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Bosch Spark Plug Grand Prix
Posted: Wednesday April 05, 2000 10:43 PM
When: Sunday Where: Nazareth Speedway; Nazareth, Pa.
Series: Race 2 of 20 on CART TV: ABC 1 p.m. EDT Laps: 225 Track length: 1 mile Race length: 225 miles Qualifying record: Paul Tracy, 191.174 mph, 1997 Race record: Nigel Mansell, 158.686 mph, 1993
Fast Facts
Drivers to WatchMichael Andretti -- The local favorite and resident, he won the race in 1987 and 1996; was also a runner-up in 1988, 1992 and 1997; was a pole sitter in 1987 and 1992; last year he finished sixth; after a fourth-place finish in the 1999 PPG Cup standings, he is now competing in his 17th year; won at least one race in 13 consecutive seasons and has 38 career victories.
Kenny Brack -- Had a strong CART debut and could make an immediate impact in the series; became just the second driver in the 22-year CART history to lead in their inaugural race; the 1998 IRL champion and the 1999 Indy 500 winner ran among the leaders throughout the race in Miami until car problems cut his day short on lap 78; raced with Team Rahal teammate in the 1996 Formula 3000 series. Patrick Carpentier -- Finished a career-best fifth in Miami; the result extended his scoring streak at Homestead to four races; was 14th in Nazareth in 1999. Christian Fittipaldi -- The Newman/Haas Racing driver kicked off the campaign with a seventh place finish in Miami; his 1999 season was solid despite missing five events due to injury sustained during testing at Gateway Raceway; failed to earn points in just two of the 15 races he drove in, but scored points in eight of his last nine starts; finished seventh in final CART standings; placed seventh in Nazareth last season. Dario Franchitti -- The runner-up in the CART championship last season performed admirably in the opening race in Miami, where he placed 11th; returned from a fractured pelvis and brain contusions sustained in a crash during testing; has a run of 11 straight points-winning events, the longest active streak in the series; lost the championship to Juan Montoya only because of fewer wins (three to Montoya's seven); should once again be among group of top contenders for the title; finished eighth in Nazareth last year. Juan Montoya -- The reigning CART champion is also the defending race champion at Nazareth; started from his first career pole and led three times for all but 15 of the 225 laps in a flawless performance en route to the checkered flag; his day ended early in Miami, despite leading early, when his Toyota engine blew up on lap 22; his rookie season, crowned by the championship, featured seven poles and seven wins and was not lower than second in the standings since the fourth race of 1999. Max Papis -- The victory at the season-opening race in Miami, sends 'Mad Max' to Nazareth as series points leader; the attention on Papis has grown steadily since he replaced team owner Bobby Rahal behind the wheel for last season; had a career season in 1999 and looks to better that this year; the victory already indicates that; the Italian had 11 top-five finishes and has posted 10 top-10 results in the last 12 races dating to last season; finished fifth in the points standings with 150. Paul Tracy -- The Canadian driver captured the CART championship in 1994 and 1997, seasons he also won races in Nazareth; owns five podium finishes in nine starts at the track including the wins; started 2000 with a solid third place finish in Miami; clocked 125.707 mph to set the qualifying record at the track in 1997; performs well at Nazareth with a third last year and fifth the season before; had top-five scores in 10 races and collected two victories last season; has 15 career wins. Jimmy Vasser -- Won this race in 1998; last year was not his best campaign, but put together a solid mid-season run; finished in the top-10 standings for the fifth straight year (ninth) -- a streak that began in 1995 and includes his 1996 title; picked up points in 14 races featured by consecutive third-place results in Chicago and Vancouver.
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