Millen sets Unlimited Division record in Pikes Peak practice run

Sunday, July 2, 2000 | 3:03 a.m.

Driving a 1999 Toyota Tacoma, Millen took only 2 minutes, 50.93 seconds on the 3.07-mile stretch from Devil's Playground, 12,780 feet above sea level, to the summit, 14,110 feet. That was nearly three seconds quicker than his previous best and the fastest ever in the Unlimited Division.

"We're encouraged by the time at the top today," said Millen, a five-time Unlimited champion at Pikes Peak. He holds the overall course record on the 12.42-mile climb, 10:04.06 in 1994.

The weather and road conditions are most unpredictable near the top, and engines huff and puff in the thin air.

The challenge now for Millen and his crew is seeing if the car's setup for the top will work during Sunday's qualifying run, from the starting line at 9,390 feet to Glen Cove at 11,440 feet.

"Qualifying will give us a better idea if the setup will work on the bottom," Millen said.

Cars and trucks qualify Sunday and motorcycles qualify Monday. The race is Tuesday.

During the first two days of practice, Millen drove on the lower and middle sections, trying to get the car's balance and suspension right.

This will be the seventh straight year Millen will try to break the elusive 10-minute barrier in the Race to the Clouds. Weather and road conditions will have to cooperate.

The weather was hot and dry during practice runs last week, and a thin coat of fine gravel made the course slippery in spots. But as more runs were made, the gravel was swept aside, leaving a firm, sticky racing line for the drivers.

In recent years, Millen has been hampered by inclement weather on the afternoon of race day. This year, he will run earlier, before the thundershowers that often visit Pikes Peak in the afternoon.

The Hill Climb is the second-oldest motorsports event in the U.S., next to the Indianapolis 500. The total climb is 4,708 feet and includes grades of more than 10 percent.