Houston Provisional Qualifying Results and Notes

RICE TAKES PROVISIONAL POLE AT HOUSTON

HOUSTON - Buddy Rice, of Phoenix, Ariz., will start on the provisional pole for Sunday's KOOL/Toyota Atlantic Championship race at the Texaco/Havoline Grand Prix of Houston after posting a record qualifying time of 1:07.968. Rice, in the Lynx Racing Swift, covered the 1.527-mile street circuit in record time, eclipsing the qualifying mark set last year by Alex Tagliani of 1:07.979. Series champion Anthony Lazzaro was second fastest at 1:08.099,with Lazzaro's teammate Andrew Bordin third fastest at 1:08.111. Final qualifying is scheduled for 11:15 a.m. on Saturday. Sunday's season finale of the 12-race KOOL/Toyota Atlantic Championship is set for a 12:30 p.m. start.

HOUSTON - Provisional starters for Sunday's 45-lap KOOL/Toyota Atlantic Championship at the Texaco/Havoline Grand Prix of Houston, with starting position, driver, hometown, car, and qualifying speed in miles per hour:

1. Buddy Rice, Phoenix, Ariz., Swift 008.a, 1:07.968, 80.879. 2. Anthony Lazzaro, Acworth, Ga., Swift 008.a, 1:08.099, 80.723. 3. Andrew Bordin, Woodbridge, Ont., Canada, Swift 008.a, 1:08.111, 80.709. 4. Kenny Wilden, Burlington, Ont., Canada, Swift 008.a, 1:08.551, 80.191. 5. Alexandre Tagliani, Lachenaie, Que., Canada, Swift 008.a, 1:08.753, 79.955. 6. William Langhorne, Washington, D.C., Swift 008.a, 1:08.832, 79.864. 7. Nicolas Rondet, San Diego, Calif., Swift 008.a, 1:09.213, 79.424. 8. Alex Gurney, Newport Beach, Calif., Swift 008.a, 1:09.286, 79.340. 9. Rino Mastronardi, Pistoia, Italy, Swift 008.a, 1:09.413, 79.195. 10. Lee Bentham, Newmarket, Ont., Canada, Swift 008.a, 1:09.478, 79.121. 11. Jean-Francois Veilleux, Boucherville, Que., Canada, Swift 008.a, 1:09.533, 79.058. 12. Mike Conte, Seattle, Wash., Swift 008.a, 1:09.555, 79.033. 13. Cam Binder, Calgary, Alta., Canada, Swift 008.a, 1:09.581, 79.004. 14. David Rutledge, W. Vancouver, B.C., Canada, Swift 008.a, 1:09.684, 78.887. 15. Mauro Fartuszek, Buenos Aires, Arg., Swift 008.a, 1:09.774, 78.785. 16. Sam Hornish_Jr, Defiance, Ohio, Swift 008.a, 1:09.787, 78.771. 17. Rocky Moran_Jr, Coto de Caza, Calif., Swift 008.a, 1:09.876, 78.670. 18. Masaoki Nagashima, Tokyo, Japan, Swift 008.a, 1:10.046, 78.479. 19. Peter MacLeod, Seattle, Wash., Swift 008.a, 1:10.968, 77.460. 20. Brian Westerlund, Surrey, B.C., Canada, Ralt RT-41, 1:11.609, 76.766. 21. Jim Lovett, Deerfield, Ill., Swift 008.a, 1:11.645, 76.728. 22. Bob Perona, Denver, Colo., Swift 008.a, 1:12.232, 76.104. 23. Scott Wood, Houston, Texas, Swift 008.a, 1:12.250, 76.085. 24. John Brooks, Tucson, Ariz., Swift 008.a, 1:12.251, 76.084. 25. David Cutler, Medina, Wash., Swift 008.a, 1:12.752, 75.560. 26. Bob Siska, San Francisco, Calif., Ralt RT-40, 1:13.988, 74.298. 27. Tom Wieringa, Oak Brook, Ill., Swift 008.a, 1:15.214, 73.087. 28. Bob Ferstl, Houston, Texas, Ralt RT-41, 1:17.633, 70.810.