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TRANS AM: Simo tops Trans-Am practice at Grand Rapids

28 August 1999

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - Brian Simo posted the fastest time in Friday practice to top the 30-car BFGoodrich Tires Trans-Am Series field for Sundays Johnson Controls 100 race at the West Michigan Grand Prix.

Simo, driving the No. 2 Valvoline Ford Mustang Cobra, posted at quick time of 1:17.494 (73.399 mph), 0.390-second faster than Michael Lewis, in the No. 12 AmeriSuites Mustang Cobra, at 1:17.884 (73.031 mph).

"Its great to race at a track with a city as supportive of their grand Prix as Grand Rapids," said Simo. "The track is still a bit slippery, but its getting better with each group that goes out there."

Paul Gentilozzi, switching this weekend from a Mustang Cobra to the No. 1 Johnson Controls/HomeLink Chevrolet Corvette, was third fastest, followed by Johnny Miller IV, in the No. 64 Automationdirect.com Chevrolet Camaro, and Randy Ruhlman, in the No. 49 Preformed Line Products Mustang Cobra.

Sundays 64-lap, 101.12-mile Johnson Controls 100 Trans-Am race takes the green flag at 1:00 p.m. (ET), and will be televised same-day delayed on TNN-The Nashville Network at 4:30 p.m. (ET).

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