Drivers happy with new qualifying regs

The top spot changed hands five times in the final minute of Friday's session as the field fought for the championship point awarded to the provisional pole winner. By running fastest on Friday, Adrian Fernandez guaranteed he will start no lower than second for Sunday's race at Monterrey, Mexico no matter what happens in final qualifying.

The drivers were especially pleased that the full field now qualifies at the same time rather than being split into two groups. Each driver is permitted 15 laps during the one-hour session.

"I think the drivers have to adapt to it, and I think a little bit of luck will be involved, but I think it will be fairer," noted Dario Franchitti. "It is definitely an improvement over two groups. It was very exciting today. It came down to the last lap, and for me, the last three corners."

"It's definitely made it more fair," added Fernandez. "There are times when you will have traffic and red flags, but it's the same for everyone, and you need to decide when you want to go. You need a lot of help from your pits, because you need to know where the other guys are and who's coming. I think it's a great call from CART."

Christian Fittipaldi fell victim to a new rule that costs a driver his fastest qualifying lap if he causes a red flag. In the past, the driver would have simply been held on the sidelines to serve an eight-minute penalty.

"Unfortunately I made a mistake so I guess I have to pay for it," Fittipaldi said.