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CART: Vasser continues to gain ground on Tracy heading into Portland

21 June 2000

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel

Montoya aims for fifth straight pole position

Portland -- Although Team Target driver Jimmy Vasser was hoping for a podium finish at last Sunday's Detroit Grand Prix, he was pleased to achieve one of his goals: gain on FedEx Series points leader Paul Tracy. Vasser heads to Portland just five points behind Tracy, who failed to earn a point in Detroit.

"It's still early in the season, but it's always nice to be up toward the top of the point standings," said Vasser, who has five top-10 finishes in 2000. "The only time it really matters that you're leading the point standings is after the final race of the year, but it's a good feeling to be out ahead, and that's where we hope to be after Portland."

Vasser, whose best finish in Portland is a second-place effort in 1995, is confident that his team can take over the No. 1 spot in the CART standings at some point this season.

"I don't have any control over what the other guys do out there on the track, but we've been able to score points pretty consistently this year, so I wouldn't be surprised to be leading in the points before too long. I haven't had a lot of success in Portland, but I've always liked the track, and the Toyota-Lola improves with each race. I'm expecting a great performance from Team Target this weekend."

Consistency has also been a trademark of Vasser's teammate Juan Montoya this year. The Colombian has still qualified no worse than third. Montoya has started from the pole position in four consecutive races (Japan, Nazareth, Milwaukee and Detroit). However, the qualifying consistency has not extended to the races, where periodic mechanical problems have plagued the second-year CART star.

"I've been very pleased with the car this year, but some of the problems are just flukes and that's unfortunately a part of racing," said Montoya, the defending CART and Indy 500 champion. "We just have to keep on doing what has helped us perform so well, and the racing and the points will be fine."

Just 27 races into his CART career, Montoya has already earned 11 pole positions. By comparison, former Team Target star Alex Zanardi recorded 10 pole positions in his 51-race career with Target Chip Ganassi Racing.

"Qualifying has always been one of my strengths," Montoya said. "It's nice that you earn a point for a pole position in this series, but it's going to take more than that to win the championship. To have a shot at the title, we have to start scoring well in these races, beginning with Portland. Starting the race out in the front is good, but that's also where I'd like to finish the race. I came close to winning at Portland last year, so maybe this year it's my turn."

Text provided by Jana Griffith

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