A Traffic-Free Lap of 90.318 M.P.H. Gives the Provisional Pole to Sullivan
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Indianapolis 500 winner Danny Sullivan, catching a traffic-free lap late in Friday’s qualifying, won the provisional pole position for Sunday’s Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach with a lap at 90.318 m.p.h.
Sullivan’s speed was nearly a mile faster than second-place Al Unser Jr.’s 89.578, but despite ideal conditions--it was cool, windless and overcast--Sullivan’s speed was shy of the record 92.190 set last year by Mario Andretti.
Andretti, who will attempt to win his third straight race through the streets of Long Beach, was third fastest Friday at 89.195.
Sullivan blamed a minor change in the 1.67-mile course for the slower speeds.
“I’m disappointed in the changes,” he said. “The track had a little bit of character where it came out from the Hyatt garage, but now instead of a quick zig-zag where you could set up a guy for a pass on the back straight, there are a couple of 90-degree angles where all you have is a drag race.”
A final qualifying session is scheduled for 11:45 a.m. today to set the field for Sunday’s 2 p.m. race.
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