Race No. 14

Texaco Havoline 200
Elkhart Lake's Road America
Elkhart Lake, WisconsinAugust 14 - 16, 1998

1996 Pole Winner: Alex Zanardi 1997 Pole Winner: Mauricio Gugelmin 1996 Race Winner: Michael Andretti 1997 Race Winner: Alex Zanardi 1996 SpeedCenter Report 1997 SpeedCenter Report Elkhart Lake Weather Robby Gordon's Track Preview in RealAudio

Alex Gets Another Chance

...another chance to grab that but Pole Award money pot, which combined with race win and pole money is nowwell above $400,000. Last year he didn't start from the pole, but he won the race convincingly. the Championship repeat is now almost totally secure, so the focus has shifted from padding the points leadto winning the Pole Award bonus money. When Alex went off course at Mid Ohio, practically ending his qualifying effort and chance to get the pole, he was probably more upset than when he finishedthe race in a for him unusual 12th position. I don't want to repeat here what he radioed to his crew whenhe found himself in the tires at the caroussel in Saturday's qualifying session, but it indicated how badlyhe wants to win this pole award before somebody else gets it.

That 'somebody else' may be Dario Franchitti, or teammate Jimmy Vasser, or perhaps Bryan Herta. All three showedsuperior speed at Mid Ohio and will attempt to make up for their shortened Mid Ohio experience lastweek. Greg Moore, if he should find the setup he didn't have in Mid Ohio qualifying, is another candidate to grab that pole money.

Maybe not candidates to grab the pole award, but always top contenders at Elkhart Lake are Al Unser Jr. andMichael Andretti. In recent races both have been running at the front of the pack, and it seems just amatter of time until either driver wins another event. It may take the kind of luck that helped MichaelAndretti win in 1996, when Al Unser Jr.'s engine expired on the last lap in Canada Corner, or a melee at the start like in Mid Ohio, which gave the Patrick drivers Fernandez and Pruett a first one-two finish. As usual, a dozen drivers will be in contention for the win on Sunday.

The weather was an issue last year - keep an eye on the forecast, because today on Thursday, scatteredthunderstorms and slightly unstable air are moving into the state.