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2001 Teams & Drivers

Brooke Racing
Max Wilson

Dale Coyne Racing
Alex Barron
Andre Couto

Fernandez Racing
Adrian Fernandez
Shinji Nakano

Herdez/Bettenhausen Motorsports
Michel Jourdain Jr.

Marlboro Team Penske
Gil de Ferran
Helio Castroneves

Mo Nunn Racing
Tony Kanaan
Alex Zanardi

Newman/Haas Racing
Cristiano da Matta
Christian Fittipaldi

PacWest Racing Group
Mauricio Gugelmin
Scott Dixon

Patrick Racing
Roberto Moreno
Jimmy Vasser

Player's Forsythe Racing Team
Alexandre Tagliani
Patrick Carpentier

Sigma Autosports
Oriol Servia

Target/Chip Ganassi Racing
Bruno Junqueira
Nicolas Minassian

Team Green
Paul Tracy
Dario Franchitti

Team Motorola
Michael Andretti

Team Rahal
Max Papis
Kenny Brack

Walker Racing
Toranosuke Takagi

Zakspeed/Forsythe
Bryan Herta
Marcel Tiemann

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Latest News and Commentary

Brack tops impressive speeds in Texas
by Mark Cipolloni
April 27, 2001

Team Rahal driver Kenny Brack posted the fastest speed of the day during practice for the Firestone Firehawk 600 at the Texas Motor Speedway. The sixth-fastest driver in the morning session, Brack was the fastest during the afternoon by lapping the 1.5-mile tri-oval in an average speed of 233.785 miles per hour. Tony Kanaan, who was the fastest driver in the morning, was second quickest, while Paul Tracy was third. 

Kenny Brack put his previous experience to good use as he topped the charts on the high-banks of Texas Motor Speedway.  In a day that saw the top 35 cars separated by less than 1-second, Brack's fast lap of 233.785 MPH led fourteen other cars over the 230 mph mark. 

Brack was followed on the speed chart by Tony Kanaan (Hollywood Honda Reynard) of Mo Nunn Racing, who was just two-hundredths of a second further back at 233.539mph (22.845 seconds). Unlike Brack, whose top speed of the day came in the afternoon, Kanaan's best effort came during morning practice, when he was nearly two-tenths of a second faster than every other competitor in the field.

Team KOOL Green's Paul Tracy set the third fastest time of the day and teammate Dario Franchitti was 11th fastest after two practice sessions today for the inaugural Firestone Firehawk 600 at Texas Motor Speedway. 

Tracy, who was eighth fastest in the morning practice, turned a fast lap in the afternoon of 22.936 seconds, an average speed of 232.612 mph around the high-banked, 1.5-mile oval. Franchitti also set his fast lap in the afternoon, a 23.044 (231.522 mph). 

Rounding out the top five drivers were rookie Scott Dixon (Powerware Panasonic PacWest Toyota) of the PacWest Racing Group, fourth at 232.521mph (22.945 seconds); and Bryan Herta (Zakspeed/Forsythe Racing Ford Reynard) of Zakspeed/Forsythe Racing, fifth at 232.056 mph (22.991 mph).

Friday Quotes

KENNY BRACK (#8 Shell Ford-Cosworth) - Fastest in practice - "I think we're running very competitively and it's better to be first than 25th obviously. I think the times you saw today are the result of a lot of drafting going on, so (my time) was a combination of having a good set up and catching the draft at the right moment. We tried to do some long runs in the afternoon but unfortunately the car broke down so we didn't get to do that, but everything else feels good and now it's time to focus on tomorrow and then on Sunday."

PAUL TRACY, #26 TEAM KOOL GREEN HONDA/REYNARD: (3rd with a lap-time of 22.936 seconds / 232.612 mph) "We got off to a slow start this morning, but we made some adjustments and got the KOOL car working pretty good this afternoon. We've really been concentrating on the race setup, so it's good to put in some fairly quick laps today. But now we've got to get geared up for qualifying tomorrow. There's no doubt about it -- this is a fast track. It's going to take a 232 or 233 (mph, average speed) to get the pole. But we've got a fast car and we seem to be able to run pretty good in traffic, and that's what's going to be most important on Sunday." 

DARIO FRANCHITTI, #27 TEAM KOOL GREEN HONDA/REYNARD: (11th with a lap-time of 23.044 seconds / 231.613 mph) "First of all, this track is fast. Fast and bumpy, and the banking is just spectacular. When you're on cold tires and come across the bump at the start/finish line, you get a bit of wheel spin as the car comes off the ground. But you've really got to make certain the car is right when you're going into and coming out of the banking in the corners. That's when the problems occur. We're learning all the time. The Team KOOL Green engineers had some data to start with from the test we did here in February, but it's a lot different when you're running in a pack like we are today. We're not getting the kind of tow that we get at Michigan or California (Speedways). You can get a good tow, that's for sure, but the straights aren't long enough to let you get into a tow and take advantage of it. What you really notice is the (air) disturbance when you follow someone into the corner." 

Bryan Herta "It is unbelievable going into those corners, they are like a big bowl and you are looking straight at it..it's fast and it's fun . I am real, real happy with the car, it's very comfortable. The guys have done a great job getting us ready for this place. It's great to start the weekend at a track like this in the top five.

Tony Brunetti, General Manager for Zakspeed Forsythe  "We are very happy with our progress today. It is good to see Bryan back on a super speedway and he is doing a great job getting back up to speed. It's hard to tell where we will qualify, it will be based on who can do a quick time without the tow, and I am confident we can do that. We also worked on our race set-up today - we think we have a good, consistent car for the race."

MAX PAPIS (#7 Miller Lite Ford-Cosworth) - 6th fastest in practice - "The car is good and we're right there. We worked very diligently today on our race set up because we really want to be strong during the race and I don't think qualifying will be a very important issue. I felt very comfortable in the car and I think we were one of the cars that did the most laps during the afternoon with a couple of very strong long runs." SO YOU DIDN'T CONCENTRATE TOO MUCH ON TRYING TO FIND SPEED. "No, no, we worked on our race set up more than anything else, and tomorrow morning is when we'll try to go fast." IS IT BUMPY OUT THERE? "You know it's a good track. I think it's more of a NASCAR track than a CART track because we don't need all the banking to go fast around the corners, but it's still fun, although it's a little bit too narrow, especially when entering turns One and Four." HOW ABOUT THROUGH THE TRI-OVAL? "The tri-oval is not a big deal. The problem is when you turn into the corner it's a bit tight and it probably won't let us go two-wide through there during the race."

ORIOL SERVIA (#22 Sigma Autosport Ford-Cosworth) - 13th fastest in practice - "We've been on this track all day, but I'm still surprised how fast we're going. Usually when you go to a track, after 10 minutes or so you're used to the speeds, but after three hours I'm still not used to it. It's going to be a long race and I think that having a consistent car is going to very, very important." DOES THIS TRACK REMIND YOU OF ANY OTHER TRACKS ON THE SCHEDULE? "I don't know. At Fontana you go faster but everything seems to happen slower. It's a lot smoother at Fontana and your movements are a lot slower, but here you have the feeling of going 300 miles per hour because it's bumpy and a lot tighter."

PATRICK CARPENTIER (#32 Player's/Forsythe Ford-Cosworth) - 16th fastest in practice - "Our set up was not very good because we were blistering the tires after just 15 laps, so tomorrow morning we're going to go out on full tanks because we have to improve our suspension set up." HAS YOUR WRIST BEEN GIVING YOU ANY DIFFICULTY? "It's going to be a long race and the track is very fast, so I've been putting a lot of strain on it with all the turning. With the banked turns and the short straights the track is too quick for its length. It's just one-and-a-half miles long, yet it's just as fast as Fontana or Michigan, so it's hard on my left wrist with all the steering. I'm trying to modify my driving style a little bit to using more of my right hand instead of my left so I'll be more comfortable during the race."

Michel Jourdain Jr. Car #16 Ford-Cosworth/Lola/Firestone Time: 23.350 seconds Speed: 228.488 mph Position: 18th "We had a few little problems today that cost us quite a bit of track time - but shouldn't cost us a lot in the overall picture. This morning we had a problem with fuel pressure in the primary car. We thought we got it fixed in between the two sessions but then realized that it wasn't completely solved so we went back to the other car. We still need some time to get the car freed up but the car generally is okay." (on his first time on the high-banks of Texas Motor Speedway) "The banking definitely makes this track different from others that I have been on. It gives you a lot of grip but, like any new track, you get used to it. I like the track a lot and the facilities here are great. We are running flat out the whole way around the track. At one point, we did a longer run of 15 laps and I don't think I lifted once in the whole time!" 

Tom Brown - Chief Engineer "Although we had some technical difficulties this morning, we really don't feel that it was particularly damaging to our efforts here. We didn't have enough tires to run the whole time anyway so we chose to focus on this afternoon's session when conditions would more closely resemble those we are expecting on race day. Since our aero package is not yet optimized, we focused on long runs during the second session, which included a full tank run toward the end. The last two long runs were quite successful in that Michel posted his fastest lap of the day on his last lap." 

Cristiano da Matta "The track is absolutely unbelievable," said 27-year old da Matta. "Just driving up to the track impresses you. I haven't driven on it yet in anything faster than a van during a press day in January but the banking is pretty impressive. I'm sure it will be even more impressive in my Texaco/Havoline/Kmart Champ Car. I have never raced on a track with banking this steep. We didn't test at the track because the team has a good setup for ovals so they decided to concentrate on more road course testing which definitely paid off (with a win) in Mexico and (second place in) Long Beach. The season has gone well so far and we plan to continue the momentum in Texas. The team has been a big factor in the performance. Their dedication is unmatchable. I think the race will be won on the last lap," predicted da Matta. "It's going to be a shootout in Texas and I hope I am part of it." 

Christian Fittipaldi "The race here is going to be something completely different from any other race we will have this season because the track is one-of-a kind," added Fittipaldi. "In my opinion, it's going to be a wide-open race and will be a lot like the races we have on superspeedways which have been some of our closest over the past few years. Racing close makes for a good overall race for the fans but it's more dangerous for the drivers of course. But, it's one thing when you are running alone and a completely different one when you are running in a tight pack of cars at speeds over 220 mph. The slightest problem or bobble can take out a lot of cars. It can get pretty exciting at times which is probably better for those in the grandstand and on couches in living rooms watching on TV instead of us guys in the cars but it definitely makes for a good show. It will be an exciting race for everyone at Texas Motor Speedway." 

Bruno Junqueira - "I have never driven this fast before in my life.  The speeds here are amazing!  For the most part of the day we worked on making the car comfortable to drive.  When you are going flat out around this track on a 24-degree banking, having a solid car under you is very important."

Nicolas Minassian - "All that I can say is, wow!  This is an experience that is brand new to me.  It is almost like being on a roller coaster.  Texas Motor Speedway is a very special place to race on.  I have never turned laps over 230 MPH before and it is an incredible feeling."

Gil de Ferran, Marlboro Team Penske, #1 2001 Marlboro Honda Reynard   "Overall, we had an okay day. We didn't have any big problems per se. We primarily worked on the balance of the Marlboro car to make it more consistent and as easy to drive as possible given Sunday is going to be a real endurance race. We'll continue to work on the car tonight and I feel we're in good shape for tomorrow's qualifying session. " -- 

Helio Castroneves, Marlboro Team Penske, #3 2001 Marlboro Honda Reynard  "This morning's practice session gave us the chance to work on our qualifying set-up and we had fairly good results as I was able to run a 231.935 mph (third fastest time in the morning session). This afternoon we tried to work on the race set-up, but it was difficult to gauge our progress as there was quite a bit of traffic. I'm confident that we can put it at the front of the grid tomorrow."

Oriol Servia "To tell you the truth, I've run for about three hours and I'm still surprised at how fast we go. Usually you go to a track and after ten minutes you are used to the speed. I'm not used to it yet. We have to be very careful because of the wall and you constantly have to pay attention. We'll keep working on the car's set up so I'll have a safe and quick car to drive tomorrow." On whether Texas Motor Speedway reminds him of any track he has raced on: "It's hard to say. At Fontana (California Speedway) you seem to go faster, yet at the same time everything seems to be in slow motion. Here, you have the feeling of going 300 miles an hour! 

Friday Notes

• Expect the pole speed to be in the high 228's as most of the top times were helped by a tow.
• The Honda and Toyota teams are almost all running a single wastegate turbo
• Track Records: Winston Cup Terry Labonte 192.137 MPH, Busch Jason Leffler 184.451 MPH, NASCAR Trucks Brian Reffner 180.373 MPH, IRL Billy Boat 225.979 MPH
• The track has 154,861 permanent seats with 121,861 on the front straight.  Expect the front grandstands to he 50% full on Sunday we are told. Add in 9,992 for the suites and 1,595 for Handicap = seating for 168,748.  With the infield the track can hold over 200,000.
• 40% of the fans are female at TMS, but they have 1,633 bathroom toilets for women and 817 for men.
• The track has 21 elevators (think about that!)
• Kenny Brack (Shell Ford Lola) will be seeking his second pole position of the season and the second of his career when qualifying begins Saturday. He won the pole for the FedEx Championship Series season opener at Monterrey, Mexico last month. His best career start on an oval is second at Japan last year.
• Brack will be seeking Ford's first pole on an oval since Alex Tagliani won the pole at Rio de Janeiro last year.
• Tony Kanaan (Hollywood Honda Reynard) will be seeking the first oval pole of his four-year FedEx Championship Series career Saturday. His only other pole position came at Long Beach in 1999. His best career oval start is third at Rio de Janeiro and Gateway in 1998 and Chicago last year. 
• Paul Tracy (KOOL Honda Reynard) will be chasing his 14th career pole position Saturday, second among active drivers to Michael Andretti (32). Tracy's last six pole positions have come on ovals, at Miami in 1996, Nazareth in '96 and '97, Milwaukee in '96 and '97 and Michigan last year.
• According to Dr. Steve Olvey, CART Director of Medical Affairs, PacWest Racing Group driver Mauricio Gugelmin was transported to North Richland Hills Hospital in Fort Worth for precautionary x-rays following an one-car accident in Turn 2 late in Friday's afternoon practice. According to Olvey, Gugelmin was awake and alert at the scene of the incident. Olvey said that Gugelmin sustained minor bruising from the seat belts and helmet strap and there were no other apparent injuries. Since Gugelmin was not rendered unconscious from the incident, he remains eligible to compete for the remainder of the weekend. Per CART rules, should a driver be rendered unconscious he is ineligible to compete for the remainder of that race weekend.

Combined Practice Times

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