Zanardi Takes Provisional Pole for Monterey Race

Defending champion Alex Zanardi took the provisional pole for Sunday’s Toyota Grand Prix of Monterey with a lap of 117.895 mph in his Reynard-Honda during qualifying Friday at Laguna Seca Raceway.

Zanardi, who won last year’s race with a last-lap pass in the dirt of Bryan Herta, failed to better his year-old pole record of 118.475 mph over the 2.238-mile road course.

Gil de Ferran, the only driver other than Zanardi with a chance of winning the PPG CART series championship, is sixth at 116.520 mph. Another round of qualifying today will set the field for Sunday’s race.