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Saturday, June 16
Ray races to IRL record 12th pole
Associated Press
FOUNTAIN, Colo. -- Greg Ray added to his IRL record,
capturing his 12th career pole position in qualifying for Sunday's
Radisson 200 at Pikes Peak International Raceway.
Shrugging off blistering temperatures Saturday, Ray went 176.585
mph on his fastest of two laps to beat out Scott Sharp, who now has
qualified in the front row in three straight races and who won last
week's event in Texas.
|  | | Greg Ray grabbed an IRL record 12th pole on Saturday. |
Sharp had a best lap of 174.795.
Drivers and crews were hampered by an air temperature of 95
degrees and a track temperature of 142 degrees.
"I think it's expected to be at least three to five degrees
warmer (Sunday)," Ray said, "so the track temperature could
easily get to 150 degrees. That's very, very tough on race cars,
drivers and tires.
"When this track was pretty new, in 1997 or 1998, the surface
temperature got to 155 degrees, and that's as hot as any tire
manufacturer has seen. Once it goes beyond 140, it's really
tough."
Ray, 34, of Plano, Texas, has enjoyed considerable success at
PPIR, winning four poles and two races.
"I have no idea," Ray said when asked to explain his good
fortune here. "I know we have a vastly different qualifying setup
and race car setup than we had two years ago. It's a combination of
everything. We have good people, good setups, good motors.
"And I feel like I have a pretty good feel for the race track
itself. It takes that little bit of confidence and feel of the race
track to be that last little bit of quick. We've just been very
fortunate."
Ray also has made a habit of vacationing in the area with his
family during the week leading up to the race.
"We always spend a week of vacation here," he said. "We go
hiking, do all the great things there are to do here."
Sam Hornish Jr., the IRL season standings leader, will start on
the inside of the second row after qualifying at 174.589. Robbie
Buhl will be beside him at 174.213.
Buddy Lazier and Mark Dismore will occupy the third row after
qualifying at 173.566 and 173.494, respectively.
Japan's Shigeaki Hattori spun and tapped the wall on his second
qualifying lap, but his first lap of 173.169 put him in the fourth
row. That car is expected to be repaired in time for the race.
Hattori, who earlier in the day brushed the wall in practice
with his other car, was taken to Penrose Hospital for observation
after his second mishap.
Jaques Lazier also spun out on a warmup lap but failed to hit
anything, and he came back later to qualify at 171.783 for a spot
in the seventh row.
Sarah Fisher had a slow warmup time in her first qualifying
attempt. She pulled in, had a fuel injector problem corrected and
returned to the track, qualifying in the eighth row at 170.716.
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