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CART: Montoya Logs Fourth Pole at Medic Drug Grand Prix of Cleveland

27 June 1999

CLEVELAND - FedEx Championship Series leader Juan Montoya of Target/Chip Ganassi Racing added to his successful rookie resume Saturday when he garnered the pole position for the Medic Drug Grand Prix of Cleveland Presented by Firstar at Burke Lakefront Airport (2:30 p.m. ET Sunday, live, ESPN).

Montoya (Target Honda Reynard) recorded a lap of 133.448 miles per hour (56.813 seconds) to secure his series-high fourth pole of the season as well as his third in the last four events. The PPG Cup point he earned for the pole position extended his points lead over second-place Dario Franchitti to 91-85 entering Sunday's ninth round of the championship.

Montoya also earned his seventh consecutive top-five start, dating to a fifth-place qualifying effort at Long Beach, site of his first career victory. His previous poles have come at Nazareth, Gateway and Portland.

Gil de Ferran (Valvoline/Cummins Special Honda Reynard), Friday's provisional polesitter, qualified second at 132.971 mph (57.017 seconds). He will make his second front row start of the season, following a pole-winning effort at Japan.

Michael Andretti (Kmart/Texaco/Havoline Ford Swift) qualified third with a lap of 132.457mph (57.238 seconds). His start is a season best, though Andretti lost the opportunity to improve on the effort when he was accessed a standard eight-minute penalty for causing a red flag during the final 10 minutes of a session. He caused the red flag with a spin during Friday's provisional qualifying session.

Bryan Herta (Shell Ford Reynard) qualified fourth at 132.051 mph (57.414 seconds) and was followed by Roberto Moreno (Motorola PacWest Mercedes), at 131.904 mph (57.478 seconds).

Herta will make his fourth top-five start of the season while Moreno will make a season-best start in his fifth event since taking over as a substitute driver for the injured Mark Blundell.

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