Mexico’s Goeters wins pole
Some NASCAR teams worried about security as they made their first trip south of the border. They had reason for concern: Somebody stole the pole.
Mexico’s Jorge Goeters thrilled hometown fans Saturday by topping qualifying for today’s Telmex-Motorola 200 at Mexico City, edging Nextel Cup veteran Robby Gordon.
“It was really cool to see that guy get the pole, to see all the fans going crazy with the air horns going,” said defending series champ Martin Truex Jr., who was third-fastest. “I don’t think they’d have done that for me.”
It also was good news for NASCAR, adding to local interest in a race that it hopes will help build an enduring relationship with fans in Mexico and with Hispanic fans in the United States as well.
“As far as Busch qualifying, I don’t think we’ve ever had this many people at the track,” Truex said, though officials did not have a count of the crowd.
Goeters called it “the happiest day of my life” after his No. 66 Ford bumped Gordon to second on the 2.518-mile road course.
“I can’t tell you what this event means for me and for my country. I’ve always dreams of running in NASCAR,” Goeters said. “I didn’t even know it was a good lap until my team told me. ‘You did it! You’re the leader!’ “
The 34-year-old Goeters has won Mexican titles in trucks (2002), Mustangs (1997), sport prototypes and tractor trucks (both in 1996).
Gordon said he had been told that he would have to drop to the back of the pack due to an engine change after practice on Friday. But NASCAR officials said later he could start in the front row because the change came before qualifying.
Formula One
Italy’s Giancarlo Fisichella won the season-opening Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne, capping a weekend highlighted by rule changes and a downpour in qualifying that ended Michael Schumacher’s hopes of defending his title.
Fisichella finished 57 laps on the 3.295-mile Albert Park circuit in 1 hour, 24 minutes, 17.336 seconds in his Renault. Ferrari’s Rubens Barrichello finished second, 5.55 seconds back, and Fisichella’s Renault teammate, Fernando Alonso, was third.
Schumacher, the German star who won 13 races last year en route to his seventh world championship, crashed out with 15 laps left after starting in the back row.