Long Beach: Final practice notes

Gentilozzi fastest in final practice.

LONG BEACH, Calif. -- Paul Gentilozzi didn't let a post-qualifying penalty dampen his spirits Saturday afternoon as the four-time Trans-Am Series for the BFGoodrich® Tires Cup champion finished atop the speed charts for Sunday's Trans-Am Series race, part of the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach.

Gentilozzi (No. 3 Design 500 Racewear/Jaguar R Performance XKR) ripped off a one minute, 22.152-second lap (86.240 miles per hour) late in the session to earn the accolades.

"It was good," said the four-time Series champion. "We went back to where we were before qualifying. We made a mistake in qualifying and we paid for it. I had to drive the car too hard and I hit the wall, broke the nose and had to go back the tail of the field.

"I'm ready for tomorrow," added Gentilozzi, who's four victories make him the only driver to win more than once here. "Long Beach is such great fun. I don't really mind starting in the back. I may not get all the way to the front, but I'll get close."

Gentilozzi's Rocketsports Racing teammate Scott Pruett, who won the pole earlier in the day, recorded a 1:22.226 minute lap in his No. 7 Jaguar R Performance XKR to occupy the second spot on the chart. Boris Said (No. 33 New Century Mortgage/Applied Computer Solutions Ford Mustang) was third, ahead of Johnny Miller (No. 64 WESTCO Eaton Cutler-Hammer Jaguar XKR) and Michael Lewis (No. 12 Trans-Am Tools by ProQuest Jaguar XKR).

Round 2 of the Trans-Am Series for the BFGoodrich® Tires Cup, part of the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach, is scheduled to start at approximately 3:45 p.m. Sunday, following the Champ Car World Series race.

-scca pro racing/trans am-