CART: Walker Racing Cleveland Preview
25 June 1999
GIL DE FERRAN # 5 VALVOLINE/CUMMINS - HONDA/REYNARD/GOODYEARMEMO GIDLEY # 15 ALPINE - HONDA/REYNARD/GOODYEAR
RACE PREVIEW: CLEVELAND
What: MEDIC DRUG GRAND PRIX OF CLEVELAND PRESENTED BY FIRSTAR
Round NINE of the 20-races FedEx Championship Series for the PPG Cup
When: Sunday June 27th , 1999 at 2:30 PM.
Where: Burke Lakefront Airport, Cleveland, OHIO.
Is located one mile east of downtown Cleveland on the shores of Lake
Erie.
Distance: 210.6 miles, 100 laps.
The Circuit:
Track Length : 2.106 miles and 10 turns.
The track is quite flat and all the turns (with 2 exceptions) are regular
90-degree corners. But the track is very wide and affords many overtaking
opportunities, as there is usually more than one line into, around and out
of
each turn, and the run-off areas are of course huge.
Broadcast:.
ESPN2 CART Qualifying 12:30 AM Sat./early Sun.
(06/27)
ESPN2 CART 2Day 12: NOON Sunday (06/27)
WKNR-1220AM CART Radio 2:30 PM Sunday (06/27) ESPN CART Race 2:30 PM ET Sunday (06/27)
1998 Champion : Alex Zanardi Defending Polesitter: Jimmy Vasser
Track Records:
Qualifying (one lap):1998, Jimmy Vasser, 134.385 mph (56.417)
Race:1998, Alex Zanardi, 112.449 mph
1999 Cart Point Leaders:
1. Juan Montoya 90
2. Dario Franchitti 85
3. Gil de Ferran 71
GIL DE FERRAN # 5 VALVOLINE/CUMMINS - HONDA/REYNARD/GOODYEAR
With his victory in Portland last week, Gil de Ferran vaulted from seventh to third place in the championship with 71 PPG Cup points. De Ferran has one pole and three podium finishes for the season, including second at Japan.
Gil de Ferran - " I had a very busy week, lots of calls from family, friends and the media. Now I have to concentrate in Cleveland where I aspect to be competitive. We have a good set up to continue on the Championship battle. Is not because a won one race that Im taking anything for granted."
On the physical demands of racing at Cleveland: "It is a very demanding track physically. I mean, I remember 1995 in my rookie year when I led that race almost until the end and then got in a tangle with a backmarker. It was particularly hot day. It was my first year in the series. I was absolutely exhausted at the end of it. So, it is a tough track physically. We got a lot of vibrations through the steering wheel in 1996, and I finished with blown blisters on the palms of both of my hands. And usually, it is very hot there, which makes matters even worse."
History:
The Valvoline/Cummins team feels very positive going into Cleveland, not only coming off a victory at Portland, but also because Gil has performed so well and enjoyed considerable success at Cleveland in the past. In 1995, Gil won his first career pole and dominated the race, leading the most laps, 67 of 90, until a late-race incident. In 1996, he won the race, his second career victory, and led the most laps, 34. In 1997, he started and finished second and led the most laps, 49. In 1998, Gil had problems in the race but still finished sixth.
Cleveland:
Year Start Finish
1998 11th 6th
1997 2nd 2nd
1996 7th 1st
1995 1st 14th
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