Homestead Fla. (January 31) — Defending PPG Cup champion Jimmy Vasser continues to pace the field Friday in day two of CART Spring Training at the Metro-Dade Homestead Motorsports Complex.

In Friday morning's first 3 hour practice session, Vasser drove his Target/Chip Ganassi Racing Reynard Honda HRR at an average speed of 194.376 mph (28.096 seconds). It is the fastest speed any driver has recorded so far in the two days of testing run so far on the 1.517-mile oval track.

Second fastest was Brahma Sports Team Reynard Ford Cosworth XD driver Raul Boesel at 192.342 mph (28.397 seconds) while Mauricio Gugelmin was third quickest in the morning at 191.211 mph in the Hollywood/PacWest Racing Reynard Mercedes-Benz.

All three drive 1997 Reynards on Firestone tires although Honda, Ford and Mercedes motors are represented in the top-three, respectively.

Continuing his great early form, Patrick Carpentier ran among the fastest all drivers all morning. He was fourth fastest at 191.064 mph (28.587 seconds) in the Alumax/Bettenhausen Motorsports Reynard Mercedes-Benz. Richie Hearn rounded out the top-five in the Ralph's/Food 4 Less Lola Ford Cosworth XD at 190.597 mph (28.657 seconds).

The debuting Swift 007.i Ford Cosworth XD got down to business this morning in the hands of Miami-resident Christian Fittipaldi. The race car ran with front wings after taking only a few shake-down laps yesterday without wings. Fittipaldi turned a respectable 188.733 mph (28.940 seconds) lap in the new America-made race car.

Revisions to both the Homestead track and a revised aerodynamic package for 1997 PPG Cup race cars have seen the cars run with less downforce and overall speed. Drivers now report having to brake going into Turn 1, the fastest part of the course, and most also tap the brakes into Turn 3.

Source: CART News Service