Driver has won 'em close at Indy and TMS, which hosts IRL soon

01:58 AM CDT on Wednesday, May 31, 2006

By TERRY BLOUNT / The Dallas Morning News

For Sam Hornish Jr., a dramatic last-second pass to win the Indianapolis 500 on Sunday was easy compared to duties over the next few days.

Hornish, 26, isn't one to crave the limelight. He's just a quiet Midwestern guy from Defiance, Ohio, but he's the center of attention after his historic win at Indy.

Hornish made a brief stop in Dallas on Tuesday morning at the Hyatt Regency Reunion Tower. He flew in to help promote the Bombardier Learjet 500 at Texas Motor Speedway on June 10.

"I like those close finishes at Texas," said Hornish, who has won twice at TMS in side-by-side finishes. "But I also would like to win a race sometime by a lap. It never happens. It's always by inches, but we'll take them any way we can get them."

In the 90 Indy 500s, Hornish is the first to make a pass on the final lap to win.

His pass on rookie Marco Andretti came in the final 100 yards. Hornish edged Andretti by about a car length (.0635 seconds), the second-closest finish in race history.

Tuesday was the beginning of a hectic week for Hornish. He threw out the first pitch of the Diamondbacks-Mets game Tuesday night at Shea Stadium.

JIM MAHONEY / DMN

For Sam Hornish Jr., a busy schedule in the wake of his Indianapolis 500 win included a stop in Dallas on Tuesday.

Hornish has several national TV appearances today in Manhattan before heading upstate to Watkins Glen for the IRL race this weekend.

TMS enticing veterans: Michael Andretti and Al Unser Jr. haven't decided whether to race at TMS in two weeks.

TMS president Eddie Gossage offered the two drivers $50,000 each to compete in the Bombardier Learjet 500. But it's only good if both accept it.

Representatives for both said Tuesday they are considering it. Accepting the offer could depend on finding additional sponsorship for the cars.

Frisco teen breaking in: Frisco's C.R. Crews, who turned 18 on Tuesday, will make his Indy Pro Series debut Sunday in the Corning 100 at Watkins Glen International in Watkins Glen, N.Y.

Crews will become the youngest driver to compete in the Indy Pro Series, the developmental league for the IRL. A driver must be 18 before racing in the IPS.

"I wish I could have tested before this weekend," Crews said. "With my birthday just two days before the first practice at Watkins Glen, it wasn't possible.

"I know this weekend will be a big challenge. I think I'm up to it. We have a very specific plan that we want to accomplish. When it comes race time, I'll be ready."

Crews started go-kart racing when he was 8. He won his first Formula Mazda start when he was 14. He has raced in England and Brazil.

Crews will drive for Michael Crawford Motorsports, a new team based in Indianapolis.

"CR comes to our team with a great resume and a ton of potential," Crawford said. "He's a road-course racer with a lot of experience in the various formula levels."

E-mail tblount@dallasnews.com

IRL Bombardier Learjet 500, Texas Motor Speedway, June 10 (8 p.m., ESPN)