Houston Friday Qualifying Report

LAZZARO EARNS PROVISIONAL ATLANTIC POLE AT TEXACO GRAND PRIX OF HOUSTON

HOUSTON - Anthony Lazzaro earned the provisional pole position Friday for Sunday's KOOL/Toyota Atlantic Championship race at the Texaco Grand Prix of Houston. Lazzaro, of Acworth, Ga., posted a time of 1:08.533 around the 1.527-mile temporary street circuit, for an average qualifying speed of 78.292 miles-per-hour. Alex Tagliani, of Lachenaie, Que., was second-fastest in the first of two qualifying sessions, recording a time of 1:08.881. Lazzaro's teammate, Masaoki Nagashima of Tokyo, Japan, was third with a time of 1:08.921.

The second qualifying session on Saturday is scheduled for an 11:15 a.m. start. Sunday's final round of the 13-race KOOL/Toyota Atlantic Championship will conclude the series' 25th anniversary season.

HOUSTON - Provisional starters for Sunday's 38-lap, 58.026-mile KOOL/Toyota Atlantic Championship race at the Texaco Grand Prix of Houston, with starting position, car number in parenthesis, driver, hometown, car, time and speed in miles-per-hour. 1. Anthony Lazzaro, Acworth, Ga., , Swift 008.a, 1:08.533, 80.212. 2. Alexandre Tagliani, Lachenaie, Que., Swift 008.a, 1:08.881, 79.807. 3. Masaoki Nagashima, Tokyo, Japan, , Swift 008.a, 1:08.921, 79.760. 4. Kenny Wilden, Burlington, Ont., Swift 008.a, 1:09.085, 79.571. 5. Memo Gidley, Novato, Calif., Swift 008.a, 1:09.406, 79.203. 6. Case Montgomery, Salinas, Calif., Swift 008.a, 1:09.425, 79.181. 7. Lee Bentham, Richmond Hill, Ont., Swift 008.a, 1:09.558, 79.030. 8. Nicolas Rondet, San Diego, Calif., Swift 008.a, 1:09.618, 78.962. 9. David Rutledge, West Vancouver, B.C., Swift 008.a, 1:09.714, 78.853. 10. Matt Sielsky, Northbrook, Ill., Swift 008.a, 1:09.951, 78.586. 11. Andrew Bordin, Woodbridge, Ont., Swift 008.a, 1:09.978, 78.556. 12. Cam Binder, Calgary, Alta., Swift 008.a, 1:10.030, 78.497. 13. Steve Cameron, Sonoma, Calif., Swift 008.a, 1:10.204, 78.303. 14. Michael Conte, Seattle, Wash., Swift 008.a, 1:10.274, 78.225. 15. Rocky Moran Jr., Coto De Caza, Calif., Swift 008.a, 1:10.399, 78.086. 16. Mike Shank, Columbus, Ohio, Swift 008.a, 1:11.248, 77.155. 17. Eric Lang, New York, N.Y., Swift 008.a, 1:11.762, 76.603. 18. Michael David, Corona, Calif., Ralt RT-41, 1:12.011, 76.338. 19. John Brooks, Tucson, Ariz., Ralt RT-40, 1:12.217, 76.120. 20. Scott Wood, Houston, Texas, Ralt RT-41, 1:12.768, 75.544. 21. Fernando Rama, Montevideo, Uruguay, Swift 008.a, 1:13.538, 74.753. 22. Frank Allers, Coquitlam, B.C., Reynard 93H, 1:15.624, 72.691. 23. David Cutler, Medina, Wash., Swift 008.a, 1:15.946, 72.383. 24. Joe Sposato, Arcadia, Calif., Ralt RT-41, 1:15.969, 72.361. 25. Bob Ferstl, Houston, Texas, Ralt RT-41, 1:16.045, 72.288.