Commerce: Cruz Pedregon Friday summary

Cruz Pedregon Opens in 13th Driver of Advance Auto Parts Nitro Funny Car Ready for Saturday Commerce, Ga. (May 13, 2005) -- Former Funny Car champion Cruz Pedregon powered the Advance Auto Parts Nitro Funny Car to 5.013-second elapsed time at ...

Cruz Pedregon Opens in 13th
Driver of Advance Auto Parts Nitro Funny Car Ready for Saturday

Commerce, Ga. (May 13, 2005) -- Former Funny Car champion Cruz Pedregon powered the Advance Auto Parts Nitro Funny Car to 5.013-second elapsed time at 254.66 mph during the second-qualifying session of Friday's NHRA Southern Nationals at Atlanta Dragway.

Pedregon's second pass put the Advance Auto Parts team in the 13th slot. Changes in the body of the car and a faulty cylinder, hampered Pedregon's efforts for a better qualifying position.

"We have a new body and it is lighter than the previous one," explained Pedregon. "We need to do some more work to it. Also, we had to run on seven cylinders, which took away about 1000 horsepower from the car. I'm glad that Friday the 13th is over and tomorrow we'll be ready for two more passes."

Pedregon will run two more qualifying session Saturday at 12:30 and 3:30 p.m. Final eliminations are scheduled for Sunday, May 15, at 11 a.m. All times Eastern.