Fontana - Rand Racing practice

California Speedway
practice, March 21, 2002

driver change

Anthony Lazzaro will not compete in the Rolex Sports Car Series race at 
California Speedway on Saturday.  He suffered a slight compression fracture 
of the fifth thoracic vertebrae in an Indy Racing League crash last week, and 
will not be cleared to race for three weeks.  Bill Rand and Ralf Kelleners 
will join Terry Borcheller in the No. 8 Rand Racing Nissan Lola.

"This was going to be a very big weekend.  We had a good winning streak going 
in the Rand car," he said, referring to the team's three wins in as many 
races.  "That will come to an end for me personally, but I hope it will 
continue for the team.  Bill Rand has been there for me and he and his family 
have been extremely helpful this week.

"On the IRL side, we were 11th in points and first in rookie points.  We had 
a very good test here - we were sixth quick in the Test in the West and we 
were looking for a good weekend to turn the program around.  Sam Schmidt has 
been very understanding about all this; he just wants me to get home and get 
healthy again."

fast times

Ralf Kelleners posted the fastest lap in the SRPII class, third-fastest 
overall, during opening-day practice on the new 2.81-mile California Speedway 
road course.  He credited the team with a very competitive car setup.

"We're very happy with the car," he said.  "Every step we took made the car 
better.  If the race was tomorrow, we could race the car because we are quite 
happy with it.  I'm sure we can still find another half-second by just 
fine-tuning it, but the basic setup we came here with is very close to what 
we need."

He noted the team's attitude contributes to its strong performance.

"We always prepare the best car possible and do the best race," he said.  "We 
work on ourselves.  When you do something for yourself and you want to just 
give the best, that's our aim here, that's why we're all here - every 
mechanic, the team owner, the drivers, everybody just wants to do a perfect 
job."

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Sylvia Proudfoot
spur07@cs.com
403 287 3945