Long Beach: Friday practice one notes

Said Starts Long Beach Weekend off Right with Fast Time in First Round

LONG BEACH, Calif. (April 16, 2004) -- Boris Said started off the 2004 Motorock Trans-Am Series at the top of the time charts as the driver of the No. 33 New Century Mortgage/GE Access/ACS Express Ford Mustang set the fastest time in first-round practice Friday for Sunday's race. Said turned a 1:23.673-minute lap around the 1.967-mile temporary street course at an average speed of 84.672 miles per hour.

Tommy Kendall (No. 11 Jaguar R Performance XKR) was second fastest in his return to Trans-Am competition after his retirement following the 1997 season. Michael Lewis (No. 12 Autocon Engineering Jaguar XKR), Greg Pickett (No. 6 Cytosport Jaguar XKR) and Said's teammate Mike Davis (No. 10 New Century Mortgage/GE Access/ACS Express Ford Mustang) completed the top five.

Second-round practice is scheduled from 4:15 p.m. to 4:45 p.m. today, while qualifying is scheduled to start at 9 a.m. tomorrow. The Trans-Am race is scheduled to take place on Sunday, April 18, immediately following the Champ Car World Series event.

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