Davis Racing Cleveland Preview

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Davis Racing Cleveland Preview
©1997 SpeedCenter Internet Publishing, Inc.
Bumpy runway has been good to team
The tip sheet for the Medic Drug Grand Prix of Cleveland has a special starfor Davis Racing and driver Gualter Salles. It signifies a team to bereckoned with on the bumpy airport runways that provide one of the mostcompetitive races of the year on the PPG CART World Series.
Davis Racing, in its former incarnation as Hall Racing Ltd., won this eventin 1996 and dominated the 1995 race with a rookie driver before he ran afoulof lapped traffic. Salles' form is equally impressive: he won the 1996Firestone Indy Lights race on his first visit to the track.
Gualter Salles (driver, Indusval-Marlboro Reynard-Ford Cosworth):
"Cleveland is a demanding track for the driver and race canbe very tiring as well. It's a track that suits me. I like races where youhave to push hard from start to finish and Cleveland is that type of course.The bumps from the airport runways and taxiways aren't good for the car orthe driver, but the track does reward setup, strategy and aggressive driving.
"Cleveland is a special course because there are so many lines going intoeach of the turns, especially Turn One where a driver always has to be readyfor any challenge. Of course, there is only one true fast line aroundCleveland, but a successful pass can be completed almost anywhere."
[Salles' Indy Lights victory at Cleveland was the second of three consecutivewins for the Brazilian]
"Before Portland I was still growing as a driver andstill learning about the series and racing in America. But after Portland Iwas able to think that I could race in the PPG CART World Series in 1997.With my wins in the next two races (at Cleveland and Toronto), I made theIndy Lights championship a priority and getting a CART ride a goal for 1997."
Gerald Davis, co-team owner:
"It's hard to know why, but Cleveland was always a strong trackfor Hall Racing and I believe that success will carry over to Davis Racing,based on Gualter's run last year. He had a strong run at Portland, where healso won last year, that saw him crack the top five when the car caught fireand put us out.
"We're still looking at putting together the best run possible to giveGualter a shot at the CART Rookie of the Year title. Two years ago, when wehad Gil de Ferran as a rookie, we only had eight points after Portland and hecame through to win the rookie title in the final race of the season. Sure,Portland was a disappointment to drop out when we were doing so well, but thespeed we showed in practice and the race bode well for us through the rest ofthe season."


		NOW AVAILABLE! — The Official Directory for CART Racing

		Davis Racing Cleveland Preview ©1997 SpeedCenter Internet Publishing, Inc. Bumpy runway has been good to team The tip sheet for the Medic Drug Grand Prix of Cleveland has a special starfor Davis Racing and driver Gualter Salles. It signifies a team to bereckoned with on the bumpy airport runways that provide one of the mostcompetitive races of the year on the PPG CART World Series. Davis Racing, in its former incarnation as Hall Racing Ltd., won this eventin 1996 and dominated the 1995 race with a rookie driver before he ran afoulof lapped traffic. Salles' form is equally impressive: he won the 1996Firestone Indy Lights race on his first visit to the track. Gualter Salles (driver, Indusval-Marlboro Reynard-Ford Cosworth): "Cleveland is a demanding track for the driver and race canbe very tiring as well. It's a track that suits me. I like races where youhave to push hard from start to finish and Cleveland is that type of course.The bumps from the airport runways and taxiways aren't good for the car orthe driver, but the track does reward setup, strategy and aggressive driving. "Cleveland is a special course because there are so many lines going intoeach of the turns, especially Turn One where a driver always has to be readyfor any challenge. Of course, there is only one true fast line aroundCleveland, but a successful pass can be completed almost anywhere." [Salles' Indy Lights victory at Cleveland was the second of three consecutivewins for the Brazilian] "Before Portland I was still growing as a driver andstill learning about the series and racing in America. But after Portland Iwas able to think that I could race in the PPG CART World Series in 1997.With my wins in the next two races (at Cleveland and Toronto), I made theIndy Lights championship a priority and getting a CART ride a goal for 1997." Gerald Davis, co-team owner: "It's hard to know why, but Cleveland was always a strong trackfor Hall Racing and I believe that success will carry over to Davis Racing,based on Gualter's run last year. He had a strong run at Portland, where healso won last year, that saw him crack the top five when the car caught fireand put us out. "We're still looking at putting together the best run possible to giveGualter a shot at the CART Rookie of the Year title. Two years ago, when wehad Gil de Ferran as a rookie, we only had eight points after Portland and hecame through to win the rookie title in the final race of the season. Sure,Portland was a disappointment to drop out when we were doing so well, but thespeed we showed in practice and the race bode well for us through the rest ofthe season."