Race No. 8

ITT Automotive Detroit Grand Prix
Belle Isle
Detroit, Michigan
June 5-7, 1998

1996 Pole Winner: Scott Pruett 1997 Pole Winner: Gil de Ferran 1996 Race Winner: Michael Andretti 1997 Race Winner: Greg Moore 1997 SpeedCenter Report 1996 SpeedCenter Report Detroit Weather Robby Gordon's Track Preview in RealAudio

It's a Road Course!

Not only is Belle Isle a road course - it is a new road course with a real passing opportunity. The reconfigured track shouldchange the face of the event once and for all from a fuel strategy parade to a fight of the fastest and fittest (See Robby Gordon'strack notes for a map and his comments).

Currently fit and fast are points leader Zanardi, who last year earned most of his points on road courses. He alreadywon the first road course race of the season at Long Beach and is hoping to extend his lead over Greg Moore, whowon at Detroit last year. Jimmy Vasser just closed the gap to the points leaders with a win at Milwaukee and hopes to keep that momentum. Don't count out Michael Andretti and Christian Fittipaldi - in 1996 they had everyone coveredon the island, and their Swifts have been strong at all races this season.

Several teams are trying to turn things around at Belle Isle - this includes Walker Racing and Gil de Ferran, last year'spole sitter, as well as Scott Pruett of Patrick Racing, who qualified second in 1997, and on pole in 1996. His best finishon the island is 2nd place. Pruett's teammate Adrian Fernandez hopes to return to the front of the points chase, after winningin Japan earlier this season. Both drivers of Team KOOL Green have to be mentioned in this group, too - Tracy still looking to getmomentum, while Franchitti was the fastest driver during the race last year and finished second at Long Beach earlier this spring.

At Long Beach, Al Unser Jr. had little chance to show what the new Penske could do on a road course - maybe we will find out at Detroit how well it works in tight and twisty quarters. Andre Ribeiro's season has been rather erratic - with a DNQ atNazareth to a 3rd fastest qualifier at Milwaukee last week. He wants to put some solid points into his row of thedriver performance chart before the season goes into the second half.

Rookie Helio Castro-Neves ran strong at Long Beach and just finished second at Milwaukee. He should be pumped up andready to charge for more podium appearances. Among the other rookies, JJ Lehto should be interesting to watch, as the ovals were rather alien to him. After 7 races he should also be adjusted to driving a champ car. He may just surprise a fewpeople this week.

TV coverage:
On the Grid: 2:00 p.m. EDT ESPN2
Race (live): 2:30p.m. EDT ABC

EUROPE
Race 19:00 GMT EUROSPORT