Rino Fastest In Practice

One of last year's frontrunners in Barber Dodge, but one whom did not win a race, was quickest in both of Friday's practive sessions on the 1.69-mile, 8-turn street course at the St. Petersburg Grand Prix. Rino Mastronardi of Italy put up a 1:09.560 in the first session, followed by a 1:08.559 in the second. Derek Hill and "Big Scholarship" driver Nick Rondet were second-quick in each of those sessions, respectively. Rondet's fortune was compromised, however, in that after turning a 1:09.231 in the second session, he spun then was t-boned by Rocky Moran, Jr., in Turn One.Rondet's car was heavily damaged but with the Barber Dodge crew working late into the night, the car will be repaired in time for the first of two qualifying sessions. Series veterans Steve Rikert and G.J. Mennen proved the value of experience and prior knowledge, setting the sixth- and eighth-quickest times.

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Friday's practice times for Sunday's 30-minute SCCA Pro Racing Barber Dodge Pro Series race at the Kash 'N Karry Florida Grand Prix, 1.69-mile, 8-turn temporary street course, with practice position, driver, hometown or country and speed in miles per hour. All cars identical Mondiale Barber Dodge V6 open-wheel, single-seat race cars. 

1.        Rino Mastronardi, Italy, 88.741 mph
2.        Nick Rondet, San Diego, Calif., 87.880
3.        Tony Renna, Deland, Fla., 87.878
4.        Derek Hill, Santa Monica, Calif., 87.776
5.        Martin Stenshorne, Norway, 87.754
6.        Steven Rikert, Rhinebeck, N.Y., 87.715
7.        Rocky Moran, Jr., Coto de Caza, Calif., 87.653
8.        G.J. Mennen, Austin, Texas, 87.200
9.        Victor Gonzalez, Hotoray, Puerto Rico, 87.186
10.        Andre Hansen, Norway, 87.005
11.        Samer Hindi, Los Angeles, Calif., 86.939
12.        Mattias Andersson, Sweden, 86.787
13.        Will Langhorne, Washington, D.C., 86.651
14.        Andy Boss, Narragansett, R.I., 86.614
15.        Chris Menninga, Pella, Iowa, 86.593
16.        Gian-Maria Regazzoni, Monaco, 86.371
17.        Nick OSullivan, Boulder, Colo., 86.161
18.        John McCaig, Canada, 86.120
19.           Keith Watts, Nashville, Tenn., 86.099
20.        Jarle Gasland, Norway, 86.012
21.        Bill Tichenor, Dallas, Texas, 85.981
22.        Jarrett Boon, Phoenix, Ariz., 85.811
23.        Matt Fowler, Ventura, Calif., 85.678
24.        Scott Brunk, Frederick, Md., 85.662
25.        Gustavo Pasetto, Brazil, 85.485
26.        Eric Tresslar, Denver, Colo., 85.060
27.        Charles Willis, Germantown, Tenn., 84.705
28.        Denis Lay, Miami, Fla., 84.293
29.        Patsy DiFilippo, Apollo, Pa., 84.257

end Rick Roso