Cleveland: Friday practice one notes

GENTILOZZI TOPS FIRST-ROUND TRANS-AM PRACTICE AT CLEVELAND

CLEVELAND (June 24, 2005) ^0x0421ul Gentilozzi took one more step toward history Friday, setting the fastest time in first-round practice for tomorrow's Trans-Am on the Tarmac, part of the Cleveland Grand Prix presented by U.S. Bank weekend, at Burke Lakefront Airport. Gentilozzi (No. 1 Jaguar R Performance XKR) recorded a 1:15.647-minute lap (100.223 miles per hour) around the 2.106-mile temporary airport circuit.Points leader Randy Ruhlman set the second fastest time (1:15.763) in the No. 49 Preformed Line Products Chevrolet Corvette before hitting the wall in turn nine late in the session. Ruhlman, from Cleveland Heights, Ohio, was unhurt, though the incident cut short the 30-minute session.

Last week's race winner Klaus Graf was third quick in the No. 7 Jaguar R Performance XKR, ahead of Joey Scarallo (No. 06 Group A Wheels/Autotrend/Toyo Tires Chevrolet Corvette) and GT-1 competitor Paul Fix (No. 77 StopFlex Ford Mustang).

Second-round practice is scheduled for this afternoon, at 2:15 p.m., followed by qualifying at 5:30 p.m. The Trans-Am on the Tarmac, Round 3 of the 2005 Trans-Am Championship, is scheduled for Saturday, June 25 at 3:30 p.m. EDT. Saturday’s race will air on a tape-delayed basis, Sunday, July 3 at 3 p.m. EDT on SPEED Channel.

Results are available on the Trans-Am Series web site by clicking here.

The Trans-Am Series features closed-fendered, production-based, V-8-powered sports cars, competing on permanent road courses, and temporary street and airport circuits throughout North America. The Trans-Am Series is America's oldest continuously running road racing series and celebrates its 40th consecutive year of competition in 2005.

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