CHAMPCAR/CART: Houston Final Qualifying Notes

RICE TAKES POLE AT HOUSTON FINALE

HOUSTON - Buddy Rice, of Phoenix, Ariz., will start on the pole for Sunday's KOOL/Toyota Atlantic Championship race at the Texaco/Havoline Grand Prix of Houston. Rice earned his first pole of the year by covering the 1.527-mile street circuit in a record qualifying time of 1:07.968, eclipsing the qualifying mark set last year by Alex Tagliani at 1:07.979. Rice posted the time during Friday's provisional qualifying session. Slight precipitation prior to Saturday's final qualifying slowed the field of 28 cars. Series champion Anthony Lazzaro will start alongside Rice on the outside after qualifying with a time of 1:08.099, with Lazzaro's teammate Andrew Bordin starting third. William Langhorne will start fourth. 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. William Langhorne, Washington, D.C., Swift 008.a, 1:08.406, 80.361. 5. Kenny Wilden, Burlington, Ont., Canada, Swift 008.a, 1:08.551, 80.191. 6. Alexandre Tagliani, Lachenaie, Que., Canada, Swift 008.a, 1:08.692, 80.026. 7. Alex Gurney, Newport Beach, Calif., Swift 008.a, 1:08.740, 79.970. 8. Nicolas Rondet, San Diego, Calif., Swift 008.a, 1:09.031, 79.633. 9. David Rutledge, W. Vancouver, B.C., Canada, Swift 008.a, 1:09.102, 79.551. 10. Lee Bentham, Newmarket, Ont., Canada, Swift 008.a, 1:09.161, 79.484. 11. Mauro Fartuszek, Buenos Aires, Arg., Swift 008.a, 1:09.397, 79.213. 12. Rino Mastronardi, Pistoia, Italy, Swift 008.a, 1:09.413, 79.195. 13. Sam Hornish, Jr., Defiance, Ohio, Swift 008.a, 1:09.447, 79.156. 14. Jean-Francois Veilleux, Boucherville, Que., Canada, Swift 008.a, 1:09.517, 79.077. 15. Mike Conte, Seattle, Wash., Swift 008.a, 1:09.555, 79.033. 16. Cam Binder, Calgary, Alta., Canada, Swift 008.a, 1:09.581, 79.004. 17. Rocky Moran, Jr., Coto de Caza, Calif., Swift 008.a, 1:09.876, 78.670. 18. Masaoki Nagashima, Tokyo, Japan, Swift 008.a, 1:09.913, 78.629. 19. Peter MacLeod, Seattle, Wash., Swift 008.a, 1:10.482, 77.994. 20. Brian Westerlund, Surrey, B.C., Canada, Ralt RT-41, 1:10.778, 77.668. 21. Jim Lovett, Deerfield, Ill., Swift 008.a, 1:11.211, 77.195. 22. Bob Perona, Denver, Colo., Swift 008.a, 1:11.429, 76.960. 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, 1:13.992, 74.294. 28. Bob Ferstl, Houston, Texas, Ralt RT-41, 1:17.633, 70.810.