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Posted: Thursday July 22, 1999 05:26 PM

A few Moore: After scoring points in eight of 11 races this season, Greg Moore hopes to add to his point total as he defends last year's victory. Robert Laberge/Allsport

Date: July 25, 1999

Site: Michigan Speedway, Brooklyn, Michigan

Race: No. 12 of 20 on CART

TV: ABC, 1:30 p.m. EDT

Laps: 250

Track length: 2 miles

Race length: 500 miles

Qualifying record: Jimmy Vasser, 232.025 mph, 1996

Race record: Alex Zanardi, 167.044 mph, 1997

DRIVERS TO WATCH

Michael Andretti -- One victory and four top fives place the veteran fourth in the PPG Cup standings. Won his CART-leading 38th career race in May at Gateway Speedway in Illinois. Was second in the standings, but a non-finish in Toronto last Sunday dropped him to fourth. Is still in contention for the title with 95 points, 18 behind leader Juan Montoya. Ran sixth here last year.

Gil de Ferran -- Won his first race in three years last month in Portland, his third career win. Has placed on the podium in three other races, which puts him fifth with 88 points. Best result here was third in 1997.

Adrian Fernandez -- Started 23rd and finished a strong sixth in Toronto for his seventh top 10 of the year. Won the Firestone 500 in Japan earlier this year. Earned points in every race he has completed. Has failed to finish in four races. Currently sixth in the points with 87.

Christian Fittipaldi -- Continued his breakout season with a third-place showing in Toronto. Won his first career race two weeks ago at Road America. Earned points in all but one event this year. Moved two slots to third place in the standings with 96 points. Trails Dario Franchitti by 10 points and Juan Montoya by 17. Is the series leader in laps completed, with 1,566 of a possible 1,568.

Dario Franchitti -- Dominated the Indy Molson in Toronto for his first win of the season and fourth career. Started second and moved in front right from the start to lead wire-to-wire. Moved back into second place in the PPG Cup with 106 points, just seven behind leader Juan Montoya. Has been running an overall strong campaign with seven more top-eight finishes.

Juan Montoya -- After running strong the first half of the schedule, has placed outside points the last two races. His 22nd-place finish in Toronto on Sunday was the lowest of his young career. Has four wins, taking three straight earlier in the season. Maintained his lead atop the standings for the eighth consecutive race, but the gap narrowed to seven points.

Greg Moore -- His victory here last year was marred by an accident that saw three spectators killed and several others injured. Grabbed the final lead with two laps to go and held off challenges from Alex Zanardi and Jimmy Vasser. Scored points in eight of 11 races this season. Won the season opener in Miami, his fifth career victory, and was runner-up in Milwaukee for best results.

Max Papis -- Continued his breakout campaign driving for Bobby Rahal with his fifth top-five finish of the year. Is one of just four drivers to finish every race this season. Ranks ninth in the standings with 61 points. Set on capturing his first CART victory.

Paul Tracy -- Performed well at the Indy Molson in his native Toronto. Gained points in the last five races and has put forth top-five efforts in four of them, including a victory in Milwaukee -- just his second win in two years. It was his first triumph for Team Kool. Was fourth and ninth in Michigan the last two years. Has 14 career wins.

Jimmy Vasser -- Drove in his 100th career race here last season and almost pulled a win down the stretch, but settled for runner-up by a nose over former Target/Chip Gannasi teammate Alex Zanardi. Won the U.S. 500 from the pole in 1996. Has been struggling somewhat this season, at least in comparison to new teammate Juan Montoya. Started the year with a fourth place in Miami, his best result and had recently scored another fourth in Milwaukee. Has placed in the points in six other races, but in the lower half of the board. Comes off an eight-place finish in Toronto. Ranks 10th in the standings with 39 points.

1998 Top Finishers

1. Greg Moore (99), Reynard-Mercedes
2. Jimmy Vasser (12), Reynard-Honda
3. Alex Zanardi (1), Reynard-Honda
4. Scott Pruett (20), Reynard-Ford
5. Richie Hearn (10), Swift-Ford
6. Michael Andretti (6), Swift-Ford

Past Champions

1998 Greg Moore, Reynard-Mercedes, 165.913 mph
1997 Alex Zanardi, Reynard-Honda, 167.044 mph
1996 Jimmy Vasser, Reynard-Honda, 156.403 mph

 

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