Indianapolis: Friday summary

CLERMONT, Ind. - Defending Top Fuel winner Cory McClenathan drove the Joe Gibbs-owned MBNA dragster to the top of the order Friday to open qualifying for the 46th annual U.S. Nationals, the world's most prestigious drag race. Tommy Johnson Jr., Kurt Johnson, Antron Brown and John Lingenfelter also were among qualifying leaders in their respective categories at the $2.6 million race, the 17th of 23 events in the $45 million NHRA Winston Drag Racing Series. McClenathan, from Anaheim, Calif., covered the Indianapolis Raceway Park quarter-mile in 4.655 seconds at 317.57 mph to lead the 16-car field. "I'm glad we step up at the big races," said McClenathan, also a winner here in 1996. "It means a lot to come out on the first day and be the quickest car. I think that time will be good enough to keep us in the top three or four." Ottumwa, Iowa's Johnson led Funny Car qualifying, clocking a 4.963 at 301.27 in the Hofmann Racing Pontiac Firebird. "I'm pretty excited because I was really hoping for a 5.0-second run," said Johnson, who also led qualifying here last year after the first session. "This team is really starting to gel. We started to run pretty good at Brainerd (Minn.), so we just decided to leave the car alone." In Pro Stock, Lawrenceville, Ga.'s Johnson posted a quick lap of 6.986 at 197.39 in his AC Delco Chevy Camaro. Brown, from Chesterfield, N.J., had the quickest Pro Stock Motorcycle effort, recording a best of 7.324 at 182.70 on his Team 23 Suzuki. Defending event champion Matt Hines, who will lead the eight-bike Holley Pro Stock Dominator Duel field into eliminations Saturday, qualified second with a 7.364 at 178.24. Lingenfelter, from Decatur, Ind., turned in the best Pro Stock Truck run, covering the distance in 7.627 at 175.73 in his Summit Racing GMC Sonoma. Pro qualifying continues Saturday with sessions at 10:30 a.m. and 4 p.m.

<pre> Friday's qualifying results for the 46th annual U.S. Nationals at Indianapolis Raceway Park, 17th of 23 events in the $45 million NHRA Winston Drag Racing Series. Qualifying will continue Saturday and Sunday for Monday's final eliminations.

Top Fuel -- 1. Cory McClenathan, 4.655 seconds, 317.57 mph; 2. Bob Vandergriff, 4.658, 305.22; 3. Tony Schumacher, 4.665, 316.60; 4. Larry Dixon, 4.668, 309.20; 5. Joe Amato, 4.689, 312.57; 6. Kenny Bernstein, 4.697, 314.46; 7. Tim Gibson, 4.738, 303.64; 8. Don Lampus, 4.745, 312.93; 9. Gary Clapshaw, 4.779, 307.44; 10. Shirley Muldowney, 4.779, 306.53; 11. David Grubnic, 4.832, 299.86; 12. Andrew Cowin, 4.847, 273.83; 13. Melanie Troxel, 4.875, 264.70; 14. Steve Smith, 4.921, 291.57; 15. Bruce Litton, 4.954, 236.34; 16. Luigi Novelli, 5.119, 271.62.

Funny Car -- 1. Tommy Johnson Jr., Pontiac Firebird, 4.963, 301.27; 2. John Force, Ford Mustang, 4.976, 305.63; 3. Frank Pedregon, Firebird, 5.010, 300.33; 4. Cory Lee, Dodge Avenger, 5.013, 310.91; 5. Tony Pedregon, Mustang, 5.152, 254.42; 6. Cristen Powell, Firebird, 5.168, 236.38; 7. Bruce Sarver, Firebird, 5.169, 283.85; 8. Tim Wilkerson, Firebird, 5.244, 249.16; 9. Gary Densham, Firebird, 5.327, 277.37; 10. Scott Weis, Chevy Corvette, 5.464, 217.00; 11. Ron Capps, Chevy Camaro, 5.665, 171.49; 12. Cruz Pedregon, Firebird, 5.795, 171.53; 13. Al Hofmann, Firebird, 5.993, 143.17; 14. Jim Epler, Camaro, 6.083, 149.96; 15. Scotty Cannon, Camaro, 6.198, 145.55; 16. Dean Skuza, Avenger, 6.227, 147.04.

Pro Stock -- 1. Kurt Johnson, Chevy Camaro, 6.986, 197.39; 2. Mark Pawuk, Pontiac Firebird, 6.986, 195.96; 3. Ron Krisher, Firebird, 7.001, 195.85; 4. Warren Johnson, Firebird, 7.009, 197.16; 5. Darrell Alderman, Dodge Avenger, 7.018, 195.28; 6. Jeg Coughlin, Oldsmobile Cutlass, 7.020, 195.59; 7. Mark Osborne, Firebird, 7.026, 195.85; 8. Troy Coughlin, Cutlass, 7.033, 195.05; 9. Tom Martino, Firebird, 7.039, 195.36; 10. George Marnell, Firebird, 7.039, 195.05; 11. Rickie Smith, Camaro, 7.041, 195.05; 12. Tony Gillig, Cutlass, 7.046, 194.77; 13. Bruce Allen, Firebird, 7.055, 194.16; 14. Danny Coffman, Firebird, 7.060, 195.17; 15. Richie Stevens, Firebird, 7.060, 194.13; 16. Robert Patrick, Ford Mustang, 7.066, 194.94.

Pro Stock Motorcycle -- 1. Antron Brown, Suzuki, 7.324, 182.70; 2. Matt Hines, Suzuki, 7.364, 178.24; 3. John Smith, Suzuki, 7.375, 181.96; 4. Angelle Seeling, Suzuki, 7.384, 180.31; 5. Craig Treble, Suzuki, 7.429, 178.85; 6. Blaine Hale, Kawasaki, 7.446, 178.92; 7. Steve Johnson, Suzuki, 7.476, 173.01; 8. Clarence Markham, Suzuki, 7.516, 175.80; 9. Michael Phillips, Suzuki, 7.528, 176.17; 10. Greg Underdahl, Suzuki, 7.547, 171.90; 11. Geno Scali, Suzuki, 7.550, 178.45; 12. Rob Short, Kawasaki, 7.551, 178.26; 13. Ron Ayers, Suzuki, 7.552, 177.65; 14. Brian DeLong, Suzuki, 7.614, 171.86; 15. Brian Ayers, Suzuki, 7.619, 173.49; 16. Shawn Gann, Suzuki, 7.636, 164.93.

Pro Stock Truck -- 1. John Lingenfelter, GMC Sonoma, 7.627, 175.73; 2. Randy Daniels, Chevy S-10, 7.628, 176.67; 3. Bob Panella Jr, S-10, 7.650, 175.73; 4. Don Smith, S-10, 7.652, 175.82; 5. Arnie Martel, S-10, 7.660, 175.09; 6. Mike Coughlin, S-10, 7.662, 176.17; 7. John Coughlin, S-10, 7.662, 175.02; 8. Mark Whisnant, S-10, 7.664, 175.39; 9. Jeff Gracia, S-10, 7.678, 175.73; 10. Greg Stanfield, S-10, 7.685, 176.24; 11. Bart Price, S-10, 7.685, 175.94; 12. Rick Jones, Sonoma, 7.695, 174.84; 13. Rob Slavinski, S-10, 7.696, 174.82; 14. Brian Self, S-10, 7.696, 174.73; 15. Kim Smith, Sonoma, 7.698, 175.59; 16. Larry Perkins, S-10, 7.702, 174.14.