CART NOTES: HE GOT HELP FOR THE POLE PENSKE BRINGS OUT BIG NAMES.Byline: Tim Haddock Staff Writer FONTANA - Gil de Ferran Gil de Ferran (born November 11, 1967) in Paris, France to Brazilian parents, is a former racing driver. De Ferran was the 2000 and 2001 Champ Car champion driving for the Penske Honda Team and the winner of the 2003 Indianapolis 500. is in good position to capture his first CART FedEx Series championship. The Brazilian driver of the No. 2 Marlboro Team Penske Honda won the pole for today's Marlboro 500 at California Speedway The California Speedway is a two-mile, low-banked, D-shaped oval superspeedway in Fontana, California, similar to that of "sister track" Michigan International Speedway. It is located approximately 40 miles east of Los Angeles on the site of the former Kaiser Steel mill. and earned an all-important point to add to his championship lead. ``The most important thing in my mind is the extra point,'' said de Ferran, who set the CART FedEx Series track record at 241.428 mph in Saturday's qualifying. ``Most of the credit goes to Marlboro Team Penske. The car has been handling extremely well all weekend. Honda has surpassed my own expectations.'' Team owner Roger Penske Roger Penske (born February 20, 1937 in Shaker Heights, Ohio) is the owner of a very successful automobile racing team Penske Racing, the Penske Corporation, and other automotive related businesses. brought out some big guns to help root on de Ferran in qualifying. Former drivers Emerson Fitipaldi and Al Unser This article is about the automobile racer. For the baseball player, see Al Unser (baseball). Alfred Unser (born May 29, 1939 in Albuquerque, New Mexico) is a former American automobile racing driver, the younger brother of Bobby Unser and father of Al Unser, Jr. were with Penske in the pits as de Ferran made his record run. De Ferran turned a lap on the 2-mile super speedway in 30.255 seconds and bumped Michael Andretti Michael Mario Andretti (born October 5, 1962 in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania) is an American retired CART and Formula One driver with Italian heritage. He now co-owns the Andretti Green Racing team in the Indy Racing League. off the pole with the second to last qualifying run of the day. Drivers get two laps to qualify, but de Ferran won the pole and broke the record in his first. ``As soon as I crossed the line, Roger said, 'Fine, that's it, pit.' ''said de Ferran, who won the first pole position pole position Noun 1. (in motor racing) the starting position on the inside of the front row, generally considered the best one 2. an advantageous starting position Noun 1. at California Speedway for Honda. Andretti will join de Ferran on the front row, clocking a lap at 239.097 mph. ``It would have been nice to have the pole,'' Andretti said. ``It's a little disappointing. But you can start last here and before the first pit stop be up front.'' Of the drivers chasing de Ferran for the points championship, Kenny Brack n. 1. An opening caused by the parting of any solid body; a crack or breach; a flaw. Stain or brack in her sweet reputation. - J. Fletcher. 1. Salt or brackish water. qualified eighth and will start on the fourth row. Paul Tracy will start ninth on row five, and Adrian Fernandez will start 14th on row seven. --2001 schedule: California Speedway announced its racing schedule for 2001. The NASCAR NASCAR (National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing), organization that sanctions American stock-car races, est. 1948. It held its first race in Daytona Beach, Fla. Winston Cup Series will run at the Fontana track on April 27-29 in the NAPA Auto Parts 500. The CART FedEx Series will visit on Nov. 2-4 for the Marlboro 500 presented by Toyota. --Oxnard driver wins scholarship: Phil Giebler of Oxnard was one of two winners of Valvoline Team USA Scholarships this weekend. Giebler and Joey Hand of Long Beach will compete in the four-race Euro Formula Palmer Audi Formula Palmer Audi, commonly known as Palmer Audi or FPA, is a form of open wheel racing founded in 1998 by former Formula One driver, Jonathan Palmer. The series is most famous for producing former F1 and ChampCar star Justin Wilson. Winter Series in England in November. The series begins with a pair of races at Snetterton on Nov. 12 and continues with two more races a week later at Brands Hatch. --Drivers of note: Brendan Gaughan of Las Vegas, the points leader on the NASCAR Winston West Series, finished 19th in the Motorola 200 at California Speedway on Saturday. Ronnie Hornaday III, son of two-time Truck Series champ Ron Hornaday, finished 23rd. Matt Crafton, a driver on the NASCAR Featherlite Southwest Series, was ninth. Rolando Quintanilla qualified in sixth, outside row 3, for today's Dayton Indy Lights 100 at California Speedway. The Pepperdine student from Mexico clocked a lap at 183.486 mph. Brazilian Felipe Giaffone won the pole with a lap at 185.025 mph. CAPTION(S): photo, box Photo: Paul Tracy is ninth in today's Marlboro 500 lineup at Fontana. Mark J. Terrill/Associated Press Box: CART MARLBORO 500 LINEUP |
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