CART: Weather clears for afternoon practice in Germany

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel

September 15, 2001

(Lausitz, Germany) - PacWest Racing's Mauricio Gugelmin hit the track for a two-hour practice session this afternoon after the morning session was rained out at the 2-mile oval in Germany.

Gugelmin, driver of the #17 Nextel PacWest Toyota, completed 93 laps today and finished the session P10 overall. His quick time of the day, 35.763 seconds, was registered on Gugelmin's 92nd lap on the tri-oval.

"It took a few laps to really learn this circuit and get the car right but I'm pleased with the progress we made in such short time," said Gugelmin. "I was able to run a few longer stints with a full fuel tank but I'm not completely pleased with the car's balance right now. We were also a little loose early on, but that's typical with a green track. The circuit picked up more grip with each lap as more and more rubber was being laid down. The track itself is very nice. They did a tremendous job in its layout and the tri-oval is very different from the other two-mile oval's we run on. Hopefully the weather will cooperate with us tomorrow so we can put on a good show for the fans here in Germany."

Gugelmin's teammate, Scott Dixon, did not participate in the day's only practice session due to stomach cramps and nausea. Dixon is planning on running the German 500 Saturday - weather and good health permitting.

As qualifying had been abandoned on Friday, the starting grid for the German 500 will be in Championship point order. Scott Dixon will start tomorrow's race from the sixth position, and Mauricio Gugelmin will start from the 23rd position.

Text provided by Tom Hollett

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