Pruett Takes Pole For U.S. 500

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Pruett Takes Pole For U.S. 500
©1997 SpeedCenter Internet Publishing, Inc.
Firestone-tired Reynards sweep top five grid positions
Scott Pruett toured the 2-mile Michigan Speedway at an average speed of 233.857 mph (30.450 seconds) Saturday in his Brahma Reynard Ford Cosworth to win the pole for Sunday's U.S. 500 Presented by Toyota. Pruett captured his second pole of 1997 and the third of his career and gave team owner U.E. "Pat" Patrick his first pole in a 500-mile race since Emerson Fittipaldi qualified first here for the 1989 Marlboro 500.
Pruett led a top-five sweep of Firestone-tired Reynards, which included Mauricio Gugelmin (Hollywood Reynard Mercedes-Benz), Pruett's teammate Raul Boesel (Brahma Reynard Ford Cosworth), defending PPG Cup and U.S. 500 winner Jimmy Vasser (Target Reynard Honda HRR) and Parker Johnstone (Team KOOL Green Reynard Honda HRR).
Gugelmin, who earlier in Saturday's final practice set the weekend's fastest lap at an average speed of 236.453 mph, qualified at an average speed of 235.664-mph (30.552 seconds), .102 seconds behind Pruett. They will share a two-car front row while Boesel, who qualified at an average speed of 234.811 mph (30.663 seconds), will lead row two in grid position number three. Pruett and Boesel are first-year teammates on the Patrick-owned Brahma Sports Team although Pruett has been with the group since 1994 when they tested tires for Firestone.
Vasser averaged 232.506 mph (30.967 seconds) and Johnstone lapped at 232.161 mph (31.013 seconds).
The top five were the only drivers to break out of the 230-mph barrier. Bobby Rahal (Miller Lite Reynard Ford Cosworth), Alex Zanardi (Target Reynard Honda HRR) and Rahal's teammate Bryan Herta (Shell Reynard Ford Cosworth) all qualified in the 230-mph range to fill spots six through eight on the grid, respectively.
Brazilians Andre Ribeiro (LCI International Reynard Honda HRR) and Gil de Ferran (Valvoline/Cummins Reynard Honda HRR) complete the top 10.
Qualifying was incident free, but rookie Arnd Meier elected to qualify in this afternoon's second session and Boesel completed only one lap due to handling problems.
Team Penske teammates Al Unser Jr. and Paul Tracy qualified 16th and 18th, respectively while Michael Andretti could do not better than 19th. Greg Moore also turned in an uncharacteristic qualifying performance and will grid a distant 21st on the grid.
Source: CART News Service


		NOW AVAILABLE! — The Official Directory for CART Racing

		Pruett Takes Pole For U.S. 500 ©1997 SpeedCenter Internet Publishing, Inc. Firestone-tired Reynards sweep top five grid positions Scott Pruett toured the 2-mile Michigan Speedway at an average speed of 233.857 mph (30.450 seconds) Saturday in his Brahma Reynard Ford Cosworth to win the pole for Sunday's U.S. 500 Presented by Toyota. Pruett captured his second pole of 1997 and the third of his career and gave team owner U.E. "Pat" Patrick his first pole in a 500-mile race since Emerson Fittipaldi qualified first here for the 1989 Marlboro 500. Pruett led a top-five sweep of Firestone-tired Reynards, which included Mauricio Gugelmin (Hollywood Reynard Mercedes-Benz), Pruett's teammate Raul Boesel (Brahma Reynard Ford Cosworth), defending PPG Cup and U.S. 500 winner Jimmy Vasser (Target Reynard Honda HRR) and Parker Johnstone (Team KOOL Green Reynard Honda HRR). Gugelmin, who earlier in Saturday's final practice set the weekend's fastest lap at an average speed of 236.453 mph, qualified at an average speed of 235.664-mph (30.552 seconds), .102 seconds behind Pruett. They will share a two-car front row while Boesel, who qualified at an average speed of 234.811 mph (30.663 seconds), will lead row two in grid position number three. Pruett and Boesel are first-year teammates on the Patrick-owned Brahma Sports Team although Pruett has been with the group since 1994 when they tested tires for Firestone. Vasser averaged 232.506 mph (30.967 seconds) and Johnstone lapped at 232.161 mph (31.013 seconds). The top five were the only drivers to break out of the 230-mph barrier. Bobby Rahal (Miller Lite Reynard Ford Cosworth), Alex Zanardi (Target Reynard Honda HRR) and Rahal's teammate Bryan Herta (Shell Reynard Ford Cosworth) all qualified in the 230-mph range to fill spots six through eight on the grid, respectively. Brazilians Andre Ribeiro (LCI International Reynard Honda HRR) and Gil de Ferran (Valvoline/Cummins Reynard Honda HRR) complete the top 10. Qualifying was incident free, but rookie Arnd Meier elected to qualify in this afternoon's second session and Boesel completed only one lap due to handling problems. Team Penske teammates Al Unser Jr. and Paul Tracy qualified 16th and 18th, respectively while Michael Andretti could do not better than 19th. Greg Moore also turned in an uncharacteristic qualifying performance and will grid a distant 21st on the grid. Source: CART News Service