Pruett Seems To Have Inside Track On First U.S. 500

Scott Pruett, who won the last Indy-car race at Michigan International Speedway, showed Saturday that he might be a man to watch in the inaugural U.S. 500.

In the final practice for today’s race, Pruett had the fastest car. He pushed his Lola-Ford Cosworth around the 2-mile oval at 232.885 mph, which was just a tick faster than the 232.025 which earned Jimmy Vasser the pole two weeks ago.

“We were plagued with a lot of problems during qualifying, a lot of engine problems,” said Pruett, who will start on the outside of Row 3. “It was real frustrating. But this week, things have gone up without a hitch. The car has been fabulous. I can’t believe it. So have the tires.”

Vasser, the PPG Cup points leader with three victories in five starts this season, had the second-fastest practice lap, turning a 232.534 in his Reynard-Honda.

“It seems like every time we run here, it’s been cool,” Vasser said. “A temperature change effects the race car. But, we have a lot of data for running at all kinds of conditions. So we can change, depending on how we have to run.”

Pruett, whose qualifying time for this race was 227.718, won his only Indy-car race in 1995 when he nosed out Al Unser Jr. in the second-closest Indy-car race since 1930.

“If you’re not a bit careful with your car, you won’t finish,” Pruett said.

Long cable

ESPN says it will distribute the inaugural U.S. 500 race by cable television to 198 countries.

“This reinforces the tremendous international appeal that Indy-car racing enjoys,” said Mark Reilly, ESPN’s vice president for international sales. “We are extremely happy with the response this race has received worldwide.”

Two times

Dan Gurney will beef up his All American Racers team with another car before the next CART event. Gurney will begin running a two-car team at the Miller 200 at Milwaukee on June 2.

This is the first year for AAR’s development for a new American-built Eagle MK-V chassis and the Toyota RV8A Indy-car engine.

P.J. Jones, 27, son of 1963 Indy 500 winner Parnelli Jones, is expected to drive Gurney’s second car.