Columnist Brian Hilderbrand: LVMS test leaves Marnell feeling good

Friday, April 4, 2003 | 9:49 a.m.

Brian Hilderbrand covers motor sports for the Las Vegas Sun. His motor sports notebook appears Friday. He can be reached at bh@lasvegassun.com or (702) 259-4089.

George Marnell didn't accomplish everything he wanted during a two-day test session last week at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway but he said he feels he is closer to being competitive than he has all season.

Marnell, a Las Vegas businessman and full-time NHRA Pro Stock driver, said he has solved some of the problems that led to him failing to qualify for the first three NHRA national events this season.

"We made a lot of different adjustments on the car and we did find something that I think is a good combination to get started with," said Marnell, who will be competing in this weekend's NHRA SummitRacing.com Nationals at The Strip.

After failing to qualify for the first two races this season, Marnell switched to a new Pontiac Grand Am for the Gatornationals last month only to discover the new car's rear-end housing was too wide for the body and was causing the car to veer to the left every time he took off from the starting line.

"The new car feels great ... we've just got to hit the sweet spot with the setup," Marnell said. "I don't know if we're quite there yet but I think we're zeroing in on it. I think we're a lot closer than we ever have been with this new car ... and I'm looking forward to getting it worked out and going out there and giving these guys fits."

Marnell, who advanced to the semifinals last spring at The Strip before losing to Darrell Alderman, is tied for 23rd in Pro Stock points after three races.

Force, a 12-time NHRA Funny Car champion, has two first-round losses and a second-round departure in three starts this season.

"We're just trying to work through some mechanical problems" said Force, who is 12th in points coming into the Las Vegas race. "We made a lot of changes in the off-season to stay ahead of the game and everything hasn't worked out like we thought.

"The biggest problem has been dropped cylinders. That's been at the bottom of it but we stayed and tested after Gainesville and I think (crew chiefs Austin Coil and Bernie Fedderly) learned some things.

"It's not like we haven't run well; we just haven't been consistent. The car wants to run 4.70s but we haven't been able to get it to run to the big end. Usually, it noses over about 900 feet. That's what they've been working on."

Among his career highlights were victories in the 12 Hours of Sebring in 1995 and 1997 and a 10th-place in the 1997 Indianapolis 500. He was the FIA WSC C2 champion in 1987 and 1989 and IMSA World Sports Car champion in 1995 and 1997.

Velez also competed in six Indy Racing League events with a best finish of ninth at Walt Disney World Speedway in the inaugural 1996-97 season.

Keselowski was transported by ambulance to Crittenton Hospital in Rochester after his K-Automotive team had concluded a test in the Detroit area with driver Terry Cook.

With participation expected from all major motorcycle manufacturers in the GAME's colorful Vendor's Village, competition will include motocross, freestyle, speedway bikes, flat track, drag racing, supercross, side-cars, Cafe-style racing, road racing and a Grand Prix desert race.

Additional information on the event can be found at www.great-motorcycle-expo.com.