Rain Lets Up in Time for Pruett to Gain Pole

The rain let up just in time for Scott Pruett to outduel Gil de Ferran for the pole in the Budweiser-G.I. Joe’s 200 Indy-car race Saturday at Portland, Ore.

Christian Fittipaldi, driving with a 14-inch steel rod in his left leg in his first race since he was seriously injured in a crash two months ago, qualified third, a six-place jump from his position after Friday’s provisional qualifying.

De Ferran, who took the pole away from Pruett in the second day of qualifying for the Detroit Grand Prix two weeks ago, almost did it again with a 119.126-mph lap near the end of the qualifying session.

On the very next lap, Pruett’s Ford-powered Reynard took the pole back at 119.246.

Both broke the Portland International Raceway road course record of 118.834 mph set by Pruett in Friday’s first qualifying session.

When it was over, Pruett, with the second pole of his Indy-car career, climbed out of his car in the winner’s circle and hugged De Ferran.

“For the fans, I think that was an awesome show,” Pruett said. “At least for us, in my seat, it was tough, it was tense and your nerves are on edge.”

Pruett, looking for his third career Indy-car victory and second this year, said his recent duels with de Ferran exemplifies the competitiveness of the CART series.

Fittipaldi, taking pain pills at prescribed times so it would not affect his driving, had to brake with his left foot and couldn’t lift his right foot all the way off the accelerator.

Fittipaldi is known as a good driver on a wet track.

The drivers were able to test their rain tires on a wet track during the morning practice session, and Pruett said the new Firestone rain tire held up well.

A downpour left the track wet for Saturday’s first qualifying session, which featured slower cars on rain tires. None bettered his Friday speed and several spun off the track.

When the second qualifying session began, Pruett sat in his idle car to see whether the provisional pole he earned Friday would be threatened. The affirmative answer came in a hurry, and Pruett was back on the track in time to retake the spot.

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Ron Hornaday stayed in front, and away from trouble, as he led flag to flag in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Loadhandler 200 at Bristol, Tenn.

Hornaday earned his second victory of 1997, worth $37,975, in edging series points-leader Rich Bickle by 1.536 seconds. He pulled away from Bickle in the final three laps around the 0.533-mile high-banked oval, following the 11th caution period of an accident-plagued race.