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MX-5 CUP: Cross Captures First-Career Pole at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca
Written by: SCCA Communications   http://www.scca.com
05/18/2007 - 07:00 PM
Monterey, Calif.
 
Matt Cross, No. 80 Jason Hoover Motorsports/Hooverspeed Mazda MX-5. (Juha Lievonen photo). ยป More Photos

Matt Cross, of Folsom, Calif., continued to show his dominance this weekend mastering the 2.238-miles at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca en route to winning his first career SCCA Pro Racing SIRIUS Satellite Radio Mazda MX-5 Cup pole, in preparation for tomorrow's Round Three race. Todd Buras, of Melbourne, Fla., will start on the outside of row one, while Jason Saini, of Fort Worth, Texas, will start third.

The California-native Cross showed just how good and consistent he can be at Mazda Raceway by not only topping the speed charts in practice yesterday, but grabbing the pole in this morning's qualifying with a time of 1:42.432 (78.655 mph). Driving the No. 80 Jason Hoover Motorsports/Hooverspeed Mazda MX-5, Cross needed just two circuits around the track to set his pole-winning time by just 0.693-second over Buras.

"Things went real well, I am very pleased," Cross said of his qualifying effort. "The overall grip was decent - not fantastic. The track was a little slick at the beginning, but it [the track] came to us. But, overall we're real happy. The car is handling well. I think we are in good shape and ready for the race tomorrow. I have
got to say thanks to SIRIUS and Mazda for making this series possible for us. We really appreciate it and the cars are fun to drive. We are having a blast. "

Buras, who was gunning for his first MX-5 Cup pole of the season, turned his fastest time on lap five. Driving the No. 56 BSI/Team Garcia/MOMO/Joe Gibbs Mazda MX-5, Buras clocked in with a time of 1:43.125 (78.127 mph).

If the current MX-5 Cup point leader Saini is going to capture his second win of the season, he will have to do it from the second row. Piloting the No. 28 Autobarn Mazda/SafeRacer.com Mazda MX-5, Saini turned the third fastest qualifying time of 1:43.247 (78.034 mph) late in the session.

Cross' Hooverspeed teammate Bob Michaelian, of Seal Beach, Calif., will start from the outside row two after turning a fast lap of 1:43.253 (78.029 mph) in his No. 19 Hooverspeed Mazda MX-5. Andrew Carbonell, of Miami, will start fifth in his No. 58 BSI/Team Garcia/MOMO/Joe Gibbs Mazda MX-5 after turning a fast lap of 1:43.330 (77.971 mph).

The green flag for Round Three of the SIRIUS Satellite Radio Mazda MX-5 Cup will drop at 4 p.m. Sunday, May 19.