SCCA: Gentilozzi claims pole for Mosport BFGoodrich Tires Trans Am Series race
21 May 2000
Posted By Terry CallahanMotorsports Editor, The Auto Channel
BOWMANVILLE, Ontario, Can. - Paul Gentilozzi put his No. 1 Johnson Controls/HomeLink Jaguar XKR on the pole to front a 36-car BFGoodrich Tires Trans-Am Series field for Sundays 40-lap, 98.36-mile race at Mosport International Raceway.
Gentilozzi, of Lansing, Mich., scored his 22nd career pole with a time of 1:20.707 (109.685 mph), followed by Brian Simo, in the No. 88 Tommy Bahama Qvale Mangusta, at 1:20.988 (109.305 mph).
I really only got one good lap in the session, said Gentilozzi. Youve got to be very careful not to lock up a tire or get off track. The temperature today (low 40s) is likely to be significantly different than during the race, and we were never able to get the tire temperature up enough for threshold braking.
Qualifying third in a career-best effort was Randy Ruhlman, in the No. 49 Preformed Line Products Oldsmobile Aurora, posting a time of 1:21.327 (108.849 mph).
Were learning more about the car every weekend and every session, said Ruhlman. For some reason weve really made progress in the cold weather. Now we ve got a really good car and well just hope that it stays that way through the race.
Johnny Miller, in the No. 64 Automationdirect.com/UPS Chevrolet Corvette, qualified fourth at 1:21.487 (108.635 mph), followed by Jeff Altenburg, who also turn in a career-best qualifying effort, posting a 1:21.764 (108.267 mph) in his No. 5 Steele Racing Jaguar XKR.
Im pretty happy with my learning curve in the Jaguar and in the series, said Altenburg. We keep getting faster and closer to the lead guys. Ive driven here in a Neon and a Miate, but this is a whole different experience -- at least I know where the track goes.
BOWMANVILLE, Ontario, Canada - Starting lineup for Sundays 40-lap, 98.36-mile BFGoodrich Tires Trans-Am Series race at Mosport International Raceway, with starting position, car number in parenthesis, driver, hometown, car, time and speed in miles-per-hour.
1. (1), Paul Gentilozzi, Lansing, Mich., Jaguar XKR, 1:20.707, 109.685.
2. (88), Brian Simo, Carlsbad, Calif., Qvale Mangusta, 1:20.988, 109.305.
3. (49), Randy Ruhlman, Greensboro, N.C., Oldsmobile Aurora, 1:21.327, 108.849.
4. (64), Johnny Miller, Johnson City, Tenn., Chevrolet Corvette, 1:21.487, 108.635.
5. (5), Jeff Altenburg, Baltimore, Md., Jaguar XKR, 1:21.764, 108.267.
6. (66), Leighton Reese, Minnetonka, Minn., Pontiac Grand Prix, 1:21.994, 107.964.
7. (98), Stu Hayner, Yorba Linda, Calif., Chevrolet Camaro, 1:22.219, 107.668.
8. (12), Mike Lewis, San Diego, Calif., Ford Mustang Cobra, 1:22.297, 107.566.
9. (15), Tomy Drissi, Hollywood, Calif., Ford Mustang Cobra, 1:22.566, 107.216.
10. (40), G.J. Mennen, Austin, Texas, Chevrolet Camaro, 1:22.601, 107.170.
11. (84), Chris Neville, Scottsdale, Ariz., Ford Mustang Cobra, 1:23.338,106.222.
12. (6), Willy T. Ribbs, San Jose, Calif., Chevrolet Camaro, 1:23.760, 105.687.
13. (28), Lou Gigliotti, Dallas, Texas, Chevrolet Corvette, 1:24.050, 105.323.
14. (48), Jack Willes, Cornelius, N.C., Chevrolet Camaro, 1:24.054, 105.318.
15. (11), Mike Davis, Huntington Beach, Calif., Ford Mustang Cobra, 1:25.181,103.924.
16. (59), Simon Gregg, Jacksonville, Fla., Chevrolet Camaro, 1:25.312, 103.765.
17. (93), James Holtom, Ontario, Canada, Chevrolet Corvette, 1:25.398, 103.660.
18. (25), Eric Curran, South Deerfield, Mass., Chevrolet Camaro, 1:25.823,103.147.
19. (10), Don Sak, W. Bloomfield, Mich., Chevrolet Corvette, 1:26.036, 102.891.
20. (19), Steve Pelke, Lansing, Ill., Ford Mustang Cobra, 1:27.436, 101.244.
21. (95), Charlie Webster, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, Chevrolet Camaro, 1:27.461, 101.215.
22. (23), Bob Ruman, Munroe Falls, Ohio, Chevrolet Corvette, 1:27.594, 101.061.
23. (14), John Macaluso, Winter Heaven, Fla., Ford Mustang Cobra, 1:27.661, 100.984.
24. (31), Don Meluzio, York, Pa., Chevrolet Camaro, 1:28.415, 100.123.
25. (17), Jerry Kinn, Anchorage, Alaska, Chevrolet Corvette, 1:31.884, 96.343.
26. (9), Gary Johnson, Knoxville, Tenn., Ford Mustang Cobra, 1:32.487, 95.715.
27. (08), Richard La Barbera, East Stroudsburg, Pa., Ford Mustang Cobra,1:32.774, 95.418.
28. (39), Craig Shafer, Somerset, Pa., Chevrolet Camaro, 1:32.826, 95.365.
29. (82), Dick Greer, Columbus, Ohio, Chevrolet Corvette, 1:33.936, 94.238.
30. (73), Chet Williams, Chittenango, N.Y., Chevrolet Camaro, 1:42.722, 86.178.
31. (38), Kerry Alexander, Indianapolis, Ind., Chevrolet Camaro, 1:46.336, 83.249.
32. (8), John Paul Jr., West Palm Beach, Fla., Chevrolet Corvette, 1:48.460, 81.619.
33. (07), Marybeth Harrison, Vancouver, B.C., Canada, Chevrolet Camaro, 1:55.900, 76.379.
34. (16), Bobby Sak, West Bloomfield, Mich., Chevrolet Camaro, no time.
35. (76), Jerry Simmons, Ancaster, Ontario, Canada, Chevrolet Camaro, no time.
36. (87), Monica Kolvyn, Vancouver, B.C., Canada, Chevrolet Camaro, no time.
Text provided by Greg Rubenstein
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