---

CART: Mauricio Gugelmin qualifies in top 10 at Toronto

16 July 2000

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel

(Toronto, CA)--PacWest Racings Mauricio Gugelmin has the chance to add to his FedEx Championship Series points account after qualifying 10th for tomorrows Molson Indy in Toronto, Canada.

The Brazilian set a qualifying time of 58.152 seconds in his #17 Nextel PacWest Mercedes-Benz in a trouble-free qualifying run which was almost a second quicker than his morning practice time.

Mark Blundell will start from 15th place on the grid in his #18 Motorola PacWest Mercedes-Benz after clocking a time of 58.428 seconds.

Blundell battled with some slower traffic on a couple of his flying laps in the first qualifying group, but is confident he has a good race package for tomorrows 112-lap race on Torontos temporary street course.

Brazilian Helio Castroneves took the second pole of his career and will start on the front row with countryman Cristiano da Matta. Michael Andretti and defending series champion Juan Montoya will share row two.

MAURICIO GUGELMIN - # 17 NEXTEL PACWEST MERCEDES-BENZ 10th
Qualifying: 58.152s

"We had a trouble-free session although we are still battling too much push," said Gugelmin.

"My crew did some work on the car between sessions which improved my overall handling, but we still need more front grip.

"We are going to keep working tonight to find a better balance for the car. At this track there are only one or two places to pass so race strategy will be an important factor."

MARK BLUNDELL - # 18 MOTOROLA PACWEST MERCEDES-BENZ 15th
Qualifying: 58.428s

"Actually, we are not a million miles away from getting it all together," said Blundell.

"We have made progress in each session and I think we will have a reasonable race package tomorrow. We will just tweak a few things overnight and work on our fuel consumption strategies.

"We wasted our second set of new tires in qualifying because of traffic problems.

"The car maybe had a couple of 10ths left in it if I could of had a clear run, but "if" is a big word in this game."

QUALIFYING TOP 10: Helio Castroneves 57.20021 1; Cristiano da Matta 57.639 2; Michael Andretti 57.666 3; Juan Montoya 57.928 4; Dario Franchitti 57.940 5; Christian Fittipaldi 57.949 6; Kenny Brack 57.984 7; Gil de Ferran 58.045 8; Adrian Fernandez 58.056 9; Mauricio Gugelmin 58.152 10.

Text provided by Brett Murray

Editors Note: To view hundreds of hot racing photos and art, visit The Racing Photo Museum and the Visions of Speed Art Gallery.