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Brazilian Takes Disney F2000 Pole

23 January 1998

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- Thiago Bezerra, of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, took the pole position for Friday's 50-lap, 50.0-mile U.S. F2000 National Championship race at Walt Disney World Speedway, part of the Pep Boys Indy Racing League Indy 200 Weekend.

Bezerra, driving the No. 50 Himafe/Beta Tatuus, turned a lap of 28.661 seconds (125.606 mph) to break the existing qualifying record of 28.666 seconds (125.584 mph), set by Buddy Rice in 1997.

"I like the ovals very much," said Bezerra. "The Tatuus RC team has worked very hard, and we are happy to get the pole. I hope to be in the same position tomorrow at this time."

Robby McGehee, of St. Louis, Mo., qualified second in the No. 2 Energizer Van Diemen with a time of 28.894 seconds (124.645 mph). McGehee led the first 33 laps of the Disney race in 1997, and looks to improve upon his third-place finish.

"We went with Conti Racing's well-sorted 1997 Van Diemen, and I think it was a good choice," said McGehee. "I'm real comfortable in the car and at this track, so I expect us to be up front by the end of the race."

Duncan Dayton, of North Salem, N.Y., qualified third in the No. 4 Highcroft Racing Bowman -- making it three different chassis in the first three qualifying positions.

"We (the Bowman's) are the newest things out here, and aren't as developed as the Tatuuses and Van Diemens," said Dayton. "I just had to go out there and stand on it. In tomorrow's race, it'll be interesting to see how the different cars will run for 50 laps."

Jeff Horne, of Valencia, Calif., and Jon Herb, of Indianapolis, Ind., completed the top-five. Cycling legend Greg LeMond turned in his career-best qualifying effort as he continues his transition from two wheels to four, and will start 16th tomorrow.

The top-20 qualifiers are locked into position. Positions 21-34 will be determined in a "Last Chance" race Friday, and the final two spots will be promoter's options.

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- Qualifying results for Friday's 50-lap, 50.0-mile U.S. F2000 National Championship race, part of the Indy 200 Weekend at Walt Disney World Speedway, with starting position, car number in parenthesis, driver, hometown, class, car, time and speed in miles-per-hour. Positions 1-20 are final, positions 21-36 will be determined following Friday's "Last Chance" race.

Top 25 In Qualifying:

   1, (50), Thiago Bezerra, RioDeJaneiro, Brazil, F2A, Tatuus Ford, 0:28.661, 125.606.
   2, (2), Robby McGehee, St. Louis, Mo., F2A, Van Diemen Ford, 0:28.882, 124.645.
   3, (4), Duncan Dayton, North Salem, N.Y., F2A, Bowman BC5 Ford, 0:28.894, 124.593.
   4, (16), Jeff Horne, Valencia, Calif., F2A, Van Diemen Ford, 0:28.982, 124.215.
   5, (77), Jon Herb, Indianapolis, Ind., F2A, Van Diemen Ford, 0:29.084, 123.779.
   6, (99), Tom Wood, Calgary Alberta, CD, F2A, Van Diemen Ford, 0:29.127, 123.596.
   7, (28), Jonathan Bottoms, Buffalo, N.Y., F2A, Van Diemen Ford, 0:29.203, 123.275.
   8, (7), Sam Hornish Jr., Defiance, Ohio, F2A, Van Diemen Ford, 0:29.210, 123.245.
   9, (34), Tim Duit, Edmond, Okla., F2A, Van Diemen Ford, 0:29.296, 122.883.
 10, (5), Andy Lally, Northport, N.Y., F2A, Bowman BC5 Ford, 0:29.332, 122.732.
 11, (88), Ryan Hampton, Glendora, Calif., F2A, Tatuus Ford, 0:29.398, 122.457.
 12, (25), Christian Coggins, Atlanta, Ga., F2A, Van Diemen Ford, 0:29.433, 122.311.
 13, (14), Larry Foyt, Houston, Texas, F2A, Van Diemen Ford, 0:29.462, 122.191.
 14, (12), Ryan Walker, Okernos, Mich., F2A, Van Diemen Ford, 0:29.506, 122.009.
 15, (3), Jeff Shafer, N. Hollywood, Calif., F2A, Bowman BC5 Ford, 0:29.533, 121.897.
 16, (51), Greg LeMond, Medina, Minn., F2A, Van Diemen Ford, 0:29.613, 121.568.
 17, (24), Ryan Jones, Honeoye Falls, N.Y., F2A, Van Diemen Ford, 0:29.627, 121.510.
 18, (62), Seth Taylor, Austin, Texas, F2A, Van Diemen Ford, 0:29.668, 121.342.
 19, (6), Joey Scarallo, Hauppauge, N.Y., F2A, Van Diemen Ford, 0:29.694, 121.236.
 20, (22), James Yott, Montreal, Quebec, Can., F2A, Van Diemen Ford, 0:29.745, 121.028.
 21, (41), Jerry Foyt, Houston, Texas, F2A, Van Diemen Ford, 0:29.760, 120.967.
 22, (8), Mike Johnson, Orlando, Fla., F2B, Van Diemen Ford, 0:29.800, 120.805.
 23, (49), Howie Liebengood, Vienna, Va., F2B, Van Diemen Ford, 0:29.859, 120.566.
 24, (84), John Miller, Edina, Minn., F2A, Van Diemen Ford, 0:29.872, 120.514.
 25, (44), Steve Djelebian, Amherstburg, Ontario, Can., F2B, Van Diemen Ford,