Milwaukee: Friday practice notes

Lacroix tops final practice; Potekhen fastest on the day at Milwaukee

June 2 , 2006. Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Michael Potekhen, of Tempe, Arizona, edged out series rookie Kevin Lacroix by two-thousandths of a second to set the fastest time of the day in practice for Round Four of the Star Mazda Championship presented by Goodyear, being held this weekend at the Milwaukee Mile as part of the Champ Car World Series Time Warner Cable Road Runner 225. Driving the Apex Racing Avenue Communities Mazda, Potekehen posted a best time of 27.691 (134.166 MPH) around the 1.032-mile oval to lead the field of 29 competitors. Lacroix, from St. Eustache, Quebec, clocked a time of 27.693 (134.157 MPH) in his John Walko Racing Uni-Select Auto Parts Mazda during the final practice session of the day.

World Speed Motorsports, looking to continue a history of success at the Milwaukee Mile that includes a victory in 2001 with Case Montgomery, was pleased with the results of their driver Adrian Carrio, from Monument, Colorado, who set the third fastest time of the day at 27.776 (133.756 MPH) in his Rockford Fosgate Mazda.

Current Champ Car Atlantic driver Robbie Pecorari, who finished second in the 2005 Star Mazda Championship presented by Goodyear, returns to the series for the weekend to defend his oval victory at Pikes Peak. Stepping in for regular driver Ross Smith, who was forced to miss the event due to illness, Pecorari was quickly up to speed, posting the fourth fastest time of the day at 27.780 (133.737 MPH) in the John Walko Racing Maxwell Paper Products Mazda. Ryan Justice, winner of the previous round at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, rounded out the top five ont he day with a fast lap of 27.816 (133.563 MPH) in the Northwest Autosport Mazda.

29 drivers participated in practice ahead of Saturday's 100-lap feature, with the entire field separated by less than two seconds. Practice resumes tomorrow morning at 8:15 AM Central Time with a thirty minute session.

-smaz-