TRANS AM: Boris Said Grabs Pole In Trans-Am Series Season Opener

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel

March 16, 2001

Sebring, Fla. - Boris Said posted a fast lap of 2:03.885 (107.591 mph) in the #33 Applied Computer Solutions Ford Mustang this morning to take the pole in the Trans-Am Series for the BFGoodrich Tires Cup Fast Five Qualifying at Sebring International Raceway. For Said, this marks his fifth career appearance on the pole and 22nd career appearance in Fast Five Qualifying.

Next to Said on the front row will be Johnny Miller in the #64 Automationdirect Cuttler-Hammer Jaguar XKR with a time of 2:04.155 (107.285 mph). For Miller, the polesitter at last year’s Sebring race, this is his 24th career appearance in the Fast Five.

On the inside of the second row is Trans-Am Series veteran Lou Gigliotti in the #28 LG Motorsports Chevrolet Corvette. Gigliotti, making just his second appearance in the Fast Five, was extremely fast during both practice sessions yesterday afternoon.

Kenny Wilden in the #66 Banner Engineering Chevrolet Corvette will start tomorrow’s 100-mile race from the outside of the second row. Wilden, the winner of the Trans-Am Series race last fall at Laguna Seca, is making his third appearance in the Fast Five. Wilden is replacing Leighton Reese, who recently suffered an arm injury in a skiing accident, in the #66.

Paul Gentilozzi, in the #3 Johnson Control HomeLink Jaguar XKR, rounds out the Fast Five. Gentilozzi, the runnerup in last season Drivers’ Championship, is making his 94th appearance in the Fast Five.

“This is a busy weekend since I am running in three series,” said Said. “This is my favorite team though, we have a good time. The car is really fast and we have a really good motor. I am just going to try to drive it wide open and go as fast as I can.”

“The car was fabulous,” said Miller. “I made a little slip that cost us, but the car can go even faster. More importantly, we’ve got a good race car which is so important at a track like this which is tough on equipment.”

Round one of the Trans-Am Series for the BFGoodrcih Tires Cup gets underway tomorrow afternoon at 3:50. The race, the first in the series 10-race schedule, will be broadcast by Speedvision at 8:00 tomorrow evening.

Sebring, Florida -- The provisional qualifying positions for Saturday's -lap, 0 mile Trans Am Series for the BF Goodrich Cup Round Number Round One, at Sebring International Raceway, with starting position, driver, hometown and fast lap with speed.

1. Boris Said III, Carlsbad, Calif., 2:03.885, 107.519.
2. Johnny Miller, Johnson City, Tenn., 2:04.155, 107.285.
3. Lou Gigliotti, Dallas, Tex., 2:04.265, 107.190.
4. Kenny Wilden, Oakville, Ont.Canada, 2:04.361, 107.108.
5. Paul Gentilozzi, Lansing, Mich., 2:04.808, 106.724.
6. Tommy Archer, Duluth, Minn., 2:05.476, 106.156.
7. Stu Hayner, Yorba Linda, Calif., 2:05.944, 105.761.
8. Michael Lewis, San Diego, Calif., 2:06.309, 105.456.
9. Max LaGod, Barrington, Ill., 2:06.340, 105.430.
10. Justin Bell, London, Eng, 2:06.771, 105.071.
11. G.J. Mennen, Austin, Tx., 2:06.983, 104.896.
12. Tomy Drissi, Hollywood, Calif., 2:07.030, 104.857.
13. Mike Davis, Huntington Beach, Calif., 2:07.407, 104.547.
14. Cliff Ebben, Appleton, Wis., 2:07.421, 104.535.
15. Randy Ruhlman, Greensboro, N.C., 2:07.484, 104.484.
16. Brian Simo, Carlsbad, Calif., 2:07.544, 104.435.
17. Tom Coleman, Asheville, N.C., 2:07.853, 104.182.
18. Don Meluzio, York, Pa., 2:08.258, 103.853.
19. Steve Pelke, Lansing, Mich., 2:08.325, 103.799.
20. Jim Matthews, Chapel Hill, N.C., 2:08.566, 103.604.
21. John Baucom, Charlotte, N.C., 2:08.846, 103.379.
22. Paul D. Fix, Buffalo, N.Y., 2:08.899, 103.337.
23. Bob Ruman, Munroe Falls, Oh., 2:09.387, 102.947.
24. Dan Miller, Vancouver, Wash., 2:09.468, 102.883.
25. Tom Miller, Sherwood, Ore., 2:09.872, 102.563.
26. Simon Gregg, Jacksonville, Fla., 2:09.882, 102.555.
27. Jerry Kinn, Anchorage, Ark., 2:10.029, 102.439.
28. Kevin Allen, Bowling Green, Ky., 2:10.052, 102.421.
29. Kerry Alexander, Indianapolis, Ind., 2:10.605, 101.987.
30. Don Soenen, Plymouth, Mich., 2:10.939, 101.727.
31. Gary Longo, Chicago, Ill., 2:11.215, 101.513.
32. Bill Bentley, Orlando, Fla., 2:12.741, 100.346.
33. Tim Cowen, Ashland, Oh., 2:12.959, 100.181.
34. Dick Downs, St.James, Minn., 2:13.672, 99.647.
35. Bruce Dewey, Ft. Meyers, Fla., 2:14.256, 99.213.
36. Claudio Burtin, Atlanta, Ga., 2:14.267, 99.205.
37. Dick Greer, Columbus, Oh., 2:15.335, 98.422.
38. Thomas Sloe, Newbury, Oh., 2:15.710, 98.150.
39. Jerry Simmons, Anacaster, Ont.Canada, 2:16.435, 97.629.
40. Andre Toennis, Houston, Tx., 2:17.078, 97.171.
41. Richard La Barbera, Hillsborough, N.C., 2:18.201, 96.381.
42. Moneca Kolvyn, Delta, B.C. Canada, 2:26.982, 90.623.

Text provided by David Lang

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