©1999 SpeedCenter Publishing
Photos by Mike Levitt
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Adrian Fernandez took last year's car out of mothballs Thursday, and promptly went out and ran the fastest lap in pre-season testing at Miami-Dade Homestead Motorsports Complex. The Mexican driver's speed of 216.808 mph was the second-fastest lap ever run at the 1.5-mile oval, exceeded only by Greg Moore's 1998 record of 217.541 mph. Moore's teammate, Patrick Carpentier, ran the fastest lap of 1999 in February's CART Spring Training, 216.617 mph. Jimmy Vasser was second fastest of 19 drivers in Thursday's test, turning consistent laps of 215.139 in the Target Ganassi Honda Reynard. He was followed by Scott Pruett in a Toyota Reynard, 214.797 mph, and Michael Andretti in a Ford Swift, 214.626 mph. Fernandez' quickest lap came in less than ideal conditions. "Our fast lap came at 3 o'clock, in the heat of the day," said the 23-year-old Fernandez. "The car was very well balanced. We're very happy with our progress." Patrick Racing must now decide which car to race March 21 in the season-opening Marlboro Grand Prix of Miami Presented by Toyota - the year-old Ford Reynard, or the new Ford Swift they had planned to campaign this year. "We have to get together tonight and see what is our plan," he explained. "This is an older car. We just have to regroup and make the best decision for the benefit of the team." Fernandez was 21st fastest in Spring Training, with a lap of 207.706 mph. "We did do a lap of 25.5 in the Swift on Thursday morning, so we're also improving with that car," he explained. Nineteen drivers participated in Thursday's private testing session, with 17 drivers expected Friday as preparation for the Marlboro Grand Prix of Miami Presented by Toyota continues. Thursday's top speeds (Unofficial, randomly taken from various sources):
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