MX-5: Cleveland qualifying notes

Caddell on MX-5 Pole, Saini Completes Team MER Front Row in Cleveland

CLEVELAND, Ohio (June 22, 2007) -- Andrew Caddell, of Graham, Wash., captured his first MX-5 Cup pole at Burke Lakefront Airport for Friday's Round Five of the SCCA Pro Racing SIRIUS Satellite Radio Mazda MX-5 Cup, part of the Grand Prix of Cleveland Presented by LaSalle Bank. Caddell's teammate, Jason Saini, of Fort Worth, Texas, will start alongside him, making it an all Team MER front row.

At the wheel of the No. 30 Team MER/AimSport/Pinnacle Mazda MX-5, Caddell set a fast time of 1:29.000 (85.186 mph) around the 2.106-mile temporary circuit to take his first-career professional pole position.

"The course is challenging," Caddell said. "It's very fast with a lot of gutsy corners, but it's not a very hard track to learn. I finally figured it out in the morning practice and we got everything handling good and put it on the pole. When I went out and I got behind Jason and had a little pull with having someone to follow so that was good too."

When asked about strategies and concerns for the infamous first corner at Burke Lakefront Airport, Caddell's response was simple.

"I'm glad I'm on the pole."

Completing the front row is Cleveland native Saini, who turned a lap of 1:29.263 (84.935 mph) in his No. 28 Autobarn Mazda/SafeRacer.com MX-5.

Starting third is the No. 80 Hooverspeed/MobiTV MX-5 of Matt Cross, from Folsom, Calif. Cross recorded a time of 1:29.416 (84.790 mph).

Elivan Goulart, of Shelton, Conn., will start fourth in his first MX-5 Cup race. Driving the No. 70 Velocity-Club.com/SCDA1.com MX-5, Goulart clocked in at 1:29.609 (84.607 mph). Practice leader Ara Malkhassian, of Sonoma, Calif., completed the top five in his No. 11 Alara Racing MX-5 with a time of 1:29.665 (84.554 mph).

Jesse Combs, Bob Michaelian, Andrew Carbonell, Pratt Cole and Barry A. Fromberg completed the top ten.

Tonight's race, the first of two on the weekend, will go green at 8:25 p.m. (EDT). Saturday's MX-5 Cup Round Six program begins at 7:30 a.m., followed by qualifying at 4:15 p.m. and racing at 7:20 p.m.

Visit www.mx-5cup.com for full MX-5 Cup coverage from Cleveland including live timing and scoring with lap notes.

-credit: scca pro racing