Olympic Swimmer Dara Torres Takes Pole Position for Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race
Posted By Terry CallahanMotorsports Editor, AThe Auto Channel
April 7, 2001
Winner Receives "PEOPLE Pole Award" and $10,000 for Charity
LONG BEACH, Calif. - Nine-time Olympic medalist swimmer Dara Torres, proving that she can "fly" in the pool and on the race track, turned in the fastest lap (1:48.708) in today's qualifying session at the Silver Anniversary Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race. She is the first female to take the pole position in the 25-year history of the fan-favorite event. The top professional driver was 10-year CART veteran Scott Pruett, with a lap time of 1:46.003.
In addition to winning the coveted inside front-row position for the Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race, Torres also was awarded the fourth annual "PEOPLE Pole Award." Sponsored by PEOPLE Magazine, the award honors the top celebrity qualifier for the Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race with a $10,000 donation from PEOPLE to the pole sitter's charity of choice. Torres designated the We Change Foundation, a charitable organization in Boynton Beach, Fla., whose mission is to motivate and educate troubled youth.
Other Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race participants include William Shatner, David Alan Grier, Erik Palladino, Piper Perabo, Christopher McDonald, Jim Kelly, Billy Blanks and Mark Consuelos.
The Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race will begin at noon on Saturday, April 7 with a field of 17 drivers. The Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race will air on ESPN on Saturday, April 28 at 3 p.m. ET.
PEOPLE is the most popular magazine in the world with a weekly readership of 35 million people.
Celebrity Qualifying Times:
1. Dara Torres 1:48.708
2. Tom Rudnai 1:48.746
3. Mark Steines 1:48.840
4. Christopher McDonald 1:49.366
5. Erik Palladino 1:49.971
6. Mark Consuelos 1:49.984
7. Dave Pasant 1:49.998
8. William Shatner 1:51.144
9. Billy Blanks 1:52.280
10. Jim Kelly 1:52.380
11. David Alan Grier 1:54.640
12. Elisa Donovan 1:57.316
13. Piper Perabo 1:59.294
Professsionals:
1. Scott Pruett 1:46.003
2. Josh Brolin 1:46.665
3. Sara Senske 1:47.765
4. Robert Huffman 1:47.796
Text provided by Lynne Arciero
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