14 July 2001. Ryley sets 8th fastest time in provisional qualifying for Toronto Atlantic race

Grant Ryley of World Speed Motorsports today claimed the eighth fastest time in provisional qualifying for tomorrow's sixth round of the 2001 CART Toyota Atlantic Championship season at the Molson Indy Toronto. Ryley turned a lap of 1:07.487 (93.618 miles per hour) in his first appearance to Toronto's 1.755-mile temporary street circuit.  David Rutledge set a new Toronto Atlantic track record with a time of 1:06.419 (95.123 mph) to take the provisional pole, followed by series point leader Hoover Orsi and Joey Hand.

"Everything seems to be going in the right direction," said Ryley, who drives the #14 Northwest Speedwerx/ Cupertino Electric/Velocity Ventures/Del Monaco Specialty Foods Swift.  "The track is actually pretty tricky, especially with the transitions from concrete to asphalt.  I like it, though.  It seems to suit my style.  My times kept getting better as the day went on, and that's due to becoming more familiar with the track and with finding a better balance with the car.  We should be even faster tomorrow." 

Ryley, who is coming off of his first career Atlantic pole and podium last month at Milwaukee, currently is 11th overall in the 2001 Atlantic points standings and fourth in the rookie championship.

He most recently captured second in the 2000 Mazda Pro Series.  His Mazda pro series record includes five wins, five poles and four track records while driving for World Speed's pro Mazda team.  In 1999, Ryley finished second in the rookie championship by virtue of one win, three podiums and two poles.  For 1997 and 1998, he competed in the Skip Barber Formula Dodge Western Series and continues to serve as an instructor at the Skip Barber Racing School.

Northwest SpeedWerx was established to identify aspiring young drivers and assist them with the resources and promotional guidance to move their careers forward through participation in a multi-year driver development program.  Focusing on CART’s ladder system, including the Toyota Atlantic Championship, the goal of Northwest SpeedWerx is to train the next generation of drivers for competition in the CART FedEx Championship.

Based in Palm Springs, California, World Speed Motorsports operates multi-car programs in CART’s Toyota Atlantic Championship, as well as the Star Formula Mazda Pro Series.  Founded in 1991, World Speed has captured six Formula Mazda championship and five pro series Rookie-of-the-Year titles since its inception.  Last season, World Speed captured their first Atlantic victory at Gateway International Raceway with driver Case Montgomery.

Tomorrow's Atlantic activities begin with the second 30-minute qualifying session at 8:45 am (Eastern), followed by the 35-lap race at 3:15 pm.  CTV SportsNet will carry the race live in Canada, while espn2 will broadcast the race on Sunday, July 22, at 10:00 am ET, with an encore presentation on Thursday, August 2, at 4:00 am ET.

Further information is available on the team’s web site at www.worldspeed.com as well as the official Atlantic series site at www.toyotaatlantic.com.