Zanardi, Vasser, Herbert wait on sponsors.

Three of the most talked about CART deals this winter all hinge on whether finance can be found for a second car.

Alex Zanardi, former Ganassi team-mate Jimmy Vasser, and F1 refugee Johnny Herbert have all been connected with leading seats in the series in recent weeks, but the announcement of any deal has had to be delayed while the final points are added in the search for sponsorship.

Despite only emerging into the reckoning in the last few days, Zanardi's deal with another former Ganassi cohort, Mo Nunn, appears to be the closest to completion. Speculation in the States suggests that the Italian, who won the CART title in both 1997 and 1998 before an ill-fated return to F1 in '99, will be backed by Pioneer and MCI Worldcom on his return to Champcars.

Even this was thrown into uncertainty last night, however, with the announcement that Japan's Tora Takagi would line up with Derrick Walker in a Pioneer-backed, Toyota-powered entry in 2001. As things stand, sources insist that Walker's effort will be funded directly from Pioneer's coffers in Japan, allowing Zanardi and Nunn access to the American arm's funds in the same way as PPI and Cristiano da Matta were able to do this season.

For Vasser and Herbert, however, things look less clear cut. The 1996 champion initially looked set for the seat with Nunn but, when delays over finance set in, shifted his attentions to Patrick Racing. Even there, though, the money still has to be sourced to run a second car alongside that of the Visteon-backed Roberto Moreno.

The departure of Adrian Fernandez to set up his own outfit robbed Patrick of funding from Tecate and Quaker State, which have backed the Mexican throughout his career, and, as the likes of Memo Gidley, Alex Barron and Richie Hearn found in 2000, there is currently little available backing for American drivers outside of NASCAR.

Vasser has admitted that, should his CART aspirations fall through, he may still be able to fall back on openings in both the stock car series and the IRL, but insists that he would rather stay in Champcars for the time being. Patrick is keen to sign him to partner Moreno in 2001, but is keen to secure the finance before committing.

Herbert, another former team-mate of Zanardi's, gave up his F1 quest this season and hopes to land a ride in CART for 2001. His manager, Mark Perkins, has hinted that a deal is imminent with a 'well-known team', but nothing else has been forthcoming from the Herbert camp.

The Briton has been most recently linked with a second seat at the German Zakspeed outfit, but neither side is prepared to confirm or deny the rumours, particularly as Zakspeed is keen to place a German alongside the already-signed Bryan Herta next season. Herbert was reported to have fought off the attentions of Jorg Muller for the seat, but touring car star Marcel Tiemann is still touted as having both a chance and a test with the team next month.

"The whole thing is about getting funding for a second car," admitted general manager Tony Brunetti, speaking as if for all three teams in an interview with speedvision.com, "Our intention is to be a two-car team, but only if the finances are in place to run a second car."

All three drivers should see their situations confirmed in the next couple of weeks.