Monday, April 27, 1998 | 9:23 a.m.
"I'm getting an extra day on the pole," Carpentier said, reflecting on the rainout Sunday that forced CART to stage the race today. "It's just about like winning two."
Actually, the aesthetic benefit of the postponement was less important than some of its other effects.
"Winning the pole for my Player's team has released a year and a half of stress," said the 26-year-old Canadian. "I didn't sleep too well last night due to digestive problems.
"The weather is giving me that extra time to rest and relax."
There was a downside, however.
"I wanted to go back to Canada this week, and I probably won't have the time," he said.
But a victory at Nazareth Speedway would probably dull the pain somewhat.
Alongside him in just the second All-Canadian front row in history was Greg Moore, who perhaps looked at the PPG Cup standings and realized he was in good position to take the lead.
Moore's starting position was nine spots better than that of leader Adrian Fernandez, whom he trails by just four points. Should that hold up at tight Nazareth Speedway, where traffic is a greater obstacle the deeper one starts in the field, Moore would net 14 points on Fernandez.
"I got a good feeling for tomorrow, that's for sure," Moore said.
Fernandez, 23rd in the race a year ago, realized his dilemma and said patience would be his greatest ally.
"This is a strange place," he said of the oddly shaped and undulating layout measuring just under a mile. "The most important thing is that we have a good race car that can run safely all day."
Starting three spots ahead of Fernandez was defending series champion Alex Zanardi, the winner two weeks ago at Long Beach, Calif. Overconfidence at Nazareth was not a problem for the driver for Bologna, Italy.
"I'll be delighted if I can score some points tomorrow," he said. "I asked my grandmother back home to pray for a top-five finish."
The greatest threat to the Reynard Mercedes of Carpentier and Moore could be two-time Bosch Grand Prix winner Michael Andretti. He went from the third position on the grid in a Swift Ford, flanked by the Reynard Honda of Gil de Ferran.
Fifth was the Reynard Honda of Jimmy Vasser. Andretti's teammate, Christian Fittipaldi, was next, followed by the Reynard Ford of Brian Herta.
After the Reynard Honda of Zanardi came Bobby Rahal, who also owns Herta's car and shared the front row with him at Long Beach.
Defending champion Paul Tracy started 10th in a Reynard Honda.
The rainout Sunday was the first of a CART event since 1986 at Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wis. That race was halted when a storm hit after one lap.
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