Portland: Friday practice notes

Drissi Fastest in First-Round Practice for Albertsons Trans-Am 100

PORTLAND, Ore. (June 18, 2004) -- Tomy Drissi set the fastest time in first-round practice Friday as the Motorock Trans-Am Series made its return to Portland International Raceway for the Albertsons Trans-Am 100. Drissi, driving the No. 5 Jaguar XKR sporting new sponsorship from Alien Versus Predator, Only in Theaters, recorded a 1:15.303-minute lap (94.132 miles per hour) around Portland's 1.969-mile permanent road course.

Randy Ruhlman was second fastest in the No. 49 Preformed Line Products Chevrolet Corvette, ahead of Tommy Kendall (No. 11 Jaguar R Performance XKR), Jorge Diaz, Jr. (No. 8 Puerto Rico Grand Prix Jaguar XKR) and Mike Davis (No. 10 New Century Mortgage/GE Access/ACS Express Ford Mustang).

"It feels great; P1 and I was complaining about the car," said Drissi. "My first few years in racing, I concentrated on the car. I spoke with Paul and he said to concentrate on the track. We have a good car. It's a little pushy in some parts and loose in others. So what do you do? I guess I'll be talking to the data guys."

The Albertsons Trans-Am 100, Round 2 of the Motorock Trans-Am Series championship, part of Portland's Champ Car Grand Prix weekend, is scheduled for today and tomorrow, June 18-19. Qualifying is scheduled for 4 p.m. today, while the 51-lap race is set for tomorrow at 3:45 p.m. The race will air in one-day, tape-delay basis on HDNet Sunday, June 20, at 11 a.m. PDT (2 p.m. EDT) as the lead in to the Champ Car World Series broadcast. A highlights package from Portland will also air in the popular "Dangerous Curves" timeslot on Spike TV on Sunday, June 27 at 1:30 p.m. on both the East and West Coasts. Please check local listings for availability and times in other areas.

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