St. Louis Post-Dispatch from St. Louis, Missouri • Page 174

ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH SATURDAY, MAY 16, 1998 14 Speed Zone Moore is better so far this year in CART PPT" CART waukee in just his 23rd career start, he became the youngest driver to win a CART race: 22 years, 1 month and 10 days. In this season's opening event, the Grand Prix of Miami, he tacked on the distinction of being the youngest pole-winner: 22 years, 10 months, 18 days. Moore solidified his points lead with a stirring victory Sunday in the Rio 400. He slipped past Alex Zanardi in the late going, then held off the defending series champ as they sprinted to the finish.

"I really think we're going to go to most tracks this year and be a force," Moore said. "I think we've proven that everywhere we go, we're going to be fast." Count Zanardi among those who view Moore as a race-by-race threat. "He's a big challenge," Zanardi said. "I'm totally aware that' Greg is going to be one of the main contenders for the title." Said Moore: "I think we definitely have a realistic shot, because I know so much more. I look at what I thought I knew the first year, and it's just incredible.

Now that I've got two years' experience behind me not just experience on the race track, but also dealing with the pressures of being an Indy-car driver I know 150 percent more now than I did last year, for sure." About racing, that is. Not the NHL playoffs. to leave a lot of friends. But I always dreamed that one day, I'd be an Indy-car driver." At the racing-tender age of 23, Moore is sure that he made the right decision. "Seven years ago, when I first started racing Formula Ford, if you'd have said to me, 'In 1998, you've already won three Indy-car races and you're (competing) for the CART championship in your third I would've said, 'OK, bring it on.

That's what I Moore said. "But there are so many chances of it not happening, it's pretty wild that it has." Moore was 17 when he was rookie of the year in the USAC Formula 200 West series. He won the Indy Lights championship in 1995; his record 242 points in 12 events were 102 better than the runner-up. The next year, barely out of his teens, Moore was hired by Canada-based Player's Forsythe Racing and was plopped into the seat of the team's championship car. Any lingering regrets about turning in his goalie gear for a driver's fire-suit were erased at that moment.

Moore had a solid rookie season, finishing ninth in points after seven top-seven finishes, including three podium (first three) appearances. He built on that last year, moving up to seventh in points and winning twice. When Moore triumphed at Mil By bill Coats Of the Post-Dispatch OK, so Canadian Greg Moore a self-described hockey nut is a lousy prognosticator. "New Jersey or Philadelphia, they're my two picks," Moore said a few weeks ago when asked to predict this year's Stanley Cup champion. The Devils and Flyers were eliminated in the first round of the National Hockey League playoffs, so "Well, I've got (Brett) Hull and (Geoff) Courtnall in my pool," said Moore, perhaps the Blues' newest fan.

Moore was a promising goalie as he grew up in New Westminster, British Columbia. He played at an elite level, and his former teammates include current Anaheim Mighty Ducks star Paul Kariya. But Moore the points leader as the CART FedEx Championship Series rolls into Gateway International Raceway for the Motorola 300 on May 23 gave up the pucks at age 14 to fulfill a fantasy. "I was go-karting when I was 10, and I started playing hockey when I was 8," Moore explained. "My dad finally made me decide between one or the other.

I thought, 'I'm having a lot of fun racing; let's see how we can Reaching that conclusion, Moore said, "was difficult, because I had Greg Moore won the pole in Miami this year, and he won it all in the Rio 400 to solidify his hold on the points lead. Now until May 31st This must be your lucky year. We've just extended the SuzukiFest free accessory offer, which gives you a bit more time to make your choice! ClBSilcSavaselSBliP inly SStmontk Cxcltlni Mmiilsf IDS fw nly tt28mitt i lotMiln litriNf mil laiiijll37siiU i Pswarld litrtr 1401 Am I Bsys. 1 (1 lar J7 jS I wtth purchaM of MaraudarO0, yluwPf Irtrrudtr" 800 or Intruder 1400 wtth purchaM of Savaga' 650, Marauder 00, Intrydtr- 800 or Intruder 1400 (if Now until May 31 it SUZUKI. St.

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203 South (exit 4) JIM COMPTON Greg Moore is no longer a face in the crowd on the CART series. He's a contender for the championship..