Sat'day practice: Dixon over Penske

Penske's Reynard-Hondas have been the combination to beat on road courses in 2001, but points leader Gil de Ferran was relegated to second by the young Kiwi on the switchback California track.

Dixon's 1m09.073s was a squeeze slower than de Ferran's team mate Helio Castroneves achieved in Friday's practice, but Castroneves, who finished the session eighth, is still predicting a pole time in the mid-1m7s band.

"The temperatures will be crucial," he said. "We're expecting high 80s for qualifying, so you'll see guys doing a banker early in the session, then hanging on as late as possible for a final flying lap."

Patrick Carpentier's Player's/Forsythe Reynard-Cosworth was third fastest, with Cristiano da Matta's Lola and the Reynard of Bryan Herta in fourth and fifth.

Mauricio Gugelmin continued PacWest's strong weekend with the sixth fastest time, ahead of Tony Kanaan's Mo Nunn Reynard-Honda.

Of the other main title contender, Kenny Brack's Rahal Racing Lola-Ford was a lowly 13th, continuing the theme of a season where the team has failed to match its oval performances on road courses, while championship long-shot Dario Franchitti as only 25th fastest in his Team Green Reynard-Honda, some 1.686s off Dixon's benchmark.