ago in Long Beach, IndyCar fans got their first proper introduction to Jimmy Vasser. The Californian open-wheeler, fresh off a breakthrough season in the Toyota Atlantic Championship with Genoa Racing, was drafted into the new Hayhoe/Cole Racing team to drive a year-old Lola powered by an older generation A-spec Chevy engine. Compared to the powerhouse teams—the Penske, Newman/Haas, and Galles/Kraco organizations, in particular, the tiny, underfunded Hayhoe/Cole outfit should have been buried at the tail end of a packed field. Especially with a rookie left to find his way in cast-off equipment. Although his car and engine were far from special, Vasser would quickly...
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