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Watkins Glen pole story
Andrea Montermini Grabs Pole in Moretti Racing Ferrari 333 SP at Watkins Glen 30 May, 1997 Watkins Glen, New York - Andrea Montermini, in the Moretti Racing MOMO/Yokohama Ferrari 333 SP, shattered the track record at Watkins Glen ...
Edited: May 8, 2001, 12:19 PM
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Andrea Montermini Grabs Pole in Moretti Racing Ferrari 333 SP at Watkins Glen
30 May, 1997
Watkins Glen, New York - Andrea Montermini, in the Moretti Racing MOMO/Yokohama Ferrari 333 SP, shattered the track record at Watkins Glen International today during Pole Day for the First Union Six Hours of the Glen race. His official qualifying time was 1:38.573 for a speed of 124.17 mph, breaking the previous track record set last year by former MOMO Ferrari driver Massimiliano Mad Max Papis of 1:39.684.
To top it off, today was Monterminis 33rd birthday, which he celebrated with his co-drivers Gianpiero Moretti and Antonio Hermann, and the entire Moretti Ferrari crew.
The crew is coming off a fabulous week, having just won the Exxon World SportsCar race at Lime Rock Park on Memorial Day Monday. Teammate Hermann celebrated his 43rd birthday Monday with a victory and Montermini wished for the same present this weekend. So far, hes been honored with his first in the U.S. and his first Professional SportsCar Racing pole.
Wayne Taylor, in the Oldsmobile R&S MK III, sits beside Montermini on the front row, qualifying with a time of 1:38.825 and a speed of 123.85 mph.
"It was fantastic today! The crew did a great job. This is my first pole position in the U.S. and my fourth race in World SportsCar," said Montermini. "Watkins Glen is a nice circuit to drive and a good Ferrari track. "I feel very lucky to have the opportunity to drive with the Moretti Ferrari team. For the race we must give the maximum effort for six hours. It will be difficult with traffic, but that will be a problem for everyone. You never know on this circuit. We will hope to be there at the checkered flag in P-1 (first position) once again," added Montermini.
Montermini is a former Formula One driver for Team Forti Corse and Team Pacific Grand Prix for the past two seasons. No stranger to Ferrari, Montermini was the Ferrari Formula One test driver from 1990-1991.
Montermini's racing background started in Italy in 1987, with his Formula 3 debut in 1988. In 1989 he collected a hometown victory at the Grand Prix of Rome. In 1990 he moved to F-3000 racing and started his association with Ferrari as their Formula One test driver. He came to the U.S. in 1993, where in his CART IndyCar debut, he finished fourth at Detroit. In 1995, Montermini made his Formula One racing debut and finished seventh in his inaugural race in Brazil.
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