Puerto Rico: First practice notes

Drissi turns up the heat in Puerto Rico first round

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico -- Tomy Drissi set the fastest time during first round practice for the Puerto Rico Grand Prix Friday morning at the Isla Grande temporary airport circuit in San Juan. Drissi, driving the No. 5 Stuck on You Jaguar XKR, set his 1:07.573-minute lap (85.241 miles per hour) late in the 30-minute session at the 1.6-mile, 10 turn track.

"For about 90% of the session, I engaged foot before brain," said Drissi. "I went off a bit and didn't realize I had cut a tire. I was only a little frustrated, but then I found it wasn't the car, but that we'd cut a tire. That's the only frustration I intend to have this weekend.

"I got my fast time right at the end, after that last red flag," added Drissi. "How did I do it? I just shut up and drove! You've got to just get out there and drive.

"There are definite nuances to this track," continued Drissi, referring to the new airport circuit. "It's just like Cleveland. I was fortunate enough to figure them out early in the weekend."

Scott Pruett, debuting Jaguar's new four-valve, fuel-injected, overhead-cam, stock-block V8 engine in race trim, was second fastest in the No. 7 Motorock/Jaguar R Performance XKR, ahead of Randy Ruhlman, who turned in the third quickest time in the No. 49 Preformed Line Products/COYOTE Closures Chevrolet Corvette). Local rookie sensation Jorge Diaz, Jr. completed the top five in the No. 8 Don Q Rum Jaguar XKR.

Second-round practice is scheduled for today at 3:40 p.m. The Puerto Rico Grand Prix, Round 11 and the season finale for the Motorock Trans-Am Tour for the BFGoodrich Tires Cup, is scheduled to start at 2 p.m. Atlantic Time. It will air LIVE on SPEED Channel at 1 p.m. EST.