SCCA: Scharf captures pole at Ste. Croix
19 August 2000
STE. CROIX, Que., Can. (August 19, 2000) - Keith Scharf, of St. Louis, Mo. captured the pole for Sunday’s Round Eight Pro Spec Racer race at Circuit Ste. Croix, part of Le Grand Prix de Ste. Croix weekend. Chris Funk, of Kansas City, Kan. and Carl Harris, of Houston, Texas completed the top-three.Running on the newly constructed circuit, Scharf , driving the No. 82 Tech Hyper V/Hunt Racing Spec Racer, retained the pole from the morning qualifying session after the final afternoon session. Scharf, who has battled a fuel pickup problem the past few races and a blown engine, captured his first pole of the season with a lap of 45.272-seconds (87.471 mph). In the second qualifying session, a heat race, Scharf grabbed the win, but was unable to improve on his morning time. The pole is Scharf’s third career, tied for second all-time.
"With what the team has battled the last few races this pole means a lot,” said Scharf. “The track has more passing opportunities than I thought, and I think it will lend itself to a good race. I can’t see the 42-lap race going without cautions, so the restarts will be critical.”
Driving the No. 0 Pearl St. Brewery/Hunt Racing, Funk posted the second quickest time in qualifying with a lap of 45.524-seconds (86.987 mph). Funk, who won the previous round at Memphis, also was unable to improve on his morning time during the afternoon qualifying race. The second place starting position will be Funk’s first front-row start in 2000.
“I actually thought I went quicker this afternoon,” said Funk. “On this track you have to accept the what the car gives you. If you relax the times will come.”
Harris, in the No. 69 Four Seasons Radiator Spec Racer, will start third after posting a quickest lap of 45.581-seconds (86.878). Harris, who has started third twice previously this year, will be attempting to win his first race.
Completing the top-five was John Black, of Tahoe City, Calif. And Neil Tilbor, of New Smyra, Fla.
Ste. Croix, Que., Can. - Combined Qualifying times for Sunday's 42-lap, 46.20-mile Pro Spec Racer race at Circuit Ste. Croix, part of Le Grand Prix de Ste. Croix weekend, with qualifying position, car number in parenthesis, driver, hometown, car, time and speed in miles-per-hour.
1. (82),Keith Scharf, St. Louis, Mo., Spec Racer, 0:45.272, 87.471. 2. (0),Chris Funk, Kansas City, Mo., Spec Racer, 0:45.524, 86.987. 3. (69),Carl Harris, Houston, Texas, Spec Racer, 0:45.581, 86.878. 4. (17),John Black, Tahoe City, Calif., Spec Racer, 0:45.594, 86.853. 5. (8),Neil Tilbor, New Smyrna Beach, Fla., Spec Racer, 0:45.674, 86.701. 6. (19),Bobby Sak, W. Bloomfields, Mich., Spec Racer, 0:45.681, 86.688. 7. (28),Warren Stilwell, Hartville, Ohio, Spec Racer, 0:45.773, 86.513. 8. (6),Shawn Morrison, Conway, N.H., Spec Racer, 0:45.787, 86.487. 9. (23),John Bowden, Lawerence, Kansas, Spec Racer, 0:45.830, 86.406. 10. (61),Jacques Villeneuve, Quebec Canada, Spec Racer, 0:45.983, 86.118. 11. (7),Steve Rehkemper, Chicago, Ill., Spec Racer, 0:46.001, 86.085. 12. (55),Ralph Mayfield, Houston, Texas, Spec Racer, 0:46.346, 85.444. 13. (04),Trevor Hopwood, Prosperity, Pa., Spec Racer, 0:46.373, 85.394. 14. (36),Kelly Toombs, Prairie Village, Kansas, Spec Racer, 0:46.461, 85.232. 15. (53),Robey Clark, Dallas, Texas, Spec Racer, 0:46.481, 85.196. 16. (27),Jeff Sweet, Alexandria, Va., Spec Racer, 0:46.800, 84.615. 17. (9),Richard Doty, Haddon Heights, N.J., Spec Racer, 0:46.846, 84.532. 18. (62),Slim Bryant, Conway, N.H., Spec Racer, 0:47.286, 83.745.