Zanardi posts fastest qualifying time

Zanardi posts fastest qualifying time
Surfers Paradise, Australia
April 4, 1997

Alex Zanardi remained in strong contention for a record sixth consecutive PPG Cart series pole position after Friday's first round of qualifying at the Australian IndyCarnival. The Italian, cleared to compete hours earlier by CART medical officials after a bout with conjunctivitis, an eye infection, was more than a second faster than Christian Fittipaldi. Zanardi, who tied the record held by Mario Andretti and Danny Sullivan by winning the pole March 3 at Miami, where he finished seventh, also is aiming for his 10th straight front-row position for Sunday's race over the 2.795-mile Surfers Paradise temporary street circuit. Zanardi's speed of 104.643 mph could stand up for race day as rain was forecast for Saturday's second and final qualifying session. Zanardi was examined by Dr. Steve Olvey, CART's director of medical affairs, on Friday and was told that his infection was not serious enough to keep him out of his Reynard Honda. Fittipaldi had a speed of 103.478 mph in a Swift Ford. Scott Pruett was third fastest, followed by Mauricio Gugelmin of Brazil, Miami winner Michael Andretti and defending champion Jimmy Vasser. On Thursday, Zanardi saw a doctor, who prescribed eye drops. "I can see quite well now, there's no pain," Zanardi said. "Probably the adrenaline of racing has helped more than anything." Zanardi said his car still wasn't perfect. "We think we have identified a way to make it slightly better for tomorrow," he said. "Last year the circuit was about two seconds better on the second day of qualifying. I wouldn't be surprised to see a lap two seconds faster." Sunday's race will be 65 laps, a distance of 181.765 miles.