Negri nabs third on the grid for Granja Viana 500

[cdh]

Ozz is keeping some very fast company, awesome!!

Michael Shank Racing News

(Sao Paolo, Brazil) 2 December 2006--Oswaldo Negri will start the Granja Viana 500 karting event from third on the grid after posting a 57:081-second lap at the Kartódromo Da Granja Viana near Sao Paolo, Brazil. Ferrari Formula 1 pilot Felipe Massa secured the pole position with a 56:784-second lap on the 1.2-kilometer track. Negri will share the driving duties with Pedro and Paulo Gomes.

The “Super Qualifying” session featured a one-lap format for the large and enthusiastic crowd, as some of the biggest names in the sport have convened to compete in the twelve-hour event. The Granja Viana event first ran in 1997 with Felipe Massa, Tony Kanaan, Rubins Barrichello, and Dan Wheldon among the list of winning drivers.

Negri has made several starts in the Granja Viana 500, with a career best-finish of second place in 2004 when he partnered with countrymen Vitor Meira, Gil De Ferran and Helio Castroneves. Negri will partner with Castroneves in two months’ time for the 2007 Rolex 24 At Daytona in the Michael Shank Racing Lexus-Riley.

“I must say that I am having a blast!” said Negri. “The qualifying was so intense and such a thrill because we each had the track to ourselves, and the crowd was really pumping everybody up. This is just a fantastic event and it gets better every year.”

Unofficial Qualifying Top Six, Granja Viana 500:

1-Massa 56:784
2-Eduardo Ventre 57:029
3-O. Negri 57:081
4-Felipe Leite 57:137
5-Victor Meira 57:236
6-Tonny Kanaan 57:260

Other notable entries

12-Luciano Burti 57:618
14-R. Barrichello 57:808
16-Felipe Giaffone 57:923
17-Nelson Piquet Jr. 58:135
20-Ricardo Zonta 58:788

photo: Negri at speed in practice for the Granja Viana
***

[dalyduo]

Woof... Off the charts outstanding. Bravo Oz!!

Too bad they couldn't draw any talent to that race

Wish Speed Channel had a video feed on this one. Should be fun to watch.

[cdh]

found some pics from this event, just a bit crowded









Dan Wheldon, Felipe Giaffone, Gil de Ferran, Oswaldo Negri Jr., Rubens Barrichello, Ruben Carrapatoso, Helio Castroneves and Tony Kanaan