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The temperatures have dropped slightly in Southern California butspeeds were on the rise Thursday as Mauricio Gugelmin charged aroundCalifornia Speedway at an average speed of 234 mph as a full week oftesting continues at the new auto racing facility.
Gugelmin (Hollywood Reynard Mercedes-Benz) topped the nine differentdrivers who tested Thursday in preparation for the Marlboro 500Presented by Toyota, Sunday, September 28 (Same day coverage on ESPNat 8:00 p.m. ET).
After hitting the 100-degree mark earlier in the week, thetemperature has dropped to 90 degrees while the track checks in at143 degrees. A total of 13 different drivers have logged over 4,300test miles at the new Fontana facility since Monday. Testingcontinues Friday.
Wednesday's fastest driver, Jimmy Vasser (Target Reynard Honda HRR)improved his speed to 232 mph Thursday. Others cracking the 230 mphbarrier included Greg Moore (Player's Reynard Mercedes-Benz) at 231mph and Gugelmin's teammate Mark Blundell (Motorola ReynardMercedes-Benz) at 230 mph.
Team Penske's Paul Tracy and Al Unser Jr. spent their third straightday of testing at Fontana. Unser Jr. clocked in at 226 mph whileTracy recorded a 225-mph lap Thursday in their Penske Mercedes-Benzrace cars.
Three Toyota-powered entries completed Thursday's test lineup. AllAmerican Racers drivers PJ Jones and Juan Fangio each recorded224-mph laps in their Castrol Jockey Reynard Toyotas whileArciero-Wells Racing driver Max Papis (MCI Reynard Toyota) recorded a221-mph lap.
Source: CART News Service