CART: Kanaan GetS Off to Fast Start at Surfers Paradise Street Circuit
13 October 2000
FedEx Championship Series Report
Race: The Honda Indy 300 at Surfers Paradise, Queensland, Australia
Date/Session: Friday, October 13, 2000 Practice
Mercedes-Benz driver Tony Kanaan and his Hollywood-sponsored Mo Nunn
Racing team earned the fifth position on the grid today during provisional
qualifying for the Honda Indy 300 at the 2.795-mile, 14-turn Surfers Paradise
street circuit in Queensland, Australia. Gil de Ferran was quickest at
92.057 seconds (109.302 mph).
"I had the perfect lap," said Kanaan, whose time was 93.165 seconds
(108.002 mph). "It was right at the edge. It was a good effort by my guys.
It was a good day for us. It makes everybody happy. It gives a pump to
everybody on the team. We're back."
Michel Jourdain Jr., who pilots the Herdez/Bettenhausen
Motorsports/Mercedes-Benz, was 13th thanks to a 94.282-second lap (106.722
mph). "The car was pretty good," said Jourdain. "Traction was not too bad,
and it is getting better. All the race cars that ran yesterday laid down
some rubber for us. We've got some issues to work out, but we'll be better
for tomorrow."
Nextel/PacWest Racing/Mercedes-Benz driver Mauricio Gugelmin was 16th
today after a lap of 94.514 seconds (106.460 mph). "We had some problem with
wheel spin today, and there are a lot of second-gear corners on this track,"
said Gugelmin. "We're working on making some changes, and it did get better
from this morning. We're also working on solving a push. The car is not as
good as the car I had last year here. This is a really great place, though.
We enjoy it."
Gugelmin's PacWest teammate, Motorola/Mercedes-Benz driver Mark Blundell,
was 21st with a lap of 95.399 seconds (105.473 mph). Luiz Garcia Jr. was
24th with a 98.689-second lap (101.957 mph).
Practice will resume tomorrow (Oct. 14) at 10 a.m. local time (8 p.m.
EST, Oct. 13), and final qualifying will begin at 1:45 p.m. (11:45 p.m. EST,
Oct. 13).
Practice, Honda Indy 300
Surfers Paradise, Queensland, Australia
Oct. 13, 2000
Pos. Driver Engine Time Speed
1 Gil de Ferran Honda 92.057 109.302
2 Juan Montoya Toyota 92.684 108.562
3 Jimmy Vasser Toyota 93.052 108.133
4 Michael Andretti Ford 93.123 108.051
5 Tony Kanaan Mercedes-Benz 93.165 108.002
6 Dario Franchitti Honda 93.380 107.753
7 Christian FittipaldiFord 93.490 107.626
8 Paul Tracy Honda 93.572 107.532
9 Cristiano da Matta Toyota 93.761 107.315
10 Patrick Carpentier Ford 93.798 107.273
13 Michel Jourdain Jr. Mercedes-Benz 94.282 106.722
16 Mauricio Gugelmin Mercedes-Benz 94.514 106.460
21 Mark Blundell Mercedes-Benz 95.399 105.473
24 Luiz Garcia Jr. Mercedes-Benz 98.689 101.957