Jimmy Vasser thinks Chip Ganassi stacked the bracket in voting for the best driver in Ganassi Racing history.

 

Yes, Vasser is smiling as he makes the accusation. After all, Ganassi has that right as team owner of the Indianapolis-based operation.

 

"I'm just flattered to be one of the 16 finalists," Vasser said of the bracket-based online contest. "But I think it was Chip's idea to get Vasser blown out in the first round."

 

Vasser's first-round opponent was five-time sports car champion Scott Pruett. Vasser, the 1996 CART champion who is now a rival of Ganassi as co-owner of KV Racing Technology, said current Ganassi driver Dario Franchitti got an easier draw in sports car driver Luis Diaz.

 

"Jamie McMurray got Charlie Kimball in the first round," Vasser said. "Charlie Kimball? And I got Scott Pruett?"

 

The bracket, which probably should have Indianapolis 500 pole winner Bruno Junqueira in it, sets up to have Franchitti against Juan Pablo Montoya in one semifinal, Scott Dixon against Alex Zanardi in the other.

 

Vasser said the final four is too close to call, but he said Montoya and Zanardi should reach the finals, which will be voted on May 25.

 

"Zanardi will win it," Vasser said.

 

But don't be surprised if Vasser, who beat Pruett in Saturday's voting, advances further than he should. He has enlisted his Indianapolis 500 drivers to help spread the word. Combined, Rubens Barrichello and Tony Kanaan have 2.1 million Twitter followers.

 

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