Friday

Adrian Fernandez pursues Max Papis through Turn 1 during the morning practice session.

10:40 Kodak Advantix 200 SS1/750 CF8.0

Cars line up in the pits during a red flag period of the practice session.

10:44 Kodak Advantix 200 SS1/500 CF8.0

Michael Andretti, smoking his tyres, and Bryan Herta get underway again.

10:51 Kodak Advantix 200 SS1/500 CF6.7

Mauricio Gugelmin in the PacWest Reynard-Mercedes. "We really improved the car for qualifying . We've got plenty more to come."

10:51 Kodak Advantix 200 SS1/750 CF8.0

Local favourite Greg Moore heads back out onto the track.

10:52 Kodak Advantix 200 SS1/1500 CF5.6

Bryan Herta passes Tony Kanaan.

10:52 Kodak Advantix 200 SS1/750 CF8.0

Alex Zanardi entered the weekend with the opportunity to clinch the championship. He took provisional pole in the afternoon qualifying session.

10:59 Kodak Advantix 200 SS1/1500 CF5.6

Scott Pruett in the Patrick Racing team's Visteon Reynard-Ford.

11:00 Kodak Advantix 200 SS1/750 CF5.6

 

Gil de Ferran rounds Turn 1 in his Walker Racing Reynard-Honda. "The layout is a definite improvement. It's a lot more fun to drive than last year's track."

11:04 Fujicolor A200 SS1/750 CF8.0

Andre Ribeiro takes his Penske-Mercedes into the turn.

11:21 Fujicolor A200 SS1/1500 CF5.6

Scotsman Dario Franchitti was fast all weekend in the Team Kool Green Reynard-Honda. "I am a lot happier with the track - where the braking zones are, where you turn in and how far you can push the car."

11:21 Fujicolor A200 SS1/1500 CF5.6

Bryan Herta in the Team Rahal Reynard-Ford.

11:22 Fujicolor A200 SS1/1500 CF5.6

 

Robby Gordon enters the pit lane in his Toyota-powered Reynard.

11:37 Fujicolor A200 SS1/1000 CF5.6

Bobby Rahal at his last ride in Vancouver.

11:37 Fujicolor A200 SS1/1000 CF5.6

 

Arnd Meier, in the field's only Lola, takes a pit stop during practice.

11:43 Fujicolor A200 SS1/250 CF6.7

Dennis Vitolo waits in his Smith Kline Beecham sponsored Reynard-Ford for practice to resume.

11:43 Fujicolor A200 SS1/500 CF6.7

Bob Varsha, race commentator for ABC and ESPN, watches the activities in the pit lane.

11:43 Fujicolor A200 SS1/1000 CF5.6

With practice over, Mark Blundell sits on the pit wall and reflects on the session with his crew.

11:56 Fujicolor A200 SS1/500 CF8.0

Alex Zanardi being interviewed by Marlo Klain for ESPNEWS. "It's very challenging and the circuit is nice, although I'm not so optimistic about how easy it's going to be to pass."

12:06 Fujicolor A200 SS1/500 CF4.5

Drivers Sticking their Tongues Out - Number 1 in a series: Greg Moore.

12:07 Fujicolor A200 SS1/750 CF4.5

Greg poses more conventionally while being interviewed about his performance in the session.

12:09 Fujicolor A200 SS1/1000 CF4.5

Dario Franchitti and Paul Tracy poses for photos with Miss Molson Indy Vancouver and $340,000 of prize money.

12:09 Fujicolor A200 SS1/750 CF5.6

Robby Gordon making a cute pose.

12:20 Fujicolor A200 SS1/1500 CF5.6

Arnd Meier analyzing the performance of the car in practice with his chief engineer. "I think our test at Laguna Seca last week was very helpful for me and the team. The car is working well."

12:32 Fujicolor A200 SS1/1500 CF4.5

After a break for lunch (including a couple of pints at the nearby Yaletown Brewing Company), we return to the track for the provisional qualifying session. Here's Michael flying down the front straight with the mountains in the background.

14:36 Fujicolor A200 SS1/350 CF13.0

Greg Moore at speed. He had to settle for fifth on the provisional grid.

14:36 Fujicolor A200 SS1/350 CF13.0

Bryan Herta was a disappointing eleventh while he struggled to find a working setup.

14:37 Fujicolor A200 SS1/350 CF13.0

His boss, Bobby Rahal, did no better, placing his Reynard-Ford 16th.

14:37 Fujicolor A200 SS1/350 CF13.0

In the second qualifying group Mark Blundell leads Alex Barron in the new Eagle through Turn 9 at the south end of the track. "I was disappointed that I was blocked on my fastest lap by Paul Tracy, but he apologized and said he didn't see me."

15:24 Kodak Advantix 200 SS1/750 CF5.6

Richie Hearn pushing the only Swift on Firestone tyres through Turn 9.

15:41 Kodak Advantix 200 SS1/1000 CF5.6

Tony Kanaan approaches to sign my race ticket. How was that spin in qualifying? "Fortunately it didn't hurt my car. I think I was trying too hard. I ran out of fuel on the last lap as well, but I don't think I could have improved my lap times."

16:51 Agfa Futura 100 SS1/1000 CF4.5