• Welcome back to Miami, Florida for this afternoon's final session (1:15–2:15 p.m.) of CART FedEx Championship Series qualifying in preparation for tomorrow's return to the downtown streets in the Grand Prix Americas. The skies were not kind throughout the morning practice session and that trend has continued this afternoon. Sporadic rain showers have soaked the course again and at 1:10 p.m. the temperature is 79° F with 94 percent humidity.

• In this morning's rain-shortened practice session #11 FITTIPALDI of Newman/Haas Racing turned the fastest lap at 1:02.816 (79.489 mph). In the first round of qualifying yesterday, #10 KANAAN of Mo Nunn Racing scored a championship point for his provisional pole time of 1:01.264 seconds (81.503 mph). A spot on the front row and another valuable championship point is up for grabs this afternoon in the second qualifying session.

• NOTEWORTHY: Grand Prix Americas Qualifying…Saturday qualifying for this event will be divided as follows: First segment-–10-minute open practice; Second segment–-10-minute down time (no cars running); Final segment-–40 minutes qualifying (30 minutes guaranteed green)…Team Rahal Announces Partnership for 2003…Team Rahal announced today a partnership with Norwalk Furniture Corporation that will make the Ohio-based manufacturer a major associate sponsor for Team Rahal's 2003 racing programs...CARA Charities Hits $500,000…The “Buckle Up Baby program” will reach a major milestone with it's $2500 contribution to Jackson Memorial/Holtz Children's Hospital Sunday at the CART FedEx Championship Series Grand Prix Americas. The CARA Charities “Buckle Up Baby” project, established in 1993, has donated over $500,000 to children's hospitals and clinics throughout North America and has been supported by auto racing legends such as Bobby Rahal, Rick Mears and Paul Newman to promote child safety.

• CART race control has notified all participants that the 10-minute warm-up session has been waived to accommodate track work for standing water in Turn 6. The session has also been declared a “wet” session by the chief steward, where all competitors must use treaded rain tires.

• CART FedEx Championship Series Starter Jim Swintal displays the GREEN FLAG at 1:36 p.m. The Champ Cars now have the option to take the track for the 40-minute qualifying session.

• RED FLAG at 1:39 p.m. for #27 FRANCHITTI who spun in Turn 6 and blocked the course. #27 FRANCHITTI will lose his fastest timed lap of the session as a result of the stoppage, which now makes it four times he has caused a red flag condition this weekend.

• GREEN FLAG at 1:41 p.m.

• At 1:43 p.m., The skies continue to clear as a number of cars have elected to try their luck on the wet circuit.

• At 1:45 p.m., #44 DIXON missed the braking point entering Turn 1 and cautiously proceeded to the runoff area. #44 DIXON continues. #12 BRACK has the fastest time of the session thus far at 1:25.126 on his third lap.

• At 1:47 p.m., #26 TRACY in the runoff in Turn 1 and continues. #9 JOURDAIN has light wall contact in Turn 5 and continues.

• At 1:48 p.m., #12 BRACK into the runoff in Turn 1 and continues as the track begins to dry slightly.

• At 1:49 p.m., #12 BRACK now in the runoff area in Turn 5 and continues.

• At 1:50 p.m., #26 TRACY fastest at 1:22.055 on his seventh lap.

• At 1:51 p.m., #44 DIXON turns the fastest time of the session at 1:21.844 on his seventh lap.

• At 1:52 p.m., #26 TRACY spun in Turn 6 and loops it a few more times repositioning himself on the course before continuing.

• At 1:54 p.m., #9 JOURDAIN turns the fastest time of the session at 1:19.629 (62.706 mph) on his eighth lap. Now #27 FRANCHITTI spun and continued in Turn 6. #9 JOURDAIN now into the tire wall in Turn 6 and continues.

• At 1:56 p.m., #44 DIXON now fastest at 1:18.769 (63.390 mph) on his 10th lap. Now #55 DOMINGUEZ fastest at 1:18.759 (63.398 mph) on his ninth lap.

• At 1:57 p.m., #44 DIXON retakes the top spot on his 11th lap at 1:18.559 (63.560 mph). #55 DOMINGUEZ reported as having a flat right rear tire. Now #12 BRACK fastest at 1:16.615 (65.173 mph) in his 11th lap.

• At 1:58 p.m., #51 FERNANDEZ has spun driver's left in Turn 6 and remains facing the wrong direction. Now #51 FERNANDEZ continues.

• RED FLAG at 1:59 p.m. for #52 NAKANO who went head-on into the tire barrier in Turn 6. The Simple Green CART Safety Team restarts him on the bump and he will lose his fastest lap of the session for the stoppage.

• GREEN FLAG at 2:03 p.m.

• At 2:05 p.m., #39 ANDRETTI takes the top spot at 1:15.396 (66.226 mph) on his 11th lap. #26 TRACY off in the runoff in Turn 1 and continues.

• At 2:07 p.m., #44 DIXON fastest at 1:13.666 (67.782 mph), but #6 DA MATTA goes fastest at 1:13.457 (69.974 mph).

• At 2:08 p.m., #44 DIXON fastest again at 1:10.033 (71.298 mph) on his 15th lap. RED FLAG now for #26 TRACY who lost control and slid into the tire barrier and made heavy contact with the right side in Turn 6.

• GREEN FLAG at 2:13 p.m. #8 VASSER reported slow on course and is being covered by waving yellow flags en route to pit lane.

• CHECKERED FLAG at 2:15 p.m. #44 DIXON of Target Chip Ganassi Racing turns the fastest lap of the session at 1:09.786 (71.550 mph) and earns a championship point for the effort. He will start tomorrow's race along side polesitter Tony Kanaan of Mo Nunn Racing.

• NOTEWORTHY: In a wet session, there is no limit to the number of laps you can run in qualifying.

CHAMP CAR TOP-THREE QUALIFIER QUOTES

• TONY KANAAN (#10 Pioneer/WorldCom Honda/Lola/Bridgestone): “For me, I can't complain. It was an easy day for me. I did five laps this morning in the practice session. We didn't go out in the afternoon, but it was a smart move. It's my hometown, so I can control the weather a little [laughing]. It's going to be dry for tomorrow. Overall, our car was good out of the box and I just worked on scuffing the race tires in the practice this morning. We have a huge advantage starting up front, but it will be a good battle with these guys up front and the guys in the back. Strategy could also play a big part.”

• SCOTT DIXON (#44 Target Toyota/Lola/Bridgestone): “It was a big improvement every lap for us, that's the main reason we stayed out there. We tried to stay out and kept turning fast times. The circuit was pretty good overall except for the turn six area. The easiest was to test the section for our race tomorrow will be the ALMS [American Le Mans Series] race later today. I think it's three hours long, so it will probably tear it up. But they've [track organizers] done a great job with what they've had so far.”

• TORA TAKAGI (#5 Pioneer/Denso Special Toyota/Reynard/Bridgestone): “Starting from third position tomorrow on this track is very good because it's difficult to overtake somebody here. I can hold my position on the start and hopefully stay in line with the fast group.”

• Bridgestone Tire engineers report that track temperatures ranged from 87° F to 105°, and air temperature from 82° to 85°, during Champ Car qualifying.

• This concludes the CART FedEx Championship Series pit notes for Saturday, October 5, 2002 from a day that saw a mix of rain and sunshine in downtown Miami. We'll see you tomorrow morning for more “Real Racing. Real Sport,” on race day as the Champ Cars gear up in tomorrow's warm-up session at 9 a.m. followed by the 1 p.m. ET (CBS Sports Live) start of the CART FedEx Championship Series Grand Prix Americas. Good night!