Houston Practice and Qualifying Report

Texaco GP of Houston -- NTB Trans-Am practice and qualifying October 2, 1998 -- Houston, TX Mike Stucker -- Motorsport News International

This morning's Trans-Am practice got off to s slow start as five minutes into the session Rick Lee spun and stalled his Ford Mustang causing a stoppage. Two minutes later he refired and practice continued. Even though one other car went off course and three spin, there are no other stoppages. At the end of the session Paul Gentilozzi, who has already clinched the 1998 NTB Trans-Am championship, had fastest time in his Autolink Corvette at 1:13.412 around the 1.68 mile street course.

Trans-Am qualifying was held late in the afternoon, with the sun starting to go down. Cars were sent out in three groups. Stu Hayner was fastest in the first group with a time of 1:15.750 in his Westward Ho Casino Camaro. Fast time in the second group went to Lou Gigliotti who drove his Young Chevrolet/G2 Performance Parts Corvette around the track in 1:14.540. Paul Gentilozzi took pole, while driving in the third group, with a time of 1:11.436 for an average speed of 76.952 mph. Second fastest time went to

Brian Simo in the Valvoline Mustang at 1:12.165. The Fast-Five was rounded out by Gentilozzi's teammate Bill Saunders' Autolink Corvette, Ross Thompson'' I-Dream Software/Red Line Oil Mustang, and the ARCO Camaro of rookie Chris Neville.

The final NTB Trans-Am of 1998 will be flagged off Saturday, October 3, at 3:30 PM CDT.