CART: Dixon earns career best third in wet weather to lead Toyota effort
Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel
August 19, 2001DIXON QUALIFIES CAREER-BEST THIRD - Scott Dixon (Powerware Panasonic Toyota) earned a career-best third today in qualifying to lead the nine Toyota-powered cars entered for tomorrow's Motorola 220 at Road America. The third place is Dixon's best-ever qualifying performance, surpassing his previous best of fourth set at Portland.
GIDLEY JUST MISSES FIRST POLE - Memo Gidley (Target Toyota) appeared to be on his way to his first career Champ Car pole position at Road America today in wet conditions before a drying track allowed seven cars to get past on the last lap of today's qualifying. The eighth-place qualifying effort is Gidley's third top-eight starting spot in the last six races.
FIVE TOYOTAS IN TOP 10 - Five Toyota-powered cars will start Sunday's Motorola 220 in the top 10. Joining third-place Scott Dixon and eighth starter Memo Gidley (see above) will be Cristiano da Matta (5th - Texaco/Havoline Toyota), Christian Fittipaldi (9th - Kmart Toyota) and Bruno Junqueira (10th - Target Toyota).
In addition to the five Toyotas in the top 10, each of the other four cars powered by the manufacturer will start in the top 15 tomorrow - making for nine of the first 15 with Toyota power. The Visteon Toyota's of Patrick Racing teammates Jimmy Vasser, who had been in the top two in every previous session, and Roberto Moreno, who was third in the morning practice session, were hit the hardest by the rain and will start 11th and 14th, respectively, tomorrow. Tora Takagi (Pioneer Toyota) and Mauricio Gugelmin (Nextel Toyota) round out the Toyota contingent in 13th and 15th.
Toyota Drivers Road America Qualifying
3. Scott Dixon
5. Cristiano da Matta
8. Memo Gidley
9. Christian Fittipaldi
10. Bruno Junqueira
11. Jimmy Vasser
13. Tora Takagi
14. Roberto Moreno
15. Mauricio Guglemin
Text provided by John Prodica
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