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Scott Pruett returned to the scene of former successes Friday and earned the pole position for Sunday's ITT Automotive Detroit Grand Prix at The Raceway on Belle Isle.
Pruett (Brahma Reynard Ford) set a new track qualifying record of 108.664 mph on the 2.1-mile temporary street circuit, eclipsing the former mark of 108.649 mph set by Nigel Mansell in 1994. Pruett's only previous PPG CART World Series pole came at the 1996 ITT Automotive Detroit Grand Prix, at a rain-affected average speed of 105.290 mph.
Qualifying continues at 12:15 p.m. ET Saturday. The pole sitter collects the $10,000 Marlboro Pole Award, with an opportunity to win an additional $60,000 in rollover bonus money with a victory in Sunday's race (2:30 p.m. ET, live, ABC-TV).
Canadian Greg Moore (Player's/Indeck Reynard Mercedes) qualified second fastest Friday at 108.193 mph. Moore is seeking his second consecutive victory after becoming the youngest winner in PPG Cup history in last Sunday's Miller 200 at The Milwaukee Mile.
Third on the provisional grid went to Mauricio Gugelmin (Hollywood PacWest Mercedes), who qualified at 107.496 mph. Gugelmin has been a top-10 qualifier at every event this season, and a top-three qualifier in four of his past five outings. Gugelmin posted his time before a late-session accident ripped the right front tire off his race car. Gugelmin was uninjured.
Defending ITT Automotive Detroit Grand Prix champion Michael Andretti (Kmart/Texaco/Havoline Swift Ford) qualified fourth at 107.376 mph. PPG Cup leader Paul Tracy (Marlboro Penske Mercedes) a three-time winner this season, qualified 13th at 106.332 mph.
Source: CART News Service