|
|
|
|
|
This Month's Featured Driver: Mauricio Gugelmin 1997 Outlook: Mauricio Gugelmin will join PacWest on the PPG Cup circuit for the third straight season. What appears to be a strong chemistry with the team should be bolstered by the addition of Mercedes-Benz engines and Firestone tires. What may give "Big Mo" an edge, however, is his familiarity with the Reynard chassis. He has the distinction of being one of only two drivers (along with Jimmy Vasser)in the series to have driven a Reynard in every race since the manufacturer began supplying CART race cars in 1994. In that time, he has raced and qualified near the front on more than one occasion. He is a likely candidate to win his first race in 1997. RACING CAREER: ...1996: Had four top-five showings, including one that matched his career best, to finish 14th in the PPG Cup points (53). … Best success came at Michigan International Speedway, where he scored his two podium finishes of the season. Equaled his career-best finish (Miami, 1995) with a runnerup performance at the U.S. 500 and followed with a third-place finish at MIS in July. … Other top-five finishes came at Australia (4th) and Laguna (5th). … Qualified a season-best third at Laguna. … Led three times for 12 laps on the season. ...1995: Highest placing Brazilian driver rounded out PPG Cup top 10 with tenth-place standing in first season with PacWest team...Had a career-best second at Miami, after qualifying a personal high second...Was also on podium (third) at Laguna Seca...Led most laps (59) at Indy...Had seven top-six finishes including fourth at Australia, a fifth at Long Beach and sixths at Indy, Portland and Mid-Ohio ... 1994: Started all 16 races for Chip Ganassi Racing Teams ... Scored a then career-best finish in Australia by placing sixth ... Had career-best starts at Detroit and Mid-Ohio by gridding fifth ... 1993: Entered PPG Indy Car World Series, starting final three events of the year with Dick Simon Racing and sponsorship from Hollywood American Blend, Brazil's number one cigarette brand ... 1992: Started 16 races for Jordan-Yamaha Formula One team ... 1991: Started 15 Grands Prix with Leyton House-Ilmor F1 team ... 1990: Moved to Leyton House-Judd Formula One team ... Scored one world championship point, with a sixth-place finish in Belgium ... Finished 18th overall in championship ... 1989: Returned to March-Judd Formula One team ... Scored his only career F1 podium finish (third) in Brazil in front of home crowd ... Finished 16th in world championship rankings with four points ... 1988: Started 16 races for Leyton House March-Judd Formula One team, scoring five points in his most successful F1 season ... Ranked 13th in the world championship standings, Gugelmin finished fifth in Hungary and fourth in the British Grand Prix ... 1987: Returned to Formula 3000, scoring his first series win with Ralt factory team ... 1986: Entered Formula 3000 championship ... 1985: Scored British Formula Three title, also winning Macau F3 World Cup title ... 1984: Drove in European Formula Ford 2000 championship, taking title ... 1982: Entered British Formula Ford 1600 series, scoring 11 poles and 13 wins and capturing national championship ... 1981: Brazilian Formula Fiat series champion ... 1980: Brazilian national karting champion ... Early Career: A veteran of 74 Grands Prix, Gugelmin joined the PPG Indy Car World Series late in 1993, driving for Dick Simon Racing ... Racing career began in karting, starting at age eight. PERSONAL: A major media and marketing personality in Brazil ... Gugelmin's TV advertisements for poultry products have won marketing awards in Brazil ... Gugelmin's father is a Brazilian timber merchant and antique car collector ... Married to Stella Maris ... Enjoys watersports, including boating, skiing, diving, water skiing and jet skiing.
BEST CAREER FINISH: 2nd - 1995 Miami. 2nd - 1996: U.S. 500. BEST CAREER START: 2nd - 1995 Miami. Source: Championship Auto Racing Teams The February 1997 featured driver was Adrian Fernandez
These pages contain .mid (audio) files that will be playing in the background if you are using NETSCAPE. Turn on your speakers!!!
Member of the Internet Link Exchange  |
