Takagi-Giaffone Texas Thursday Qualifying

Contact: Laz Denes, 256-657-6190
ldenes@monunnracing.com
www.monunnracing.com

media information


Takagi Qualifies Third, Giaffone Fifth for Saturday's Bombardier 500

 

FORT WORTH, Texas (Thursday, June 5, 2003) - Mo Nunn Racing teammates Tora Takagi and Felipe Giaffone qualified third and fifth, respectively, for Saturday night's Bombardier 500 IRL IndyCar Series race at Texas Motor Speedway.

 

Takagi and the #12 Pioneer/Mo Nunn Racing Toyota-powered Panoz G Force circled the 1.5-mile high-banked oval tonight in 24.0246 seconds (218.027 mph) on his first of two single-car qualifying laps.  Earlier in the evening, Takagi was fastest of all 23 competitors here this weekend in the only practice session held today.  Rain showers throughout the day prevented cars from taking to the track until nearly 7 p.m. local time.

 

Giaffone and the #21 Hollywood/Mo Nunn Racing Toyota-powered Panoz G Force was close behind his teammate with a fast qualifying lap of 24.1655 seconds (216.755 mph) that put him on the inside of the third row for Saturday night's 200-lap race.

 

Tomas Scheckter, the polesitter here last June, did it again with a fast lap of 23.8851 seconds (219.300 mph) and sits on the front row alongside his teammate Scott Dixon, who qualified in 23.9557 seconds (218.654 mph).  Tony Kanaan qualified fourth with a lap of 24.1217 seconds (217.149 mph) and will start outside Takagi on the second row.

 

Two practice sessions are scheduled for Friday afternoon.  Race time Saturday is 7 p.m. local time (8 p.m. EDT) with a live broadcast set for ESPN. 

 

TORA TAKAGI

"Obviously we are very happy with our Pioneer Toyota.  It seems like the Toyota-G Force package is what you want to have for this racetrack.  We feel very good about our chances for the race.  This was my first time driving at night.  It was very different.  It's not difficult.  It is just different.  I really like it, I think.  We'll see what happens next.  Right now, my car is very comfortable and balanced.  "

 

FELIPE GIAFFONE

"We did everything we could.  The car was flat all the way around the track and I'm not sure how much more we could have done to go faster.  We had only 40 minutes to practice, but I felt comfortable pretty much right away.  I definitely am feeling good about my Hollywood car for the race."

 

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