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Kelley Racing Quickest at 'Test in the West'

6 March 1998

Kelley Racing Quickest at 'Test in the West'

    PHOENIX, March 6 -- Scott Sharp set another unofficial track
record Thursday, Feb. 26 at the Indy Racing League's "Test in the West" at
Phoenix International Raceway.  Sharp (#8) set the new mark with a time of
20.584 seconds, a speed of 174.893 mph on the one mile oval.
    "Right out of the box the car was a dream to drive.  It is a backup car,
but it won't necessarily always be a backup car.  We finally got a chance to
get this car out and really run it.  If we ever need to run it, it's all ready
to go," said Sharp.
    Sharp's first unofficial track record of the year came in January testing
for the Disney IRL race.  Sharp captured sixth place in the first race of the
season after an altercation with another car sent car #8 to the pits for a new
front wing.
    Teammate Mark Dismore (#28) was sixth fastest at the "Test in the West"
with a time of 21.120 and an average speed of 170.455.  Dismore set his quick
time on Thursday after missing the early session on Wednesday.  Mark said,
"The car is hooked up.  We learned a lot and we'll be ready to run up front
when we return in three weeks."
    Mark finished fifth at Disney after leading 27 laps late in the race.  A
gamble on fuel nearly paid off with a win in the first race of the 1998 Pep
Boys - Indy Racing League season.
    Kelley Racing tested in preparation for the Dura-Lube 200 scheduled for
March 22 at Phoenix International Raceway.  ABC will broadcast the race live
at 4 p.m. EST.

SOURCE  Kelley Racing