CART: Mo Nunn Racing Tandem Tops Speed Charts in Germany
Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel
September 15, 2001or Mike Zizzo (248) 362-8800 LAUSITZ, Germany (September 15, 2001) - Mo Nunn Racing drivers Tony Kanaan and Alex Zanardi took to the new EuroSpeedway oval immediately Friday when they topped the speed charts for Saturday's American Memorial before a crowd of 39,627.
The event, previously titled the German 500, has been renamed in honor of the victims of Tuesday's terrorist attacks in New York City, Washington, D.C. and western Pennsylvania.
Kanaan (no limits Honda Reynard) topped 26 fellow competitors with a lap of 210.340 miles per hour (34.624 seconds) as Champ Cars took their first competitive laps on the new, 2.023-mile EuroSpeedway oval. Zanardi (Pioneer Honda Reynard) followed closely behind at 208.134 mph (34.991 seconds). Each will be seeking his first victory of the FedEx Championship Series season when the green flag falls 1:30 p.m. local time for Saturday's 16th round of the championship.
Patrick Carpentier (Player's/Indeck Ford Reynard) was third fastest Friday at 206.540 mph (35.261 seconds), while Kenny Brack (Shell Ford Lola) of Team Rahal (206.183 mph, 35.322 seconds) and rookie Bruno Junqueira (Target Toyota Lola) of Target Chip Ganassi Racing (205.787 mph, 35.390 seconds), rounded out the top five.
In the interest of giving the drivers as much experience as possible at this new venue after a rainout of Thursday's testing, the weekend's qualifying session was canceled and the starting grid was based on championship points. Defending FedEx Championship Series champion Gil de Ferran (Honda Reynard) of Team Penske, who leads the series with 115 points, will start on the pole, his third pole position of the season.
De Ferran was 20th-fastest Friday at 200.462 mph (36.330 seconds). Starting alongside him on the front row will be Brack, who has won three of the five completed events contested on ovals this season.
Brack and reigning Indianapolis 500 champion Helio Castroneves (Honda Reynard) of Team Penske, who starts third, are tied behind de Ferran with 110 points each heading into Saturday's event.
WHAT THEY'RE SAYING
TONY KANAAN, no limits Honda Reynard: "I think the day's been pretty smooth for our team. When we went out we were one-two right away. I think we've worked very hard on sharing information in the team this year, and we were able to communicate pretty well today. For drivers to accommodate the race track is not a huge thing. If you've got a good car, it's not very difficult. I'm very happy to be here.
"I never saw so many people in my life on a Friday of race weekend. It's a sad situation for us with everything back home. We cannot celebrate today; we're just doing our jobs. I heard the CDA [Championship Drivers Association], which is the drivers' association, is going to donate $50,000 to the efforts. Money is nothing right now, but it's all we can do."
ALEX ZANARDI, Pioneer Honda Reynard: "I love this circuit, it is beautiful. It's a little scary in the turns because you're facing the wall a few times, but it is very beautiful. I'm very, very happy. It's just a shame that we're starting on points because of the rain. But when you have a good car, you only want to go racing. I actually can't wait to go racing. I can't wait because we know we have a good car. Even if I'm starting from the back, I'm still looking forward to the race."
PATRICK CARPENTIER, Player's/Indeck Ford Reynard: "It went pretty well. The car was pushing a little bit, but it's a really nice facility. It's probably one of the best we've gone to. They've created kind of a stadium around here, which makes it even better. I think we will be able to pass in a few spots, so it should be a good race. At the end of the session I ran on full tanks with Helio Castroneves and we could pass each other pretty easily. I think you're going to see some passing. You have to be careful at the exit of the turns, but I think it's going to be an exciting race."
WHAT'S NOTEWORTHY
* The following joint statement was issued Friday by Hans-Jorg Fischer, president and CEO of EuroSpeedway Lausitz and Joe Heitzler, CART chairman and CEO: "Since making our announcement yesterday [Thursday] regarding this weekend's event at EuroSpeedway, we have been contacted by the President of the State of Brandenburg, Manfred Stolpe, and the German government. We truly appreciate the support they have shown for our race weekend. As part of our discussion, a request was made of EuroSpeedway and CART to rename this weekend's German 500 race The American Memorial in honor of the victims in the United States. This decision illustrated the solidarity between the German people, CART and those impacted by the tragic events in New York City, Washington, D.C., and elsewhere. It also reinforces the importance of people everywhere returning to a normal course. Our hearts are full of grief in this difficult time and everyone impacted by this event remains very much in our thoughts. The renaming of the race, coupled with the variety of special pre-race activities we announced yesterday, will offer the proper respect in this situation. We welcome the opportunity to make the victims of the tragedy the focus of The American Memorial, and want to say 'Thank you' to all the fans, both at EuroSpeedway and those watching around the world on television, for their concern and support as we begin to recover from this terrible tragedy." An assortment of special pre- and post-race activities have been scheduled Saturday as a tribute to Tuesday's victims.
* Michael Andretti (Motorola Honda Reynard) of Team Motorola arrived in Lausitz Friday morning after an overnight flight in a private jet from Allentown, Pa., near his Nazareth home. Andretti, whose scheduled commercial flight from the United States on Tuesday was delayed due to that day's tragic events in New York, Washington and western Pennsylvania, departed Allentown at 4 p.m. aboard a G2B Gulfstream after receiving clearance from the Federal Aviation Administration and the United States Department of Defense. Traveling with Andretti were his wife, Leslie; CART Chaplain Rev. Phil DeRea; Newman/Haas Racing co-owner Carl Haas, co-owner of Newman/Racing, and his wife, Bernie; and J.F. Thorman, Andretti's business manager. The plane stopped in Shannon, Ireland for refueling en route from Allentown and arrived in Dresden at 7 a.m. local time.
* The Championship Drivers Association, working through its Benevolent Fund, announced a donation of $50,000 to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund to aid the victims and families impacted by Tuesday's terrorist acts.
Text provided by T.E. McHale
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