Fernandez wins Rio 200

Michael Astor

Sunday, April 30, 2000 | 4:18 a.m.

RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil - Adrian Fernandez got a victory he never expected when rookie Alex Tagliani - well on his way to winning for the first time in his CART career - spun out with nine laps remaining Sunday in the Rio 200.

"It was a very different day for us," Fernandez said. "We started way back and we didn't hit the setup the first two days, so I had to work my way through the pack."

Polesitter Tagliani was leading the pack when he spun out entering a turn, causing Kenny Brack, Dario Franchitti, Michael Andretti and series points leader Paul Tracy to swerve.

"On the last set of tires I thought there was a problem," Tagliani said. "I was concerned about the speed of the guys behind me coming out of the pit with new tires so I pushed a little hard into turn one and went wide in the marbles. I tried a 360 but it didn't work."

Fernandez, who started 16th in a field of 25, assumed the lead and drove his Ford-Reynard to a victory at the 1.864 mile Emerson Fittipaldi Speedway. He covered 108 laps in 1 hour, 37 minutes, 12.490 seconds - getting more out of his car than he had expected.

It was the first victory this year for Fernandez and sixth of his career. The 35-year-old Mexican had twice in each of the last two seasons for car owner Pat Patrick.

"The car worked really well especially the tires. We were able to go 80 laps on the tires," Fernandez said.

Jimmy Vasser driving a Toyota-Lola wound up second. Third was Tracy, who sustained slight damage to his Honda-Reynard as he tried to avoid Tagliani.

"He got off line and tried to spin it to keep off the wall," Tracy said. "I couldn't see anything, I just tried to get through it and went on the outside."

Tagliani spun again on lap 107, bringing out a caution that gave Fernandez an uncontested drive to the checkered flag.

"That happened because the rear tires were totally gone," said Tagliani, who wound up 13th.

The race also began under a yellow flag, after rookie Oriol Servia's car lost traction. The car snapped around, making contact with the tire barrier.

Vasser's teammate, series champion Juan Montoya, left the race early due to an engine problem.

Tagliani held the lead until he pitted on the 36th lap, then took it back again from Fernandez when he pitted on the 39th.

On lap 57, most lead-lap cars pitted, but Tagliani stayed out until the 75th, when he gave the lead to Brack. But Tagliani went back into the lead when Brack pitted 19 laps later.

Cristiano da Matta finished fourth in a a Toyota-Reynard, followed by fellow Brazilian Christian Fittipaldi in a Ford-Lola.

Andretti finished ninth, Brack 10th and Montoya 22nd.

Tracy emerged from the race with a six-point lead over Vasser.

There were eight lead change among six drivers. Five cautions covering 27 laps slowed the winner's average speed to 124.256 mph.