Drissi Turns up the Heat in Puerto Rico First Round

TRANS-AM CONTACT: Justin Anderson
(704) 348-9400
Cell: (517) 927-3614
Fax: (704) 348-9444

MOTOROCK CONTACT: Chris Fleming
212-691-2800
Cell: 917-647-4790 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Oct. 24, 2003

DRISSI TURNS UP THE HEAT IN PUERTO RICO FIRST ROUND

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico ‹ Tomy Drissi set the fastest time during first round
practice for the Puerto Rico Grand Prix Friday morning at the Isla Grande
temporary airport circuit in San Juan. Drissi, driving the No. 5 Stuck on
You Jaguar XKR, set his 1:07.573-minute lap (85.241 miles per hour) late in
the 30-minute session at the 1.6-mile, 10 turn track.

³For about 90% of the session, I engaged foot before brain,² said Drissi. ³I
went off a bit and didn¹t realize I had cut a tire. I was only a little
frustrated, but then I found it wasn¹t the car, but that we¹d cut a tire.
That¹s the only frustration I intend to have this weekend.

³I got my fast time right at the end, after that last red flag,² added
Drissi. ³How did I do it? I just shut up and drove! You¹ve got to just get
out there and drive.

³There are definite nuances to this track,² continued Drissi, referring to
the new airport circuit. ³It¹s just like Cleveland. I was fortunate enough
to figure them out early in the weekend.²

Scott Pruett, debuting Jaguar¹s new four-valve, fuel-injected, overhead-cam,
stock-block V8 engine in race trim, was second fastest in the No. 7
Motorock/Jaguar R Performance XKR, ahead of Randy Ruhlman, who turned in the
third quickest time in the No. 49 Preformed Line Products/COYOTE Closures
Chevrolet Corvette). Local rookie sensation Jorge Diaz, Jr. completed the
top five in the No. 8 Don Q Rum Jaguar XKR.

Second-round practice is scheduled for today at 3:40 p.m. The Puerto Rico
Grand Prix, Round 11 and the season finale for the Motorock Trans-Am Tour
for the BFGoodrich Tires Cup, is scheduled to start at 2 p.m. Atlantic Time.
It will air LIVE on SPEED Channel at 1 p.m. EST.

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