CART: Gugelmin's Mercedes Quick at Elkhart Lake
19 August 2000
Race: Motorola 220, Road America, Elkhart Lake,Wis.
Date/Session: Friday, Aug. 18, 2000 Provisional Qualifying
Mauricio Gugelmin led the five-car Mercedes-Benz contingent in
provisional qualifying today for the Motorola 220 at the 4.048-mile Road
America circuit at Elkhart Lake, Wis., earning the seventh spot on the grid
thanks to a lap of 1:41.044 seconds (144.222 mph). The provisional pole
sitter is Gil de Ferran, who turned in a 1:40.392-second lap (145.159 mph).
Gugelmin was prevented from improving his time in the closing minutes of
the session when Paul Tracy spun on course and brought out the red flag,
ending qualifying despite the fact that approximately four minutes were
remaining on the clock.
"I had an even better lap going when Tracy spun," said Gugelmin, who
drives the Nextel/PacWest Racing/Mercedes. "I still don't have the balance
that I like. It has a push and is loose, but the goal was to get into the
fast group for qualifying tomorrow, and we have done that."
Mechanical problems hindered the progress of Hollywood/Mo Nunn Racing/
Mercedes driver Tony Kanaan, who managed a 1:42.504-second lap (142.168 mph)
for the 18th spot in the field. He had run as high as fourth before being
forced to pit so his engineers could attempt to diagnose the problem, but he
was unable to return to the track before time ran out.
Mark Blundell, driver of the Motorola/PacWest Racing/Mercedes, had a
mechanical problem in the morning practice, and was 10th in the afternoon
qualifying with a lap of 1:42.657 seconds (141.956 mph). Herdez/Bettenhausen
Motorsports/ Mercedes driver Michel Jourdain Jr. was 23rd, with a
1:44.366-second lap (139.632 mph). Luiz Garcia Jr., who drives the
Hollywood/Arciero Project Racing/Mercedes, was 24th with a lap of 1:45.731
seconds (137.829 mph).
Practice continues tomorrow at 10 a.m. (11 p.m. Eastern), and final
qualifying will begin at 1:45 p.m. local time (2:45 p.m. Eastern).
Provisional Qualifying, Motorola 220
Road America, Elkhart Lake, Wis.
Aug. 18, 2000
Pos. Driver Engine Time Speed
1 Gil de Ferran Honda 1:40.392 145.159
2 Michael Andretti Ford 1:40.401 145.146
3 Dario Franchitti Honda 1:40.477 145.036
4 Alexandre Tagliani Ford 1:40.482 145.029
5 Adrian Fernandez Ford 1:40.581 144.886
6 Christian FittipaldiFord 1:41.016 144.262
7 Mauricio Gugelmin Mercedes-Benz 1:41.044 144.222
8 Helio Castroneves Honda 1:41.072 144.182
9 Kenny Brack Ford 1:41.358 143.776
10 Juan Montoya Toyota 1:41.431 143.672
18 Tony Kanaan Mercedes-Benz 1:42.504 142.168
20 Mark Blundell Mercedes-Benz 1:42.657 141.956
23 Michel Jourdain Jr. Mercedes-Benz 1:44.366 139.632
24 Luiz Garcia Jr. Mercedes-Benz 1:45.731 137.829