Long Beach: Final practice notes

KLAUS GRAF SAYS 'ACHTUNG' IN FINAL PRACTICE FOR CYTOMAX CHALLENGE AT LONG BEACH

LONG BEACH, Calif. (April 9, 2005) -- Trans-Am Series rookie Klaus Graf picked up the pace in final practice Saturday for Sunday's Cytomax Challenge, setting a 1:22.780-minute lap time at 85.586 miles per hour. Graf, who is the first German national to compete in Trans-Am since 1988, drove the No. 7 Jaguar R Performance XKR, equipped with Jaguar's production-based, fuel-injected AJ-V8 engine.

1978 Trans-Am Drivers' Champion Greg Pickett was second fastest in the No. 6 Cytomax Jaguar XKR, just .278 of a second behind Graf. Paul Gentilozzi (No. 1 Jaguar R Performance XKR), Boris Said (No. 33 Applied Computer Solutions Ford Mustang) and Randy Ruhlman (No. 49 Preformed Line Products Chevrolet Corvette).

Comprehensive results are available at www.trans-amseries.com.

The third practice was the final on-track session prior to tomorrow's race. The Cytomax Challenge, Round 1 of the 2005 Trans-Am Championship and part of the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach weekend, is scheduled for tomorrow at 3:45 p.m., immediately following the Champ Car World Series event. Sunday's race will air on a tape-delayed basis, Sunday, April 17 on SPEED Channel at 1:30 p.m. EDT.

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