Cleveland: GT Friday practice notes

HENZLER'S PORSCHE TOPS SPEED GT FRIDAY PRACTICE IN CLEVELAND CLEVELAND (June 24, 2005) -- German Wolf Henzler used the entire 20-minute SCCA Pro Racing SPEED World Challenge GT practice session to get his Porsche to the top of the charts, ...

HENZLER'S PORSCHE TOPS SPEED GT FRIDAY PRACTICE IN CLEVELAND

CLEVELAND (June 24, 2005) -- German Wolf Henzler used the entire 20-minute SCCA Pro Racing SPEED World Challenge GT practice session to get his Porsche to the top of the charts, pacing the series' opening session at the Champ Car Grand Prix of Cleveland Presented by U.S. Bank. Italians Max Papis and Max Angelelli were second and third.

Driving the No. 55 Applied Materials/Farnbacher Loles Motorsports Porsche 911 GT3 Cup, Henzler turned a fastest lap of 1:19.313 (95.591 mph) as the checkered flag fell to leap over the Cadillac tandem of Maxes.

"It was very hot," Henzler said of the 88-degree heat at 7:00 p.m. "If this late-afternoon, 20-minute session is any indication, Sunday's race is going to be very difficult. I do like the track. It is very fast."

Papis, who has several years of experience at Burke Lakefront Airport in Champ Cars, turned the second-fastest time of the session in the No. 16 Cadillac/XM Radio/Mobil 1/Motorola/On Star Cadillac CTS-V of 1:19.443 (95.434 mph), followed by teammate Angelelli, with a 1:19.601 (95.245 mph).

The only driver to win a SPEED World Challenge race at Cleveland (in 1992), Lou Gigliotti, was fourth quick in his No. 28 LG Pro Long Tube Headers Chevrolet Corvette C6 with a time of 1:20.248 (94.477 mph). Andy Pilgrim put the third Team Cadillac entry into the top five next, with a 1:20.302 (94.414 mph).

Point leader Tommy Archer's Dodge Viper was sixth, with a time of 1:20.718.

The SCCA SPEED GT Championship cars next take to the track Saturday evening at 7:00 p.m. (EDT).

For all weekend information, including live timing and scoring, please visit www.world-challenge.com.