Pruett, Arciero-Wells Team Find a Strategy for Success

Champ car driver Scott Pruett has really taken off in recent weeks under the direction of race engineer John Dick. Pruett struggled after race engineer Kenny Anderson left Rancho Santa Margarita-based Arciero-Wells Racing in the month before the season began; Dick wasn’t hired as the team’s chief race strategist until after the Grand Prix of Long Beach, the third race in the championship series.

Pruett’s seventh-place finish Saturday at Laguna Seca was his third top-10 finish in the last seven races. In that span, he established the highest qualifying positions for any Toyota-powered car on oval (fifth, Michigan), road (eighth, Laguna Seca) and temporary street courses (11th, Toronto).

“It took some time to jell,” team owner Cal Wells III said. “We’re not there yet, but I expect by next year, he and his engineer will get it figured out. I expect [Pruett and Cristiano da Matta] to be a formidable team.”

In the first 10 events of the 20-race season, Pruett was as good as 15th only once; in the last seven races, he has been 14th or better five times.

Toyota, which makes its racing engines in Costa Mesa, is still seeking its first podium finish.

INDY RACING LEAGUE

Team owner Dick Simon of Dana Point will have Stephan Gregoire drive around Dana Point Harbor Drive at 11 a.m. Tuesday in his Indy Racing League car.

The Dick Simon Racing team will be on hand for autographs and to answer questions at the Orange County Marine Institute parking lot. The team will race Sept. 26 in Las Vegas.

SPEEDWAY

Saturday’s Speedway card, Legends of Speedway, includes racing by Sonny Nutter, Dubb Farrell, Don Odom, Doug Nicol and Steve Columbo.

Wild Bill Cody, Billy Gray, Bruce Penhall, Dennis Sigalos and Scott Sivadge are among others who will be on hand from 6:30 to 7:30 to sign autographs. Racing begins at 7:30. Gray, who played Bud in the television series “Father Knows Best,” raced off and on from 1972 to 1992.

SCORE OFF-ROAD

The fourth SCORE Las Vegas Primm 300 in Primm, Nev., took place Saturday, and local winners included San Clemente’s Jeff Lewis (Class 7), who remained unbeaten in five races; Dana Point’s Cory Susag and Lake Forest’s Doug Stewart (Class 7S), who took over first place in the series from Yorba Linda’s Bruce Landfield (who finished fourth and dropped to second overall); Brea’s Tim Casey (Stock Mini) and Cypress’ Scott Steinberger (Protruck)

Casey is within six points of series leader Rob Reinerston, and Steinberger leads his class by two points.