GILLMAN’S EMIRATES TEAM ON PROVISIONAL POLE!
CAPPELLINI, ROGGIERO, JONES & SELIO IN TOP 5!

Abu Dhabi, U.A.E.: Thursday, December 2, 1999 - It has taken almost one-half of the 1999 U.I.M. F1 World Championship season, but American Scott Gillman is once again feeling like he’s back in the "groove" again, as he has led the field for the provisional qualifying round of the 8th Annual Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi.

The lead driver of the powerful Emirates Race Team put in a dazzling display of qualifying late in the first timed session as he and his number one challenger 5-time and current World Champion Guido Cappellini of the DAC Race Team went back and forth for top spot in the qualifying order after the first day of qualiying in the inner harbor of Abu Dhabi.

The 1997 World Champion of Basalt, Colorado started the session with a first lap time that put him on top, only to have Cappellini lower the time to a sub 48 second lap around the 6 turn 2 kilometer course. Gillman went out late and did a startling sub 47 second time of a 46.96 for a 153.32 kph speed and enough to finish on top of the table. Cappellini, then went out do try to get it back, rearing up high on the last bouy and finishing just .11 of a second behind with a 47.07 clocking.

Italian Massimo Roggiero in the RIPS/Castrol DAC was third quickest with a 48.23 second lap 1.27 seconds behind Gillman. 1998 World Champion Jonathan Jones of Cardigan, Wales was 4th with a 48.55 lap, while 2nd year ace Sami Selio of Finland was 5th with a 48.88 attempt. Italian Francesco Cantando was 6th with a 49.05, while Frenchman Philippe Dessertenne sits with a 49.16 in 7th. Englishman Andy Elliott in the other RIPS/Castrol Burgess was 8th with a 49.27, while Finland’s Pertti Leppala was 9th fighting sun sickness in the heat with a time of 49.43. Hungarian Rudy Mihaldinecz rounds out the top 10 with a time of 49.70 and a speed of 144.86 kph.

Cappellini already has the World Championship in his pocket for the 5th time in 7 years with 110 points, but the battle for runner-up still isn’t decided. Gillman has 67 and wants to finish the season strong looking for his 3rd straight win. Leppala would like to take 2nd in the title chase for the 3rd time in the last 4 years, while rookie Fabio Comparato 11th in the qualifying would be happy finishing 2nd to his teammate with a win tomorrow.

The race is scheduled 67 lap event is set for 15:00 local time, 11:00 GMT, and 7:00 Eastern Standard Time. This the 9th and final round of the U.I.M. F1 World Championship, the last of the century and the 8th in Abu Dhabi’s inner harbor.