| | ESPN.com
| FAST FACTS |
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Event |
Michigan 500 |
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When |
Sunday, 1:30 p.m. ET (ABC) |
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Where |
Michigan Speedway (d-shaped oval, 2 miles, 18 degrees banking in turns).
Brooklyn, Mich.
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Distance |
500 miles (200 laps) |
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Defending champion |
Tony Kanaan |
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Qualifying |
Saturday 11:30 p.m. ET (12:30 a.m. ET, taped, ESPN2) |
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Track Records |
Qualifying record: Jimmy Vasser, 232.025 mph (1996)
Race record: Tony Kanaan, 186.097 mph (1999)
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On the Track
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They Said It
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"The biggest thing about going to Michigan is that the first thing you do is hold your breath for three days because it is a very dangerous situation because you are going very fast. You are running wheel-to-wheel for 500 miles.
-- Michael Andretti
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"God just didn't want me to win that day (1999 Michigan 500). But I felt good because we dominated the race. I knew I could win races and I knew the Miller Lite team could win. It was only a matter of time. The Miami win was a special moment. But that was a long time ago now. I think the Michigan Speedway might owe me one this time."
-- Max Papis
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""I think Michigan was my last pole position, so it will be nice to get back there where we've had some success, and maybe it will carry over into this year's race."
-- Jimmy Vasser
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"It's going to be fun to get back to the ovals, especially on the superspeedway in Michigan. This is the first of two 500-mile events we have in the CART season, so it's always something special."
-- Patrick Carpentier
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For fans, it was the most thrilling finish of the 1999 season. For one driver, it was the most disappointing loss of the 1999 season. In any CART season, it's always the fastest 500 miles of the year.
It's the Michigan 500.
The second half of the FedEx Championship Series season begins at a venue in just four years has provided some of the series' most exciting action. Two of the four closest finishes in Champ Car history have come at Michigan, but last year's finish will undoubtably stand out in most fans' minds for years to come.
Last year's event possessed all the elements that race fans love. Not only did it have the second-closest finish in CART's 92-year history, but also featured 29 lead changes and the emotions of exuberant first-time winner, Tony Kanaan, and a heart-wrenching near-miss for the utterly dominant Max Papis.
Papis was in line to steal the show, leading 143 of 250 laps before running out of fuel a mere two turns from the checkered flag. The scenario that quickly ensued following Papis' misfortune gave Kanaan the lead and he edged eventual series
champion Juan Montoya by a mere .032 seconds.
But '99 was just the lastest example of what Michigan Speedway can provide on any given Sunday.
Other Michigan Speedway-hosted events that have made their way into Champ Car lore include those of 1990, '95 and '98.
The '90 race remains the fastest in history when Al Unser Jr. nipped Bobby Rahal while averaging
189.727 mphr en route to his victory.
The '95 race produced the fourth-closest finish in history as Scott Pruett edged Unser Jr. by .056
seconds.
The '98 event, won by Greg Moore, produced a staggering 62 lead
changes, smashing the previous all-time record of 31 set at Ontario in a
500-mile race in 1973.
To intensify the excitement surrounding the Michigan 500, the FedEx Championship Series arrives armed with an intriguing
championship race and outstanding competitive depth that has produced eight different winners in the first 10 events. A year ago, six of a record 10 different drivers won the last 10 races.
Roberto Moreno, the 41-year-old with the former "Super Sub," tag, has rewarded team owner Pat Patrick for a full-time ride
this season -- only the third full year of his CART career -- by leading the championship at the midway point of the 20-race season.
Moreno is clinging to a two-point lead over Michael Andretti, who closed the gap considerably with last week's win at Toronto -- his 40th career triumph. Even more tightly grouped are positions three through eight in the championship. Those six drivers are separated by 14 points.
The parity also has been prominent on the podium, as 16 different drivers already have posted a top-three finish. The group includes non-winners Dario Franchitti, the series runner-up last season who has six wins in the past two
seasons; Jimmy Vasser, an eight-time career winner with one coming at Michigan in 1996; Christian Fittipaldi, whose first career win came last season at Road America; and Kanaan, who is the defending champion.
The Michigan 500 Presented by Toyota marks the return of Kanaan, who has missed the past four events after sustaining a broken forearm in a qualifying accident at Detroit.
Others chasing their first career victory and showing signs the that breakthrough may be near are Cristiano da Matta, Patrick Carpentier and rookie Kenny Brack.
Da Matta finished a career-best third at Cleveland and followed with a strong performance at
Toronto, leading a race-high 73 of 112 laps before settling for fourth.
Carpentier has five consecutive top-10 finishes entering Michigan. Included in that run are three top fives,
with a best of third at Milwaukee.
Brack has four top-five performances on the season, including a best of second at
Cleveland. But the rookie who came over from the IRL is seasoned on ovals. He did, after all, win the 1999 Indy 500.
Drivers to Watch
Michael Andretti: Has finished in the top 10 in seven of his past eight races. He was fourth in this race last year and sixth the season before.
Kenny Brack: Holds a commanding lead of 66-36 over Alex Tagliani in the Rookie of the Year points race. Heck, he's fifth in overall standings. The superspeedway should be among his best shots at first CART victory.
Juan Montoya: Maybe he should break out the IRL car. Seriously, though, the defending champion was filling Kanaan's mirrors last year crossing the finish line and loves to go fast. The streets haven't been kind to Montoya. Maybe the speedway will.
Roberto Moreno: Finished out of the points in 13th place at Toronto when a gear box problem forced him out with 13 laps to go. Shifting won't be a factor this week.
Max Papis: Had he not already won this season, we'd be talking more about him being a sentimental favorite. Instead, Papis is a legitimate threat to win Sunday. Started from the pole in Michigan last year. He has failed to finish in five races, but yet to place out of the top 10 in a race he has completed. Currently 11th in points.
Paul Tracy: Ended a four-race pointless streak, in which he finished no better than 15th, by finishing third in Toronto last week. Podium finish put him back in thick of points race. Finished third in the U.S. 500 last year, fourth in 1998 and ninth in 1997.
Jimmy Vasser: Winner of this race in 1996 from the pole and then runner-up in 1997. Has failed to earn points in just three of 10 races, but hasn't won yet. Best finish this year was second in Brazil. Currently sixth in the points standings.
Adrian Fernandez: Always a threat on the superspeedways, winning last year in Japan. Has placed in the top-10 in six races, inclduing a victory in Rio de Janeiro. Came home sixth in this race last year.
Gil de Ferran: In a Penske machine, so you know he'll be among the leaders. Has won two poles this season and won twice as well (Nazareth and Portland). His best result at Michigan Speedway was third in 1997.
Cristiano da Matta: The young Brazilian is another driver having a career-season. After a top finish of second in Cleveland, he led the most laps (72) in Toronto and eventually finished fourth, which gave him five top-five finishes in the past seven races. Should be fun to watch how he handles the superspeedway. | |
ALSO SEE
Papis still feels pain of Michigan misery
Tracy coming of age in title quest
Falling attendance threatens Michigan 500
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