Picking up where he left off last year, 1996 PPG Cup champion Jimmy Vasser topped the time sheets Thursday in the first day of CART Spring Training at the Metro-Dade Homestead Motorsports Complex.

Vasser drove his 1997 Target/Chip Ganassi Racing Reynard Honda HRR around the 1.517-mile oval at an average speed of 188.655 mph (28.952 seconds). Vasser was the fastest driver at 1996 Spring Training and later went on to win the season-opening Marlboro Grand Prix at Homestead and ultimately the $1 million PPG Cup.

"For us it is kind of a testing thing," Vasser said. "It’s more for the media and the fans. It’s a chance to see the cars, get a feel for what is going on and an opportunity to promote the series. I think from our standpoint, it is a productive test and we can size up yourself against the competition."

A surprise second-fastest was second-year driver Richie Hearn in the Ralphs-Food 4 Less Lola Ford Cosworth XD from Della Penna Motorsports. He turned a lap late in the 90-minute session of 187.303 mph (29.161 seconds). Team KOOL Green’s Parker Johnstone rounded out the top-three with a lap of 186.784 mph (29.238 seconds).