Detroit Qaulifying Notes 98-06-06

PPG-DAYTON INDY LIGHTS CHAMPIONSHIP The Raceway on Belle Isle, Detroit, Mich ITT Automotive Detroit Grand Prix

DETROIT QUALIFYING NOTES -- Saturday, June 6

The first-year Mattco Raceworks team continues to improve their on-track performance, as evidenced by today's 3rd and 6th-place qualifying efforts for tomorrow's 32-lap race. Tony Renna, 21, of DeLand, Fla., qualified 3rd in the No. 77 Alco Capital Group /Nassi Group Lola, while teammate Mark Hotchkis, 29, placed 6th in the No. 78 Alco Capital Group/Nassi Group Lola. Renna qualified 2nd at Milwaukee last week, but this is the best "team" start of the season.

Renna's quick lap was 1:23.110 (101.620 mph), just 0.585 shy of pole-sitter Airton Dare. Hotchkis's fast lap was 1:23.285 (101.406 mph). This is Renna's first-ever visit to the 2.35-mile temporary street circuit, while Hotchkis has raced here three time s previously. This is Hotchkis's best start; his best finish was 6th in 1997.

TONY RENNA: "This is pretty exciting for my first time here. It's exciting for the whole team, because it's obvious we're really coming together. The crew's working well and doing a great job, I'm feeling very confident in the car, and we've got a good momentum going. I haven't ever been especially super-fond of street courses, but so far it seems to be working out OK here. ON THE INCIDENT AT THE END OF THE SESSION: I thought something broke, because it just snapped in the front and I nosed right in to the tires. There were radio reports that I ran over some debris, so maybe that's what happened. All I know is, it happened pretty quick."

MARK HOTCHKIS: "The session was good, but it's all about timing and ours was a little off today. Traffic is always a problem on a street course. I really felt we could have been the quickest car out there. I had a great lap going when, unfortunately, the black flag ended the session early. But we're improving, no doubt, and I think we have a strong shot at the podium tomorrow."

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