Antron Brown was on the starting line, this time wearing soft gloves instead of bandages. He didn't have anything to cheer for, though it was close, both cars popping and banging in the lights. Both cars trailed smoke in the shutdown area, but it was Vandergriff who left oil on the track - Schumacher cannot afford an oildown because that would cost him the championship and he must now win the event because he does not have a backup run for a record.

Tony Schumacher's incremental margins (negative if behind): 60ft(0.000), 330 ft(0.002), 660ft(0.018). MOV: 0.0033 seconds (approximately 18 inches).