CART: Mercedes-Benz Teams Focus on Race Set Up at Michigan
25 July 1999
Mercedes-Benz powered Champ Car teams head into Sunday's U.S. 500
disappointed in their qualifying positions, but confident that their race
cars are capable and competitive for the long, grueling duel over Michigan
Speedway's two-mile oval. Of all the races in the CART FedEx Championship
Series, initial position on the grid is least important here (and at the
similar California Speedway) because the Handford Device makes passing
relatively easy and places a premium on drafting and each car's handling
qualities in traffic.
In fact, during practice throughout the weekend, Mercedes-powered
race cars were often near the top of the time sheets while driving in the
traffic that -- as opposed to single-car qualifying -- more closely
resembles racing conditions.
Polesitter Jimmy Vasser will lead the grid at the green flag with a
qualifying lap of 31.358 seconds (229.606 mph). Meanwhile, the five teams
using the Mercedes-Benz IC108E Phase III engine focused on optimizing the
balance of their Champ Cars to run in traffic during the 250-lap race.
Last year, Mercedes driver Greg Moore won here from the 14th position in a
race that featured 62 lead changes, arguably one of the most competitive
races in CART history.
Patrick Carpentier's qualifying lap of 31.729 seconds (226.922 mph)
earns the Player's/Forsythe Mercedes driver 12th position on the grid.
Roberto Moreno, substituting for the injured Mark Blundell, piloted his
PacWest Motorola Mercedes to a quick lap of 31.761 seconds (226.693 mph),
and will start from the sixth row. Alongside Moreno is his PacWest Racing
teammate, Hollywood Mercedes driver Mauricio Gugelmin, who is making his
100th Champ Car start tomorrow. "Big Mo" lapped the Speedway in 31.829
seconds (226.209 mph).
Marlboro Team Penske Mercedes teammates Al Unser Jr. and Alex
Barron will start from the ninth row after recording qualifying laps of
31.879 (225.854 mph) and 31.961 (225.275 mph), respectively. Helio
Castro-Neves pilots his Hogan Racing Mercedes from 19th position after
lapping Michigan's oval in 32.012 seconds (224.916 mph). Moore and his
Player's/Forsythe Mercedes will take the green flag from 21st position
(32.204 seconds/223.575 mph). Moore has earned driver's championship
points in every oval race thus far this season.
Mercedes, Hakkinen Capture Pole at Austrian Grand Prix
Mika Hakkinen and the West McLaren Mercedes team earned the pole
position, and teammate David Coulthard will start alongside on the front
row of the grid, for Sunday's Austrian Grand Prix at the A-1 Ring in
Spielberg, Austria, as the team continues to defend its 1998 Formula One
World Championship.
Mercedes Quotes
Patrick Carpentier, No. 33, Player's/Forsythe Mercedes/Firestone
(12th/31.729 seconds)
"We've concentrated on full-tank runs, and making sure the car is
stable for the race. The drafting will be the key tomorrow - if you can
keep the throttle wide open, even if you're not the quickest on the
straights - you can pass by using the momentum. I think we're in good
shape for tomorrow's race."
Roberto Moreno, No. 18, Motorola Mercedes/Firestone (13th/31.761 seconds)
"We have a race car that handles very well in traffic. The
Mercedes/Reynard/Firestone package is the one to have here. You need the
power to keep you up there, and we have the car balanced so we can run up
and down the race track. Tomorrow will be interesting. The tow you get
when you're behind someone is unbelievable."
Mauricio Gugelmin, No. 17, Hollywood Mercedes/Firestone (14th/31.829
seconds)
"The balance has been perfect. We were expecting a little more, but
I think we have a good race car. The engineers have done a great job,
there was just nothing else I could do. If the car is well-balanced, and
you can run high lines during the race, then you will do well here. And
we've got that."
Al Unser Jr., No. 2, Marlboro Team Penske Mercedes/Goodyear (17th/31.879
seconds)
"I was happy with the car in qualifying. It was a good lap. We
chose to race the Penske chassis here because the Lola felt "draggy" in
testing on this race track. I'm happy with that decision."
Alex Barron, No. 3, Marlboro Team Penske Mercedes/Goodyear (18th/31. 961
seconds)
"We didn't qualify as well as we wanted, but for race day, I think
we'll have a good car. I'm real pleased with the balance of the car. This
weekend I just need to focus on a good result. There is pressure, but I
think you need the pressure. If there is no pressure, then that means
nobody is watching what you're doing. I'm sure we'll all have our hands
full with traffic in the race."
Helio Castro-Neves, No. 9, Hogan Racing Mercedes/Firestone (19th/32.012
seconds)
"I am very comfortable with the car. I was flat all the way around
today, and while I wasn't very, very fast, the car was stable and that's
the secret here. This smaller wing makes the draft so important. If you
wind up behind someone, and they move a little bit, you lose the downforce.
We've always been successful on the ovals, and while the Lola is a little
bit draggy, I am happy with our set up for tomorrow. To finish the long
race will be success for us, but I have a little more than that up my
sleeve."
Greg Moore, No. 99, Player's/Forsythe Mercedes/Firestone (21st/32.204
seconds)
"Speed in qualifying just doesn't need to be there. Our car is
really, really good in traffic, and we've made very few changes today. The
Mercedes engine has a lot of power here. We have a good shot no matter
where we are in this field. We'll just work our way to the front, and be
there for the shootout in the last 15 laps."
Qualifying
U.S. 500, Michigan Speedway
Brooklyn, Mich.
July 24, 1999
Pos. Driver Engine Time Speed
1 Jimmy Vasser Honda 31.358 229.606
2 Adrian Fernandez Ford Cosworth 31.381 229.438
3 Juan Montoya Honda 31.397 229.321
4 Michael Andretti Ford Cosworth 31.418 229.168
5 Scott Pruett Toyota 31.497 228.593
6 Max Papis Ford Cosworth 31.547 228.231
7 Bryan Herta Ford Cosworth 31.602 227.834
8 Paul Tracy Honda 31.608 227.790
9 Dario Franchitti Honda 31.608 227.790
10 Cristiano da Matta Toyota 31.615 227.740
12 Patrick Carpentier Mercedes-Benz 31.729 226.922
13 Roberto Moreno Mercedes-Benz 31.761 226.693
14 Mauricio Gugelmin Mercedes-Benz 31.829 226.209
17 Al Unser Jr. Mercedes-Benz 31.879 225.854
18 Alex Barron Mercedes-Benz 31.961 225.275
19 Helio Castro-Neves Mercedes-Benz 32.012 224.916
21 Greg Moore Mercedes-Benz 32.204 223.575
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