SUZUKA -RIJ- Three Lap Qualifying has started at 11:30AM, Saturday in Japanese time.
(1) #1 Japanese Keiichi Tsuchiya started and marked 3'04.967, including one pit stop. His team's mechanics are all Japanese and first time to change tires and simulated re-fuel.
(2) #15 Wally Dallenbach's total time was 3'04.967 and sit on top of the timing monitor.
(3) #20 Japanese Kazuteru Wakida failed to stop at pit-stop-box on Lap 2 once and stopped again on Lap 3. His total time was 3'44.627. He was disqualified because of over-run at pit stop.
(4) #4 Sterling Marlin started and his Kodak color Chevy is fast, nice to drive on corners. His first lap time is 53.691! He stops at end of 2nd lap. 13.19 seconds for two tire change and simulated re-fuel. His total time is 2 seconds faster than Dallenbach until 2nd Lap. Finally he marked top time 3'03.616 and bumped off Dallenbach.
(5) #42 Robby Gordon, popular driver in Japan since he drove Ford GTO and rival of Mazda in IMSA, marked 54.378 on his Lap 1. Off Road track and IndyCar veteran's pit stop time was 13.260, current best time. His total time is 3'03.616, 3rd in total now. (Then he added 15 sec. penalty because his car run over hose of air wrench.)
(6) #28 Ernie Irvan started as 6th challenger. He slides wide at final turn on warm-up lap. He marks 54.298 on his lap 1. He stops on his lap 2. His pit stop time was 10.62 seconds, fastest pit stop time! His total time is 3'03.012, climbs to top on the leader board.
(7) #21 Michael Waltrip started and stops on his 1st lap. His pit stop time was 10.75 second. His CITGO Ford run well and marked 3'03.112, just 1/10 second slower than Irvan and 2nd in total now.
(8) #30 Johnny Benson's Pennzoil Pontiac started and run warm-up lap. He marked 53.670, 2nd best in one lap time list now. He stopped at end of 2nd lap. Re-start after pit work was slow! Engine stall! Mechanics pushed and engine fired again! His car slowed down on 3rd lap and entered into pit lane. He was disqualified because of over run at pit stop.
(9) #07 Lance Hooper started and marked 54.339 on his lap 1. His pit stop was slow because front tire change was needed long time. Mechanic failed to fasten nut... He started with big tire smoke, but his total time was 3'12.311, 6th position now.
(10) #88 Dale Jarrett started and got waving green flag after warm-up lap. He marked 54.305 on 1st lap. His pit stop time was 9.92 seconds and final total time was 3'04.699, 4th time in total.
(11) #38 Winston West veteran Butch Gilliland started and marked 54.895 on his lap 1. "Butch-Giri" means leave the others far behind in Japanese. If his name's pronounce is "Gi"lliland, his name would be the best familiar name for Japanese. Unfortunately, his name's pronunce is "Zi"lliland. His total time was 3'07.866, 6th on time monitor now.
(12) #5 Terry Labonte got green flag and run through main straight which is named Thunder Straight for NASCAS Suzuka. His lap time on 1st lap was 54.263. His Kellogg's Chevy's tale slid little at Anti-Bank Corner. His total time was 3'04.699, 5th in total now.
(13) #2 Rusty Wallace, started! In car camera of Wallace came in! You will be see his shift works tommorow via WTBS. He marked 53.678 second, current best one lap time! His pit stop was fast, 10.32 seconds. His final lap has been fast! 3'01.254! 1.758 second faster than Irvan!
(14) #45 Ron Hornaday, Jr. started and got waving green flag. His stopped at end of his 1st lap. He attacks twice on lap 2 and 3. His driving has been smooth... His total time was 3'07.745, 8th in current total line-up.
(15) #61 Rick Carelli slid off once and run over grass and dirt, but he managed to return to course. His Chevy run over hose of wrench. Penalty will be come. He likes to drive on dirt. His total time was 3'13.088, 11th in current standing, but penalty will be added.
(16) #31 Mike Skinner started and got green flag. He is one of masters of Suzuka's East Course after three practice session. His total time was 3'04.268, 5th in total now.
(17) #51 Scott Gaylord, known in Japan as a driver of Pikes Peak, spun on his 1st lap at exit of 1st turn. He recovered from near 360 degree spinning. His tire would have flat spot. His total time was 3'17.970, 13th in total.
(18) #95 David Green started qualifying attack. His driving is soft and smooth in back side corners area. He stopped on his 1st lap. He lost times at pit stop. His total time was 3'08.765, 11th in total now.
(19) #04 Hershel McGriff doesn't start becaue of crash in morning practice session.
(20) #37 Larry Gunselman got green flag. Most of drivers use 2nd gear on back side corner area and shift-up to 3rd and 4th from Final Turn to Thunder Straight. Oh! He spins at exit of 1st turn! He stops in gravel bed, but he could start again from gravel. He brought sand on course from gravel bed. His total time was 3'24.419, 17th in total now.
(21) #02 Japanese Akihiko Nakaya started. His team director and teacher is Jeff Gordon's father. He stopped on his 1st lap. 10.44 seconds for pit stop, fast. Pit work was good. Former Japanese Touring Car Champion and journalist for automobile magazines drives big two eyes painted Ford, same sponsor with Japanese NHRA Drag racing driver Kenji Okazaki. Nakaya marked 3'07.495, 8th in total after 20 cars have finished qualifyings. (He was added 3 seconds because one tire nut was loose. His position changed to 12th).
(22) #03 Joe Bean stopped on his 2nd lap. His pit stop was slow... His total time was 3'282, 16 in total now.
(23) #77 Bobby Hillin started. He has been weaving to warm tires on warm-up lap. He stooped on his 2nd lap. Front tire's impact wrench was not worked and lost times... He got checkered flag. His total time was 3'14.358, 15th in total now.
(24) #24 Jeff Gordon got green flags after warm-up lap! His DuPont Chevy stopped at end of his 1st lap. His pit stop time was 12.99 seconds. He pushed hard in corners area. He continued attack and attack.... His total time was 3'01.893, 0.639 second slower than temporary pole sitter Wallace and got temporary front row. (Gordon's mechanic passed his wrench to another crue. It brought 3 seconds penalty and down to 8th.)
(25) #23 Japanese Hideo Fukuyama started with Smokin' Joe Ford. His face looks like Smokin' Joe and could got Camel's sponsor! In car Camera came in. Japanese veteran in touring car, GT car and Le Mans 24 Hours races. His total time was 3'10.093, 13th in total. (Added 6 seconds penalty and down to 18th).
(26) #12 Dan Obrist did not start.
(27) #3 Dale Earnhardt, final attacker, marked fastest one lap time 53.542 second on his 1st lap. His total time was 3'02.421, 1.167 second slower than Wallace. His left rear tire is flat on cool down lap. He slowed down and stopped at entrance of Esse Trun. He got off from car and checked tire.
Japanese fans are calling "Dale!" from stand. Earnhardt waved his hand with smiling.
On timing monitor, Earnhardt's position down to 9th because of penalty. He run over hose of wrench.
All times are not official. I'll post Starting Line-ups as soon as possible. Robby Gordon was not disqualified, just added penalty times.
Wallace, Irvan, Narlin, Skinner, Jarrett, Labonte, Jeff Gordon, Earnhardt and Hornaday, Jr. are top 10 on timing monitor.
NASCAR SUZUKA 96-11-23:
THUNDER SPECIAL 100 WEATHER FINE
NASCAR QUALIFYING 3 LAPS COURSE DRY
Pos No Driver TYPE SPONSOR TIME DELAY LAP
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
1 2 Rusty Wallace Ford Miller 3'01.254 2/ 2
2 28 Ernie Irvan Ford Havoline 3'03.012 1.758 2/ 2
3 21 Michael Waltrip Ford Citgo 3'03.112 1.858 2/ 2
4 4 Sterling Marlin Chevy Kodak Film 3'03.616 2.362 2/ 2
5 31 Mike Skinner Chevy Snap-on Tools 3'04.268 3.014 2/ 2
6 88 Dale Jarrett Ford Quality Care 3'04.699 3.445 2/ 2
7 5 Terry Labonte Chevy Kellogg's 3'04.699 3.445 2/ 2
8 24 Jeff Gordon Chevy DuPont 3'04.893 3.639 2/ 2
9 3 Dale Earnhardt Chevy AC Delco 3'05.421 4.167 2/ 2
10 45 Ron Hornaday,Jr Chevy Tootsietoy 3'07.745 6.491 2/ 2
11 38 Butch Gilliland Ford Pro Insulation 3'07.866 6.612 2/ 2
12 15 Wally Dallenbach Ford Hayes Modem 3'07.967 6.713 2/ 2
13 95 David Green Chevy Caterpillar 3'08.765 7.511 2/ 2
14 102 Akihiko Nakaya Ford US&Nippon Chal 3'10.495 9.241 2/ 2
15 107 Lance Hooper Pontiac Cinema Vehicle 3'12.311 11.057 2/ 2
16 1 Keiichi Tsuchiya Ford Japan Challenge 3'13.287 12.033 2/ 2
17 77 Bobby Hillin Ford Federal Mogul 3'14.358 13.104 2/ 2
18 23 Hideo Fukuyama Ford Camel Powered 3'16.093 14.839 2/ 2
19 50 Scott Gaylord Chevy BMR Motorsports 3'17.970 16.716 2/ 2
20 103 Joe Bean Chevy Calif Precision 3'18.282 17.028 2/ 2
21 42 Robby Gordon Pontiac Tonka 3'20.539 19.285 2/ 2
22 61 Rick Carelli Chevy RE/MAX 3'22.088 20.834 2/ 2
23 37 Larry Gunselman Ford Olson Technol 3'24.419 23.165 2/ 2
24 20 Kazuteru Wakida Ford Suzuka Chal D.N.Q. 0/ 1
25 30 Johnny Benson Pontiac Pennzoil D.N.Q. 0/ 1
12 Dan Obrist Chevy Doernbecher D.N.S. 0
104 Hershel McGriff Chevy DANA Corp D.N.S. 0
Penalty Types
Crew over wall too soon 5 sec/man.
Lug nuts missing/loose 3 sec/nut.
Driving over/under air hose 3 sec.
Overshooting pit Disqualified.
Penalty Summary
Car Penalty
15 Air Gun.
20 Overshoot.
42 Roll Tire (15 sec).
30 Overshoot.
61 Air hose and 2 nuts.
02 1 nut.
24 Air Gun.
23 2 nuts.
3 Air hose.
SUZUKA -RIJ- First NASCAR stock car race has held first time at home of Japanese motor sports that Suzuka International Circuit and Rusty Wallace wins the 100 lap The NASCAR Thunder Special 100 race from pole position.
Wallace drove No.2 Miller Ford and led until Lap 39 of First Segment, but he slowed down before checkered flag.
"It was break," said Wallace after race. While he run in First Segment, his break became too hot and he slowed down to keep break for Second Segment. "We took off tape of break between both segments and it kept break cool."
"I thought passing would be difficult on narrow track. But I found I could pass between Turn-1 and 2," continued Wallace. "Suzuka is very safe track. I run off at Turn-1 once in Practice, but I could return to track again without any damage. Gravels on run off is safer than grass of American road course."
"We worried about weather. But we could run under beautiful sky. All drivers worried Japanese fans understood our race. But Japanese fans were cheering to all drivers. If I didn't win, I would be happy to race in Japan, too," said Wallace, too.
Gravel bed is FIA's safety standard for Formula One and other FIA sanctioned racings. Formula One, F3000 cars have to stop if they run wide on gravel, because they don't have battery. Run-off means retirement in European style racing, especially open wheel racings.
Dale Earnhardt in AC Delco Ford finished at second, 1.192 second behind from Wallace. 1995 Winston Cup Champion Jeff Gordon in DuPont Chevy chased hard Earnhardt on final lap after yellow, but he failed to pass Earnhardt.
Already American fans watched live TV via TBS. Kenji Momota, former Indianapolis 500 challenger and run NASCAR Super Truck twice last year, worked hard on track and pit as first Japanese pit reporter for US TV. Maybe, He covered actions of four Japanese drivers. Keiichi Tsuchiya, Hideo Fukuyama, Akihiko Nakaya and Kazuteru Wakida were happy to race with NASCAR drivers.
"Race was tough, but drivers manners were very good. If we did same competitions in Japanese touring car race, there would be more collision or crash," said Japanese drift-king Keiichi Tsuchiya.
38,000 spectators, including several hundreds American fans who came from US bases and cities in Japan, enjoyed first full American race in Japan. Already, NHRA Drag Racing teams showed their performance in Japan and Japanese drag racing series had started. Japanese drag series has been growing and over 50,000 fans attended to each events at Fuji Speedway or Osaka's temporary course. Next year, first Japanese oval track and road course complex facilities the Twin Ring Motegi will open in August, 1997. PPG IndyCar race will be held in 1998 at Motegi. American motor sports will bring new sports winds and cultures over Pacific Ocean as well as NBA, NFL or Baseball games.
NASCAR SUZUKA 96-11-24:
THUNDER SPECIAL 100 WEATHER FINE
NASCAR PROVISIONAL RESULTS COURSE DRY
Pos No Driver TYPE SPONSOR LAP $$ Status
---------------------------------------------------------------------
1 2 Rusty Wallace Ford Miller 100 130,940 Running
2 3 Dale Earnhardt Chevy AC Delco 100 81,500 Running
3 24 Jeff Gordon Chevy DuPont 100 89,840 Running
4 5 Terry Labonte Chevy Kellogg's 100 39,300 Running
5 15 Wally Dallenbach Ford Hayes Modem 100 17,500 Running
6 30 Johnny Benson Pontiac Pennzoil 100 14,500 Running
7 77 Bobby Hillin Ford Federal Mogul 100 12,500 Running
8 31 Mike Skinner Chevy Snap-on Tools 100 11,500 Running
9 61 Rick Carelli Chevy RE/MAX 100 10,950 Running
10 38 Butch Gilliland Ford Pro Insulation 100 13,700 Running
11 07 Lance Hooper Pontiac Cinema Vehicle 100 10,850 Running
12 95 David Green Chevy Caterpillar 100 10,800 Running
13 88 Dale Jarrett Ford Quality Care 100 10,750 Running
14 28 Ernie Irvan Ford Havoline 100 13,200 Running
15 1 Keiichi Tsuchiya Ford Japan Challenge 100 11,150 Running
16 4 Sterling Marlin Chevy Kodak Film 99 10,400 Accident
17 42 Robby Gordon Pontiac Tonka 99 10,550 Running
18 02 Akihiko Nakaya Ford US&Nippon Chal 98 10,500 Running
19 50 Scott Gaylord Chevy BMR Motorsports 98 10,450 Running
20 45 Ron Hornaday,Jr Chevy Tootsietoy 93 10,550 Running
21 20 Kazuteru Wakida Ford Suzuka Chal 93 10,350 Running
22 23 Hideo Fukuyama Ford Camel Powered 89 10,300 Accident
23 37 Larry Gunselman Ford Olson Technol 74 10,250 Running
24 12 Dan Obrist Chevy Doernbecher 45 10,200 Running
25 04 Hershel McGriff Chevy DANA Corp 23 10,350 Engine
26 21 Michael Waltrip Ford Citgo 8 10,100 Transmission
27 03 Joe Bean Chevy Calif Precision 0 10,050 Oil pressure
Fastest Qualifier: Rusty Wallace
Qualifying Time: 181.254 Sec/3:01.254
Qualifying Speed: 83.08 MPH
Time of Race: 6,985 Sec/1H56:25
Ave Speed: 71.897 MPH
Margine of Victory: 1.192 Sec
Prize Money: $422,500
Lap Leaders:
Led Changes/ 3 leaders
#2, 1- 38
#24, 39- 50
#5, 51- 54
#2, 55-100
Cautions:
4 Cautions For 18 Laps
Lap
8-12
25-30
85-87
91-94