CART: Team Target heads to Detroit looking for third straight win
14 June 2000
Posted By Terry CallahanMotorsports Editor, The Auto Channel
Montoya on a roll following Indy 500 and Milwaukee victories
Detroit -- Team Target is red-hot and aiming for its third straight victory as it prepares for Sunday's Grand Prix of Detroit. Defending CART champion Juan Montoya hopes to follow up dominating wins in the Indianapolis 500 and the Miller Lite 225 with a great performance at the Raceway at Belle Isle.
And if this season's trend continues, Montoya will most likely start the race from the front of the pack. So far in 2000, the second-year driver has qualified no worse than. He has started from the pole in three consecutive CART races (Japan, Nazareth and Milwaukee), and began from the second spot in the Indianapolis 500.
"We've had some good success qualifying this year," said Montoya, who has earned 10 pole positions in 26 career CART races. "In Milwaukee, we finally made it pay off and got Toyota its first win. With the great competition and the difficult tracks in this series, it's a big advantage to start toward the front. It was frustrating to not a get a win until our sixth race, but I know we'll be back on the podium soon."
Montoya, who finished 17th at Detroit in 1999, is confident he'll have a better result on the 2.361-mile temporary street course this year.
"That racetrack was one of the most fun to race on last year, and I was very disappointed to not finish better," Montoya said. "Since I'll be getting my second look at the track, and with the Toyota-Lola running so well, I know we'll have a good race on Sunday."
After starting the 2000 CART FedEx Championship Series with three straight top-four finishes, Jimmy Vasser has cooled off a bit, but the 1996 CART champ is ready for a return to the podium.
"This team is not satisfied with our past few races, and I get a sense that everyone is hungry for our first win of the season," said Vasser, who ranks third in the CART point standings with 48 points, just 11 behind leader Paul Tracy. "The good thing is that no one is getting nervous or making excuses -- we're just excited to get back out there, race and gain some ground on Paul."
Vasser, in his sixth year as a Team Target driver, is in search of his first victory since Fontana in 1998.
"It's been awhile since we've enjoyed a victory celebration, but with the Toyota running so strong, I know it's going to happen soon," Vasser said. "I'd love to get a win for my guys in the pits. They've been working so hard this year -- they deserve a checkered flag. I had a nice run in Detroit a year ago, so I have a good feeling heading back there. I think it's about time to start another streak of podium finishes."
Text provided by Tom Ryan
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