Montoya sets provisional pole

[KC]

During the midday qualifying on pole day for Indy, Montoya took the field by storm during worsening conditions and showed the pure skill that has steaded him well in CART. Eliseo Salazar set pole earlier this morning and the weather has become more and more overcast in Indiana holding back all others from catching his time. Track temperatures had peaked at a mere 75F before dropping from the overcast skies. Arie Luyendyck commented that a driver with Montoya's skill on cold tires could possibly take pole and that's how he did it. His opening lap was already faster than Salazar's average over four laps. Montoya went on to post about 1/2mph faser than the next closest. Vasser went out just after Montoya and finished 5th. Other driver of notice include Al Unser Jr. in 13th and Sarah Fisher in 14th. If the weather continues its coolness and overcast as it appears to be doing, these times will most likely hold. After 5:00pm today, all cars already accepting their qualifying times will be locked in and only one more day, Bubble Day, will remain to enter the field.

[This message has been edited by KC (edited 20 May 2000).]