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CART: Kanaan has career best start at Nazareth Sunday

9 April 2000

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel
Tony Kanaan will start Sundays Bosch Spark Plug Grand Prix in eighth position -- his career best start at Nazareth Speedway -- after qualifying his #55 Hollywood/Mo Nunn Racing Mercedes-Benz Reynard under sunny but windy conditions. Kanaan toured the 1-mile tri-oval in 19.498 seconds (an average of 174.664 mph) despite being hampered by a shifter knob that broke off in the middle of his two-lap qualifying run. He qualified 16th and 20th here in his first two Champ Car seasons in 1998 and 1999, finishing 9th and 23rd in the race, respectively. Defending race winner and polesitter Juan Montoya will again start from the pole, having set the pace in qualifying today with a lap of 19.255 (176.868 mph).

Race time is 1 p.m. EDT, Sunday, with a live broadcast set for ABC-TV.

TONY KANAAN -- Im excited because thats the fastest Ive ever gone here. But Im disappointed a little bit because we probably lost a tenth of a second because I had to deal with my broken shifter knob. Still, were happy to be starting in the top 10, and we have a great car for the race. I have to hand it to the who Hollywood/Mo Nunn Racing team. Its been a bit of a struggle here yesterday and this morning, but they gave me a good car today. If we can hang in there, be patient and get the car good in traffic, well be in position to make our move in the latter stages of the race.

MORRIS NUNN -- Were close. We can win from where were starting. We dont want to get too greedy too quickly. But were all here to win. I think it was a very reasonable qualifying effort considering we hadnt tested here and most of the other teams have. I know Tony is a very happy guy. Hes never gone as fast here as he has the last two days. That takes a little getting used to, but hes progressing very quickly. Ill bet the 170 or so miles hes travelling at here feels like 250 at Michigan. We have a good setup for the race tomorrow. We hear the weather may be turning bad on us, but well hope for the best and deal with what Mother Nature gives us.

Text provided by Laz Denes

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