Formula One news

Toyota sets new lap record at Laguna Seca demo

After one installation lap on the 11-turn, 2.238 mile Laguna Seca Raceway, Toyota driver Ricardo Zonta easily set a new track record on his second flying lap with at 1:07:587 averaging 119.206 mph. This time and speed edges the previous record of 1:07.722 set by Helio Castroneves at the CART Honda Grand Prix of Monterey in 2000. Castroneves' speed was 118.969.

"The team made some adjustments after our test laps yesterday that helped the car run smoother on the track today and I had a feeling the car could go much quicker than yesterday," said Zonta after the session ended early in the third lap with an electrical short. "We had used tyres on today and planned to change to new slicks in the second session, but we never got the chance. I am looking forward to new, slick tyres tomorrow."

Zonta last drove on the Laguna Seca track in 1998 when he won the FIA GT Championships behind the wheel of a Mercedes.

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