Monterrey: PCM Saturday qualifying notes

Pacific Coast Motorsports Qualifying 2 Notes from Fundidora Park

- Final qualifying for Sunday's Tecate Telmex Grand Prix, got underway in sunny and hot conditions in the early afternoon.

- While battling traffic in the early stages of the 40-minute session, Figge posted a lap of 1:28.601, eighth quickest.

- By the 10-minute mark of qualifying, Figge had bettered his time to 1:28.515.

- On lap six, Figge jumped to fifth on the speed charts, with a lap of 1:27.421.

- For the next three consecutive laps, Figge lowered his lap times, posting a fast time of 1:26.666, fourth quickest overall.

- On lap 10, Figge pitted, putting on fresh tires for the last half of qualifying.

- Upon rejoining qualifying, Figge immediately posted a new best lap, 1:26.502.

- On the following lap, Figge was forced re-enter the pits, when the Gurney flap on his rear wing broke.

- As the Pacific Coast Motorsports repaired the rear wing, Figge fell back to 10th place.

- With the car repaired, Figge returned to qualifying and set about posting fast laps.

- On lap 22, Figge set his fastest lap of the session, 1:25.669 (88.415 mph).

- For the second straight day, on his final lap Figge was in position to post a very fast lap, when a car spun in front of him, forcing the lap to be aborted.

- At the checkered flag, Figge was eighth quickest.

- The opening round of the 2003 CART Toyota Atlantic Championship, begins Sunday, March 23, at 10:30 a.m. (local time).

"The car was getting better as the session progressed," said Figge. "I lost a bunch laps right after I put on fresh tires, when I had a problem with the rear wing. At the end of qualifying I had a great car and was on a very fast lap, when a car spun in front of me, ruining my lap. Hopefully I'll be able to work my way through the field during the race."

-pcm-