Newman Sets Track Record

LIME ROCK, Conn. — Actor Paul Newman starred in a Nissan 300ZX Turbo today, setting a track record for qualifying at Lime Rock Park to capture the pole position for the $55,000 Nissan Trans-Am.

Driving for the Bob Sharp Racing team, Newman, 60, zipped around the twisting 1.53-mile circuit in 53.69 seconds for an average speed of 102.595 m.p.h. during the first heat of qualifying for Saturday’s race. The time was 3.2 seconds better than the previous record, which was set in 1981.