CALIFORNIA SPEEDWAY NOTEBOOK: TRACY PIT-CREW PERFORMANCE PAYS OFF.

Byline: Louis Brewster Staff Writer

Paul Tracy put his Honda Reynard on the painted marks on the California Speedway pit road and then his Team KOOL Green pit crew quickly took over. So quickly that the pit crew is $50,000 richer after winning the Craftsman Pit Crew Championship.

In two pit stops, Team Green averaged 37.650 seconds to defeat the Miller Lite team, which averaged 38.285 in three stops. Michael Andrettius K-mart/Havoline team took third (40.674 average for four stops) and Juan Montoyaus Target/Ganassi crew was fourth (40.966 for five stops).

``It's a green way to start the (Marlboro 500) weekend,'' said team owner Barry Green. ``It's what the series is all about. The teams are heavily involved in winning races, in helping the driver.

``Our crew has improved Paul's position two or three positions on many occasions. That's a big part of the race.''

Under competition rules, the clock started as soon as the racers entered pit road and stopped upon the exit. Tracy's crew opened with a 37.761-second stop and then pulled off the quickest stop of the day, 37.538.

``Our plan was to do two stops and then evaluate,'' said Tony Cotman, the crew chief and right-front-tire changer. ``We didn't want to do more than two because you get tired and then you make mistakes.''

But Cotman's team was nearly flawless and stood on its two stops. The Miller Lite crew had trouble with a lug nut on the second stop and it resulted in a 39.128 stop. Team owner Bobby Rahal called for a third stop in an attempt to lower the average and Jimmy Prescott's team responded with its quickest stop.

``We had one small problem today, nothing really big, but you have to be perfect in this type of competition,'' said Prescott. ``That's what the Team Green were today.

``But I would rather win on Sunday, that's why we're here. We're going to kick their butt.''

Tracy goes into Sunday's CART FedEx Championship Series season-finale with even more confidence than before.

``The season we've had put us in this position to win,'' he said. ``The hard work paid off for the whole team. This was a goal for this team from the start. We thought we were out at midseason, but good results on the track also meant good pit stops.''

Tracy acknowledged his team's ability has also eased the burden of driving.

``It makes my job a lot easier,'' he said. ``It takes some of the anxiety out when we all come in as a group. Rather than thinking I may lose a place or two, I know we're going to gain a spot or two every time.''

For Cotman, who drilled his team during the offseason as much as twice daily, it was a ``team effort. It's more than just the six guys who go over the wall. This was good for the guys.''

Joining Cotman on pit road are Jeff Stafford on the air jack, Steve Price on left front, Eric Hauerson on the right rear and Chuck Miller on left rear.

``It was a job well done,'' said Green.

Fog cleared: Early morning fog not only cloaked the California Speedway on Thursday but also lines of communication that wiped out two Indy Lights practice sessions.

After five hours of discussion, the matter was resolved and the Indy Lights practiced later in the day.

``The delays were caused by concerns brought to our attention involving protocol for the weekend involving doctors, nurses, paramedics and the CART safety team,'' said Scott Atherton, president and general manager of the speedway. ``The bottom line is, nothing is different than the way it has always been here.''