Atlantic Qualifying at Houston

By Chris Speigner - Motorsport.com

Qualifying for the Toyota Atlantics in Houston got underway with Frank Dodge getting into the wall on the second lap. Hoover Orsi was quickest out of the hole with a 1:07:314 with Joey Hand (R) in second followed by Rutledge, Macri (R), and Ave. Qualifying resumed with 18 minutes left in the session. Basso, Orsi, and Hand traded statring postions a few time through out the rest of the session with Martin' Basso coming out on top. Orsi, Hand, Rutledge and Macri rounded out the top five. Basso's pole winning time breaks Hoover Orsi's pole postion streak from the last four races. Joey Hand got hung up in traffic at the end of the session, but says that he has a "car that could be on the front row."

This race will determine the Rookie of the Year award for the Atlantic series. If Joey Hand can finish ahead of Macri, he will clinch the title for 2001. The Atlantics take the track at 10:15 Sunday morning.