TRANS AM: Paul Gentilozzi Picks Up Pole At Detroit

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel

June 16, 2001

Will Lead Field In Motor City 100 Presented By Johnson Controls

Detroit -- Paul Gentilozzi, who suffered signifcant damage this morning in a practice session crash, picked up his third consecutive pole of the season to claim the Motorcity True Performance Pole Award in Fast Five Qualifying this afternoon. Tommy Archer (#36 Motorcity True Performance Dodge Viper) qualified second and will be on the outside of row one at the start of tomorrow’s Motor City 100 presented by Johnson Controls.

Gentilozzi (#3 Johnson Controls HomeLink Jaguar XKR) will look for his second consecutive victory on the Belle Isle course. The winner of the most recent Trans-Am Series for the BFGoodrich Tires Cup race at Mosport International Raceway, will look for his third career win in Detroit.

“I have to say the only reason I’m here is because of the crew,” said Gentilozzi. “You can’t imagine the physical stress for the crew when they see the car come back on a truck and it won’t roll. They just never hesitated. I love this track and have a good comfort factor here. Quite honestly, that a lot of why we’re here on the pole.”

Archer, making his second appearance in a row in the Fast Five, is on the front row for the first time this season. “I was here in 1992 with the Dodge and got on the front row. It feels good to be back up front with the Viper,” said Archer. “The crew has worked so hard to give me a good car. It’s not quite right yet, but we’re all working hard together.”

Brian Simo (#88 Tommy Bahama Qvale Mangusta) will start third on the grid. He will be followed by Randy Ruhlman (#49 Preformed Line Products Chevrolet Corvette) and Tomy Drissi (#15 TDM Motorsports Jaguar XKR). Ruhlman was in the midst of a hot lap late in the session but hit the wall. The car suffered moderate damage and should be repaired by the morning.

Jaguar announced prior to the Fast Five press conference that it will post a contingency sponsorship for the Trans-Am Series during the 2001 season. The pole winners from all 11 Trans-Am Series races will each be given a key that potentially start a new 2002 Jaguar X-Type sport sedan. All five drivers of Jaguar-bodied cars will automatically be eligible to win the X-Type, and, as a further reward, anyone winning a pole position in an XKR will receive a check for $2,500.

Round four of the Trans-Am Series for the BFGoodrich Tires Cup, the Motor City 100 presented by Johnson Controls, will begin at 4:00 tomorrow afternoon. The race, to be broadcast by CBS Sports at 5:00, will be the Trans-Am Series’ network television debut.

1. Paul Gentilozzi, Lansing, Mich., 1:33.367, 91.034.
2. Tommy Archer, Duluth, Minn., 1:33.982, 90.439.
3. Brian Simo, Carlsbad, Calif., 1:34.043, 90.380.
4. Randy Ruhlman, Greensboro, N.C., 1:34.178, 90.250.
5. Tomy Drissi, Hollywood, Calif., 1:34.379, 90.058.
6. Boris Said III, Carlsbad, Calif., 1:34.499, 89.944.
7. Leighton Reese, Minnetonka, Mn., 1:34.602, 89.846.
8. Michael Lewis, San Diego, Calif., 1:34.700, 89.753.
9. Johnny Miller, Johnson City, Tenn., 1:34.735, 89.720.
10. Steve Pelke, Lansing, Ill., 1:35.826, 88.698.
11. G.J. Mennen, Austin, Tx., 1:36.285, 88.275.
12. Lou Gigliotti, Dallas, Tex., 1:36.458, 88.117.
13. Kerry Alexander, Indianapolis, Ind., 1:36.855, 87.756.
14. Don Sak, Bloomfield, Mich., 1:37.195, 87.449.
15. Paul D. Fix, Buffalo, N.Y., 1:37.639, 87.051.
16. Kevin Allen, Orlando, Fla., 1:37.700, 86.997.
17. Stu Hayner, Yorba Linda, Calif., 1:37.753, 86.950.
18. Mike Davis, Huntington Beach, Calif., 1:37.868, 86.848.
19. Jim Matthews, Chapel Hill, N.C., 1:38.226, 86.531.
20. Justin Bell, London, Eng, 1:38.269, 86.493.
21. Simon Gregg, Jacksonville, Fla., 1:38.328, 86.441.
22. Craig Shafer, Somerset, Pa., 1:38.349, 86.423.
23. Bob Ruman, Munroe Falls, Oh., 1:38.730, 86.089.
24. Claudio Burtin, Atlanta, Ga., 1:38.976, 85.875.
25. John Baucom, Charlotte, N.C., 1:40.231, 84.800.
26. Dan Miller, Vancouver, Wash., 1:40.501, 84.572.
27. Richard La Barbera, Hillsborough, N.J., 1:45.071, 80.894.
28. Joe Freda, Auburb, Al., 1:49.563, 77.577.

Text provided by David Lang

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