SCCA (UTAH) - Malkhassain tops charts in first session at Toole........

Ara Malkhassain, of Sonoma, Calif., topped the time sheets in the first practice session for Round Eight of the SCCA Pro Racing SIRIUS Satellite Radio Mazda MX-5 Cup at Miller Motorsports Park, part of the Sunchaser 1000 weekend. His teammate Jesse Combs, of Houston, Texas, and new MX-5 Cup Champion Jason Saini, of Fort Worth, Texas, were second and third fastest, respectively.

Already in the record books for the fastest MX-5 Cup race lap at Miller Motorsports Park, Malkhassian hasn't missed a beat on his return to the 4.5-mile course. The driver of the No. 11 Alara Racing MX-5 turned the fastest lap of the morning session with a 3:21.612 (80.102 mph).

"This is a great track," Malkhassian said. "What's difficult about it, is putting together a good lap, because it's 23 corners. It's a challenge being able to piece together a good lap and we're glad we were able to do that today in practice. Ken Murillo, our crew chief, is outstanding and I have to thank Red Line Oil for their support.

"We've been testing here quite a bit, trying to find different setups and I think we've found a good one. The car feels great and it'll be even better with new tires."

Malkhassian was followed by teammate Combs on the time sheets. Driving the No. 7 Coolgas Ltd. MX-5, Combs entered a 3:22.053 (79.927 mph).

Saini, who clinched this year's Championship last month at Trois-Rivieres, was third fastest in the session, turning a 3:22.632 (79.699 mph) in his No. 28 Autobarn Mazda/Saferacer.com MX-5.

Andrew Caddell, of Graham, Wash., who is currently battling Malkhassian for second in the Championship, ended the session in fourth. The No. 30 TeamMER/AimSport/Pinnacle Mazda MX-5 driver entered a 3:22.718 (79.665 mph).

Driving the No. 19 Hooverspeed MX-5, Bob Michaelian, of Seal Beach, Calif., completed the top five with a lap of 3:23.427 (79.387 mph).

Charles Espenlaub, Matt Cross, Pratt Cole, Tim Probert and Barry A. Fromberg completed the top ten.

The second MX-5 Cup practice session at Miller Motorsports Park is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. (EDT).

TOOELE, Utah - Results from first practice session for Saturday's SCCA Pro Racing SIRIUS Satellite Radio Mazda MX-5 Cup Round Eight race part of the 2007 Sunchaser 1000 at Miller Motorsports Park, with position, car number in parentheses, driver, hometown, car, fastest lap time, and speed in miles per hour.

1, (11), Ara Malkhassian, Sonoma, Calif., Mazda MX-5, 3:21.612, 80.102.

2, (7), Jesse Combs, Woodlands, Texas, Mazda MX-5, 3:22.053, 79.927.

3, (28), Jason Saini, Fort Worth, Texas, Mazda MX-5, 3:22.632, 79.699.

4, (30), Andrew Caddell, Graham, Wash., Mazda MX-5, 3:22.718, 79.665.

5, (19), Bob Michaelian, Seal Beach, Calif., Mazda MX-5, 3:23.427, 79.387.

6, (08), Charles Espenlaub, Lutz, Fla., Mazda MX-5, 3:23.831, 79.230.

7, (80), Matt Cross, Folsom, Calif., Mazda MX-5, 3:23.952, 79.183.

8, (88), Pratt Cole, Salt Lake City, Utah, Mazda MX-5, 3:24.065, 79.139.

9, (26), Tim Probert, Houston, Texas, Mazda MX-5, 3:24.155, 79.104.

10, (43), Barry A. Fromberg, Plano, Texas, Mazda MX-5, 3:24.254, 79.066.

11, (22), Mark Jenkins, McKinney, Texas, Mazda MX-5, 3:24.372, 79.020.

12, (14), Simona DeSilvestro, Thun Switzerland, , Mazda MX-5, 3:24.388, 79.014.

13, (10), Rick Bellew, Mobile, Ala., Mazda MX-5, 3:24.627, 78.922.

14, (56), Todd Buras, Melbourne, Fla., Mazda MX-5, 3:24.819, 78.848.

15, (58), Andrew Carbonell, Miami, Fla., Mazda MX-5, 3:24.894, 78.819.

16, (47), Mike Jenkins, Fairview, Texas, Mazda MX-5, 3:25.001, 78.778.

17, (39), Brad McAllister, Portland, Ore., Mazda MX-5, 3:25.113, 78.735.

18, (31), Frankie Muniz, Los Angeles, Calif., Mazda MX-5, 3:25.351, 78.643.

19, (12), Alison Malkhassian, Sonoma, Calif., Mazda MX-5, 3:25.512, 78.582.

20, (09), John C. Kuitwaard, Wantagh, N.Y., Mazda MX-5, 3:25.842, 78.456.

21, (8), Dr. Carlos Tesler-Mabe, Vancouver, British Columbia, Mazda MX-5, 3:26.321, 78.274.

22, (29), Patrick Dempsey, Los Angeles, Calif., Mazda MX-5, 3:27.383, 77.873.

23, (21), Randy Hale_III, Haddam, Conn., Mazda MX-5, 3:27.536, 77.815.

24, (54), Brad Adams, New Orleans, La., Mazda MX-5, 3:28.142, 77.589.

25, (25), Rick Skelton, Atlanta, Ga., Mazda MX-5, 3:29.780, 76.983.

26, (01), Bill Sweedler, Westport, Conn., Mazda MX-5, 3:29.891, 76.942.

27, (57), Mike Gatto, Cumming, Ga., Mazda MX-5, 3:29.948, 76.922.

28, (65), Chris Sarian, Littleton, Colo., Mazda MX-5, 3:31.843, 76.233.

29, (23), Ian Ziering, Los Angeles, Calif., Mazda MX-5, no time.

30, (83), Kim Ouye, Monterey, Calif., Mazda MX-5, no time.