Firestone Competitive In First Rio Practice Session

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Firestone Competitive In First Rio Practice Session
©1997 SpeedCenter Internet Publishing, Inc.
Tire performance ahead of Nazareth showing
With the opening practice session for the Hollywood Rio 400, it appearsthat Firestone has done their homework since being beaten badly atNazareth Speedway two weeks ago. But the top time of the session stillwent to a Goodyear shod Michael Andretti driving the Newman-HaasTexaco/Havoline Swift Ford Cosworth.
Andretti ran a total of 21 laps in the session, scoring his fastest lapon his 15th circuit with a time of 40.222. This just .254 seconds aheadof second fastest, Sao Paulo Brazil native Mauricio Gugelmin, drivingthe Firestone shod Hollywood Reynard Mercedes.
Third fastest in the session was Al Unser, Jr. in the Penske Mercedeswith Goodyears, and a lap of 40.537. Little Al was followed by Raul Boeselin another Firestone shod car, the Patrick RacingReynard Ford Cosworth. Raul ran only fifteen laps in the morning sessionand had his best result on the last lap of his session with a 40.565.
Rounding out the top five was the elder statesman in the PPG Cup chase,Bobby Rahal. The team owner/driver pushed his Goodyear shod MillerRenard Ford for twenty-nine laps, running his fastest lap of 40.644 onhis 26th circuit.
Completing the top ten list were:
Players Racing Greg Moore in the Players Reynard Mercedes Firestone witha 40.683
Penske Racing Paul Tracy driving the Penske Mercedes Goodyear with a40.731
Chip Ganassi Alex Zanardi in the Target Reynard Honda Firestone, who'sfastest effort was a 40.783
Chip Ganassi defending PPG Cup champion Jimmy Vasser driving the #1Target Reynard Honda Firestone, with a fast lap of 40.821 on his last of32 laps.
The final driver in the top ten was Rahal team mate Bryan Herta drivingthe Shell Oil Reynard Ford Cosworth, also on Goodyears.
To conclude that Firestone has the fastest tire for the Rio track is abit premature after only one practice session, but with seven of the topten cars riding on Firestones, the tire-maker has to feel better abouttheir chances. Goodyear had dominated all practice and qualifyingsessions, and the race itself at the Nazareth Bosch Spark Plug GrandPrix just two weeks ago.
Also notable of the morning session was the time spread between the topcontenders, with only .76 seconds separating the fastest fifteen cars.With times this close, and with a track that allows for some excitingpassing opportunities, as Rio does, Sunday could be a very excitingrace.


		JUST RELEASED! — The Official Directory for CART Racing

		Firestone Competitive In First Rio Practice Session ©1997 SpeedCenter Internet Publishing, Inc. Tire performance ahead of Nazareth showing With the opening practice session for the Hollywood Rio 400, it appearsthat Firestone has done their homework since being beaten badly atNazareth Speedway two weeks ago. But the top time of the session stillwent to a Goodyear shod Michael Andretti driving the Newman-HaasTexaco/Havoline Swift Ford Cosworth. Andretti ran a total of 21 laps in the session, scoring his fastest lapon his 15th circuit with a time of 40.222. This just .254 seconds aheadof second fastest, Sao Paulo Brazil native Mauricio Gugelmin, drivingthe Firestone shod Hollywood Reynard Mercedes. Third fastest in the session was Al Unser, Jr. in the Penske Mercedeswith Goodyears, and a lap of 40.537. Little Al was followed by Raul Boeselin another Firestone shod car, the Patrick RacingReynard Ford Cosworth. Raul ran only fifteen laps in the morning sessionand had his best result on the last lap of his session with a 40.565. Rounding out the top five was the elder statesman in the PPG Cup chase,Bobby Rahal. The team owner/driver pushed his Goodyear shod MillerRenard Ford for twenty-nine laps, running his fastest lap of 40.644 onhis 26th circuit. Completing the top ten list were: Players Racing Greg Moore in the Players Reynard Mercedes Firestone witha 40.683 Penske Racing Paul Tracy driving the Penske Mercedes Goodyear with a40.731 Chip Ganassi Alex Zanardi in the Target Reynard Honda Firestone, who'sfastest effort was a 40.783 Chip Ganassi defending PPG Cup champion Jimmy Vasser driving the #1Target Reynard Honda Firestone, with a fast lap of 40.821 on his last of32 laps. The final driver in the top ten was Rahal team mate Bryan Herta drivingthe Shell Oil Reynard Ford Cosworth, also on Goodyears. To conclude that Firestone has the fastest tire for the Rio track is abit premature after only one practice session, but with seven of the topten cars riding on Firestones, the tire-maker has to feel better abouttheir chances. Goodyear had dominated all practice and qualifyingsessions, and the race itself at the Nazareth Bosch Spark Plug GrandPrix just two weeks ago. Also notable of the morning session was the time spread between the topcontenders, with only .76 seconds separating the fastest fifteen cars.With times this close, and with a track that allows for some excitingpassing opportunities, as Rio does, Sunday could be a very excitingrace.