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IRL: Dismore has Eye on Pole After Dominating Pikes Peak Practice

15 August 1998

FOUNTAIN, Colo., Aug. 14, 1998 - Mark Dismore dominated the opening practice for the Radisson 200 on Friday, leading all drivers with an unofficial track record speed of 178.386 mph on the 1-mile oval at Pikes Peak International Raceway.

Dismore was more than 2 mph faster than Tony Stewart, the second fastest among the 26 drivers entered in the Pep Boys Indy Racing League event. Stewart's best speed was 175.704 mph in the Glidden-Menards-Special Dallara/Aurora/Firestone.

"Honestly, I can't believe it," Dismore said. "I don't know what's going on, but I like it. I hope it stays this way for the next four races."

Dismore's speed in the Kelley Automotive Dallara/Aurora/Goodyear was faster than the track record of 176.117 mph set by his teammate, Scott Sharp, last year while Sharp drove for A.J. Foyt. Dismore and Sharp joined a new team, Kelley Racing, before this season.

Oldsmobile Pole Day qualifying for the PPG Pole starts at noon (MDT) Saturday. Dismore will try to earn the first pole of his Pep Boys Indy Racing League career. The second annual Radisson 200 starts at 2 p.m. (MDT) Sunday.

"I hope we're able to come out here, and we'll have the same race car as today," Dismore said. "There's no guarantees for that. But now it sure looks good."

Davey Hamilton was third fastest at 175.387 in the Reebok-Nienhouse Motorsports G Force/Aurora/Goodyear. Hamilton is third in the points standings, behind leader Sharp and second-place Stewart.

Robbie Buhl and Billy Boat, both returning after two-race layoffs, were fourth and fifth fastest, respectively.

Buhl's best speed was 175.021 in the Johns Manville-Menards-Special Dallara/Aurora/Firestone. He missed the Pep Boys 400K on July 19 at Dover, Del., and the VisionAire 500 on July 25 at Charlotte, N.C., because team owner John Menard entered a car only for Stewart, Buhl's teammate.

Boat's best speed was 174.876 in his backup Conseco Dallara/Aurora/Goodyear owned by four-time Indianapolis 500 winner A.J. Foyt. Boat missed the Pep Boys 400K and VisionAire 500 due to a broken left leg and a fractured pelvis suffered in an accident during the New England 200 on June 28 at Loudon, N.H.

Scott Goodyear was unhurt Friday when his Pennzoil Panther G Force/Aurora/Goodyear hit the outside wall in Turn 4 during the closing moments of the morning practice. Goodyear returned to the track during the afternoon practice in his backup car.

RADISSON 200 NOTEBOOK

Event schedule: The second annual Radisson 200 is scheduled to start at 2 p.m. (MDT) Aug. 16. PPG Pole qualifying starts at noon Aug. 15.

Pep Boys Indy Racing League practice sessions will start at 9:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Aug. 15.

Broadcast schedule: The Radisson 200 will be televised live on ABC at 4 p.m. (EDT) Aug. 16. PPG Pole qualifying will be televised live on SpeedVision at 2 p.m. (EDT) Aug. 15.

The IMS Radio Network will broadcast the race live at 4 p.m. (EDT) Aug. 16, with a prerace show starting at 3:30 p.m. A 30-minute qualifying highlights show will start at 5:30 p.m. (EDT) Aug. 15.

Radisson 200 tickets: Tickets for the Radisson 200 are available by calling Pikes Peak International Raceway at (888) 306-7223 or (888) 511-PPIR.