Marquez in Penske at Nazareth Test
©1999 SpeedCenter Publishing

Rookie fast on Penske-owned track

Brazilian sources report that Tarso Marquez drove Penske's champcar entry at a testing session in Nazareth. That makes the rookie who earlier this season tested for Payton-Coyne one of the contenders to drive Penske's Champcar at the upcoming events.

Al Unser Jr. was injured in a first lap accident at Homestead during the Grand Prix of Miami. Up to this test, there has been a lot of speculation but little fact about who might fill Unser's seat. Marquez had not been mentioned until today.

Marquez once drove for Minardi in Formula One.

Summary of unofficial lap times, reported by various sources: 

1. Mauricio Gugelmin  Reynard-Mercedes (PacWest)  20.08 sec
2. Tarso Marques      Penske-Mercedes  (Penske)   20.16 sec
3. Jimmy Vasser       Reynard-Honda    (Target)   20.63 sec
4. Gil de Ferran      Reynard-Honda    (Walker)   20.68 sec
5. Adrian Fernandez   Reynard-Ford     (Patrick)  20.82 sec
6. Alex Barron        Eagle-Toyota     (AAR)      21.10 sec
7. Tony Kanaan        Reynard-Honda    (Forsythe) 21.21 sec
8. Cristiano da Matta Reynard-Toyota   (Arciero)  21.60 sec
9. Scott Pruett       Reynard-Toyota   (Arciero)  21.89 sec

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