rpm.espn.com: McRae takes commanding lead

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Friday, May 4
McRae takes commanding lead
Reuters

CORDOBA, Argentina – Britain's Colin McRae dominated the opening leg of the Rally of Argentina on Friday as the Ford driver took a commanding 41.4-second lead.

McRae, still without a point after four rounds of this year's world championship, won four of the day's six stages as he showed blistering pace on the abrasive Argentine gravel.


	Colin McRae took a commanding lead at the Rally of Argentina on Friday.

The Scot had a winning margin of 17.2 seconds on the 29.96-kilometer 'La Falda' run, the first stage of the day, before extending his overnight lead to finish the leg ahead of nearest rival Richard Burns in a Subaru.

"I'm pretty happy with things so far," McRae said. "Things felt good and I knew we were quick, but I was surprised at just how quick.

"It was difficult in the fog but the road conditions have dried out since the practice. The surface is quite hard and much better than we thought it would be and that is reflected in our times."

Briton Burns overcame a spin and power steering problems during the leg to remain well in touch in second spot, 15.9 seconds ahead of third-placed Carlos Sainz of Spain, McRae's teammate.

Brake problems
BRAKE PROBLEMS

Burns said: "I lost the power steering on stage five about one kilometer from the end and then I completed the next one without any back brakes.

"But I am confident of winning the event and I think we can catch Colin if everything goes okay."

While the two Britons took full advantage of their lowly starting road positions, other drivers struggled in changeable conditions after morning fog made driving difficult.

World championship leader Tommi Makinen had to contend with the disadvantage of being first on the road on each stage and finished the day more than a minute adrift of leader McRae in fourth spot.

Reigning world champion Marcus Gronholm ended the leg in sixth behind team-mate Didier Auriol after his Peugeot was struck down by turbocharger problems on the third and fourth stages.

Freddy Loix struggled in his Mitsubishi as he damaged his suspension after hitting a rock on the third stage, before losing a minute when he rolled his car on the seventh 'La Cumbre' run. The Belgian driver will start Saturday's penultimate leg in eighth position.

Hyundai driver Alister McRae fell out of contention when his engine cut out five times in the fifth run. The Scot then lost more than six minutes on the eighth stage.

The competitors face seven stages around the Santa Rosa de Calamuchita region, 110 kilometers south of the Cordoba base, on Saturday before they complete the penultimate leg.

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	Rally of Argentina leading times after one leg