Phoenix: Larry Dixon Friday summary

DIXON AND MILLER LITE TEAM FINISH FIRST DAY OF QUALIFYING AT PHOENIX IN 11TH POSITION

CHANDLER, Ariz. (Feb. 25, 2005) -- Two-time NHRA Top Fuel champion Larry Dixon opened qualifying at the CSK Nationals in the No. 11 position Friday at Firebird International Raceway after driving Don Prudhomme's Miller Lite dragster to a pass of 4.695-seconds.

Dixon, who scored the first of his 35 career NHRA victories at the Phoenix-area drag strip in 1995, powered to the 4.695-second, 311.70-mph effort on Friday's second qualifying attempt under the lights at Firebird Raceway. The Miller Lite dragster overpowered a sunny race track on Friday's first pass as Dixon's dragster coasted to a run of 10.386 at 85.82.

"I'm certainly not thrilled, but I'm not too worried about it either," Dixon said. "We have the same parts and people here with a car that ran 4.40s at Pomona a few weeks ago. Right now, it's just a matter of finding the right setup at this track and this elevation. I have the utmost faith in my team."

Dixon, who posted a career-best elapsed time (4.481-seconds) at the season-opening Winternationals two weeks ago, and the Miller Lite team aim for a spot in the top half of the Top Fuel order when qualifying resumes Saturday with sessions scheduled for 12:30 and 3:30 p.m. (MT) in the Valley of the Sun. Dixon is a three-time finalist at F.I.R.

-sr-