Newcomer John Edwards, the 2007 Atlantic Series racer who joined the 2008 Star Mazda Championship just in time for Round Two at Miller Motorsports Park, set a lap of 1:43.650 (105.864 mph), more than 1.5 seconds faster than his best test time and .691 seconds ahead of the 2nd-place qualifier, Sebring winner Joel Miller.
Joel Miller, starting on the outside of the front row with a lap of 1:44.341 (105.163 mph), suffered a suspension failure on the #20 JDC Motorsports/Mazda/K&N Air Filters Mazda and made heavy, head-on contact with the end of the tire barrier in Turn 8 during the closing minutes of the 45-minute qualifying session.
Starting third on the grid with a lap of 1:44.799 (104.703 mph) will be Brazilian driver Ernesto Otero, who qualified third at Sebring.
Rounding out the top-5 on the starting grid are Tom Gladdis, of Gibraltar, U.K., who turned a lap of 1:44.887 (104.615 mph) in the #5 Andersen Racing/Law firm of Marrache & Co./Allied Mazda, and Irishman Peter Dempsey.
Master Series driver Chuck Hulse, who won the class for drivers over 45 in the seasonopener at Sebring, was the leading Master qualifier in this morning's session with a lap of 1:46.068 (103.451 mph) in the #12 JDC Motorsports/Silicon Salvage Mazda. His time will have him starting 15th on the grid.
The leading qualifier in the Expert Series (drivers between 30 and 44) was Phil Fogg, Jr. with a lap of 1:46.411 (103.117 mph) in the #29 Northwest Autosport/Consonus Health Services Mazda. He will start from 18th on the grid.
Qualifying Results:
PosNameBest TmDiff
1John Edwards1:43.650-
2Joel Miller1:44.341+0.691
3Ernesto Otero1:44.799+1.149
4Tom Gladdis1:44.887+1.237
5Charles Hall1:44.996+1.346
6Peter Dempsey1:45.020+1.370
7Taylor Hacquard1:45.431+1.781
8Eric Freiberg1:45.483+1.833
9Patrick O'Neil1:45.576+1.926
10Jonny Baker1:45.700+2.050
11Billy Goshen1:45.805+2.155
12Rick Rosin1:45.965+2.315
13Mike Hill1:46.047+2.397
14Ciao Lara1:46.066+2.416
15Chuck Hulse1:46.068+2.418
16Michael Guasch1:46.211+2.561
17Scott Rettich1:46.315+2.665
18Phil Fogg Jr.1:46.411+2.761
19J.C. Kester1:46.860+3.210
20Gerry Kraut1:46.893+3.243
21Kristy Kester1:47.074+3.424
22Chris Cumming1:47.285+3.635
23Stan Kohls1:47.888+4.238
24Michele Bumgarner1:47.982+4.332
25David House1:48.744+5.094
26J.W. Roberts1:48.768+5.118
27Richard Zoeber1:49.275+5.625
28Cody Jolly2:07.468+23.818
29Alex Ardoin5:37.022+3:53.372
Joel Miller, starting on the outside of the front row with a lap of 1:44.341 (105.163 mph), suffered a suspension failure on the #20 JDC Motorsports/Mazda/K&N Air Filters Mazda and made heavy, head-on contact with the end of the tire barrier in Turn 8 during the closing minutes of the 45-minute qualifying session.
Starting third on the grid with a lap of 1:44.799 (104.703 mph) will be Brazilian driver Ernesto Otero, who qualified third at Sebring.
Rounding out the top-5 on the starting grid are Tom Gladdis, of Gibraltar, U.K., who turned a lap of 1:44.887 (104.615 mph) in the #5 Andersen Racing/Law firm of Marrache & Co./Allied Mazda, and Irishman Peter Dempsey.
Master Series driver Chuck Hulse, who won the class for drivers over 45 in the seasonopener at Sebring, was the leading Master qualifier in this morning's session with a lap of 1:46.068 (103.451 mph) in the #12 JDC Motorsports/Silicon Salvage Mazda. His time will have him starting 15th on the grid.
The leading qualifier in the Expert Series (drivers between 30 and 44) was Phil Fogg, Jr. with a lap of 1:46.411 (103.117 mph) in the #29 Northwest Autosport/Consonus Health Services Mazda. He will start from 18th on the grid.
Qualifying Results:
PosNameBest TmDiff
1John Edwards1:43.650-
2Joel Miller1:44.341+0.691
3Ernesto Otero1:44.799+1.149
4Tom Gladdis1:44.887+1.237
5Charles Hall1:44.996+1.346
6Peter Dempsey1:45.020+1.370
7Taylor Hacquard1:45.431+1.781
8Eric Freiberg1:45.483+1.833
9Patrick O'Neil1:45.576+1.926
10Jonny Baker1:45.700+2.050
11Billy Goshen1:45.805+2.155
12Rick Rosin1:45.965+2.315
13Mike Hill1:46.047+2.397
14Ciao Lara1:46.066+2.416
15Chuck Hulse1:46.068+2.418
16Michael Guasch1:46.211+2.561
17Scott Rettich1:46.315+2.665
18Phil Fogg Jr.1:46.411+2.761
19J.C. Kester1:46.860+3.210
20Gerry Kraut1:46.893+3.243
21Kristy Kester1:47.074+3.424
22Chris Cumming1:47.285+3.635
23Stan Kohls1:47.888+4.238
24Michele Bumgarner1:47.982+4.332
25David House1:48.744+5.094
26J.W. Roberts1:48.768+5.118
27Richard Zoeber1:49.275+5.625
28Cody Jolly2:07.468+23.818
29Alex Ardoin5:37.022+3:53.372