Monterrey: PCM Friday qualifying summary

Pacific Coast Motorsports Friday qualifying notes from Fundidora Park

- The first qualifying session for Sunday's Tecate Telmex Grand Prix, got underway in sunny, but breezy conditions.

- On his opening lap of the 30-minute session, Pacific Coast Motorsports driver Alex Figge posted the seventh fastest lap.

- Early in the session the track was reported to still be quite slippery.

- By lap five, several cars had entered the pits to make minor changes, while Figge stayed on course, posting the fourth fastest time, 1:28.481.

- With 20-minutes remaining in the session, Figge had dropped to fifth, while he searched for a clear lap.

- At the 15-minute mark of the session, Figge bettered his time, posting a lap of 1:27.734, moving into fourth place.

- Just past the halfway mark of qualifying, Figge entered the pits to make minor adjustments.

- Rejoining qualifying, Figge found a gap and began posting fast clean laps.

- On lap 14, Figge jumped to the top of the charts, with a lap 1:27.003 (87.059 mph).

- With five minutes remaining in the session, Figge had dropped back to second place.

- On his final lap of qualifying, Figge looked set to post a very fast lap, but was forced to abort the lap, when another car spun in front of him.

- As the checkered flag fell, Joey Hand posted a fast lap to capture the pole, pushing Figge to third place.

- Figge's third place qualifying position is a new career best on a road course and betters his 11th place starting position last year at Monterrey.

- The second qualifying session for Round 1 of the 2003 CART Toyota Atlantic Championship season, gets underway Saturday, March 22, at 12:50 p.m. (local time).

"All in all I'm really pleased with qualifying," said Figge. "We're a new team and things have been hectic, but the team has given me a well prepared car. I was able to post a good time early, but late in the session I wasn't very good at turning a quick lap. Obviously I think the track will be quicker tomorrow and I look forward to fighting for the pole."

-pcm-