Trans-Am Qualifying Report and Results from Pike's Peak
27 September 1997
KENDALL FASTEST FOR PIKES PEAK INTERNATIONAL RACEWAY TRANS-AM FOUNTAIN, Colo. _ Tom Kendall, driving the No. 11 All Sport Body Quencher Ford Mustang Cobra, earned his 10th Trans-Am pole of the year, setting yet another record in his historic romp through the 1997 season after breaking a four-way tie for the most poles in a single season also shared by Mark Donohue (1968), Scott Pruett (1987) and Scott Sharp (1993). "The most poles in a season is something I really wanted," said Kendall. "In 1990 we had a good shot at it and not getting it that year kind of ate at me. Regarding PPIR, I really like this track--you're limited in what you can do inside a one-mile oval and I think they've done a great job here. It's a fun, fun course." Kendall, of Santa Monica, posted a time of 0:52.575 (88.262 mph) 0.315-second faster than second-fastest qualifier Paul Gentilozzi, in the No. 5 RISO Chevrolet Camaro. "There is really only one line around the track, and there is lots of rubber and marbles off that line," said Gentilozzi. "I love the banking--it's almost enough to make me a convert to oval racing." Dorsey Schroeder was third fastest at 0:53.136 (87.330 mph), followed by Brian Simo and Mike Borkowski. "This is my first time at this track--first time for all of us--and I really love the oval part of it," said Schroeder. "It's a demanding course. The banking isn't flat out and it requires a lot of technique." Following the Trans-Am's random drawing for the Goodyear Fast Five top-five qualifiers, Borkowski will start first, followed by Schroeder, Gentilozzi, Simo and Kendall. FOUNTAIN, Colo. -- Starters for Saturday's 73-lap, 94.097-mile Children's Hospital Grand Prix of Colorado Trans-Am Championship race at Pikes Peak International Raceway, with starting position after the random drawing for the Goodyear Fast Five top-five qualifiers, car number in parenthesis, driver, hometown, car, time and speed in miles-per-hour. 1. (4), Mike Borkowski, Middlebury, Conn., Ford Mustang Cobra, 0:53.511, 86.718. 2. (12), Dorsey Schroeder, Osage Beach, Mo., Ford Mustang Cobra, 0:53.136, 87.330. 3. (5), Paul Gentilozzi, Lansing, Mich., Chevrolet Camaro, 0:52.890, 87.736. 4. (22), Brian Simo, Carlsbad, Calif., Ford Mustang Cobra, 0:53.261, 87.125. 5. (11), Tom Kendall, Santa Monica, Calif., Ford Mustang Cobra, 0:52.575, 88.262. 6. (6), Greg Pickett, Alamo, Calif., Chevrolet Camaro, 0:53.826, 86.211. 7. (55), Michael Lewis, San Diego, Calif., Ford Mustang Cobra, 0:53.827, 86.209. 8. (64), John W. Miller IV, Johnson City, Tenn., Chevrolet Camaro, 0:54.010, 85.917. 9. (8), Bill Saunders, Dallas, Texas, Chevrolet Camaro, 0:54.518, 85.116. 10. (66), Leighton Reese, Eden Prairie, Minn., Pontiac Grand Prix, 0:54.526, 85.104. 11. (83), Max Lagod, Barrington, Ill., Chevrolet Camaro, 0:54.582, 85.017. 12. (7), R.J. Valentine, Hingham, Mass., Chevrolet Camaro, 0:54.622,84.954. 13. (15), Dino Crescentini, Torrance, Calif., Chevrolet Camaro, 0:54.658, 84.898. 14. (70), Peter Shea, Newport Beach, Calif., Chevrolet Camaro, 0:55.000, 84.370. 15. (23), Bob Ruman, Monroe Falls, Ohio, Chevrolet Camaro, 0:55.250, 83.989. 16. (40), Tim McAdam, Vail, Colo., Chevrolet Camaro, 0:55.650, 83.385. 17. (34), Bruce Barkelew, Columbia, Mo., Chevrolet Camaro, 0:56.100, 82.716. 18. (72), Ray Genick, Waterford, Mich., Chevrolet Camaro, 0:56.181, 82.597. 19. (13), C.David Seuss, Charleston, Mass., Oldsmobile, 0:56.200, 82.569. 20. (09), Vic Rice, San Rafael, Calif., Chevrolet MonteCarlo, 0:56.526, 82.093. 21. (84), Christopher Neville, Scottsdale, Ariz., Pontiac Grand Prix, 0:56.538, 82.075. 22. (42), Jim Briody, Cherry Hill, N.J., Chevrolet Camaro, 0:57.921, 80.116. 23. (53), Bob Carter, Danville, Calif., Oldsmobile Cutlass, 0:58.143, 79.810. 24. (65), Nelson Richardson, Novato, Calif., Chevrolet MonteCarlo, 0:58.200, 79.731. 25. (58), Len Gilmore, Colorado Springs, Colo., Chevrolet Beretta, 0:58.636, 79.139. 26. (90), Jim Maguire, Glendale, Ariz., Chevrolet Camaro, 0:58.739, 79.000. 27. (47), Frank Cioppettini Jr., Morristown, N.J., Chevrolet Camaro, 0:58.958, 78.706. 28. (99), Jack Skibo, Chico, Calif., Ford Thunderbird, 0:59.637, 77.810. 29. (91), Brad Smith, Riverside, Calif., Pontiac, 1:00.437, 76.780. 30. (73), Ronald Luks, Tucson, Ariz., Pontiac Grand Prix, 1:00.649, 76.512.