FCS: Indianapolis: Qualifying notes

Shovlin takes Indy Ferrari Challenge pole.

INDIANAPOLIS, IND, SEPTEMBER 28. Paddy Shovlin of Dublin, Ireland, took pole position today in qualifying for Sunday's Ferrari Challenge race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Trofeo Pirelli points leader Darius Grala, racing for Ferrari of Orange County, qualified second, almost 4/10 second behind Shovlin. Doug Peterson from the Shelton Sports Cars team, second in the points standings, qualified third.

"The grip was bad, but not as bad as yesterday," Shovlin explained. "Yesterday was terrible, but we made some adjustments which gave me better turn-in, and it worked."

Grala was please with his front-row starting position. "It was actually quite fabulous. It started out a little tough, and I had a little traffic in the beginning. These tires are usually the best in the first three laps, and I didn't get the best out of them. It hurt a bit but we got a good lap in the second stint and that was all we needed to be on the front row. The front row is good, pole would be better."

Behind Peterson Michael Cullen, also from Ireland, Jim Kenton (Ferrari of Washington) and Brent Martini (Ferrari of Orange County) rounded out the top six for the 23 car grid. Shovlin, Cullen, and Claran Caulfield are "guest drivers," the Irish trio competing in the North American series for the first time.

Participants in the Ferrari Challenge compete in specially-built racing versions of the Ferrari 360 Modena, with preparation and race support handled by teams formed by authorized Ferrari dealers in North America.

The 30 minute race is scheduled for 11 AM EST on Sunday, September 29, preceding the United States Grand Prix.

-fcs-