Tagliani deposes Montoya

The Canadian rookie, who has finished in the points in every race held so far this year for Player's/Forsythe, was second fastest yesterday but improved in the closing stages of today's session to snatch the top spot from the reigning champion by nearly 0.2s.

Series leader Paul Tracy completes the top three ahead of Kenny Brack and the best of the home drivers: fifth-placed Christian Fittipaldi.

His compatriot Gualter Salles missed the session and will be out of action for the rest of the weekend after crashing yesterday. His Dale Coyne Racing team do not have enough spare parts.

Saturday morning practice times from Rio:

1 A Tagliani Player's Reynard-Ford 38.694s
2 J Montoya Ganassi Lola-Toyota 38.811s
3 P Tracy KOOL Green Reynard-Honda 38.880s
4 K Brack Rahal Reynard-Ford 38.887s
5 C Fittipaldi Newman-Haas Lola-Ford 38.890s
6 M Papis Rahal Reynard-Ford 39.046s
7 T Kanaan Mo Nunn Reynard-Mercedes 39.089s
8 H Castro Neves Penske Reynard-Honda 39.102s
9 J Vasser Ganassi Lola-Toyota 39.175s
10 A Fernandez Patrick Reynard-Ford 39.243s
11 G de Ferran Penske Reynard-Honda 39.254s
12 M Andretti Newman-Haas Lola-Ford 39.289s
13 D Franchitti KOOL Green Reynard-Honda 39.344s
14 B Herta Walker Reynard-Honda 39.369s
15 R Moreno Patrick Reynard-Ford 39.532s
16 M Blundell PacWest Reynard-Mercedes 39.542s
17 N Fontana Della Penna Reynard-Toyota 39.592s
18 O Servia PPI Reynard-Toyota 39.606s
19 C da Matta PPI Reynard-Toyota 39.629s
20 T Kurosawa Coyne Lola-Ford 39.674s
21 M Gidley Player's Reynard-Ford 39.677s
22 M Gugelmin PacWest Reynard-Mercedes 39.827s
23 M Jourdain Jr Bettenhausen Lola-Mercedes 39.887s
24 L Garcia Jr Arciero Project Reynard-Mercedes 41.313s