A word to describe Mika Salo? Try well-traveled. The Finn is one of the most accomplished drivers in the world, having made more than 100 starts in Formula One. He will make his second career start in the ALMS later on today in the Portland Grand Prix when he climbs behind the wheel of the No. 35 Maserati MC12 with Fabrizio de Simone. They will start 12th overall and fifth in GT1.

Salo's other ALMS start came at Sebring in 2003 when he drove an Audi R8 for Audi Sport UK. He has been with the factory Maserati team since its inception along with teammate Andrea Bertolini. The team finished second at the 24 hours of Spa last year after relinquishing the lead with just one hour remaining.

With a lot of his experience racing open wheeled, open-cockpit cars, Salo knows there is a difference driving the enclosed Maserati MC12. "The closed cockpit cars are a lot hotter," Salo said. "This car is a bit slower than anything else I've driven so it's a lot less physical for me. But this car is a racecar and it feels like a race car. Compared to a Formula One car, this is a Sunday drive."

Not surprisingly, Salo is a car guy at heart. His cars of choice, being a company man, include a Maserati and Ferrari. "Depending on the day and weather, it's hard to pick just one car that I love driving," he said. "I try to drive as many of my cars as I can. I don't remember the first car I got because I was driving way before I ever had a license. I remember I had an old Mini when I was 12 years old that I would drive back and forth to school."

This isn't Salo's first visit to PIR (he was here in 2003 with Champ Car but just watched). So far, it's been a little bit of a learning experience. But that's where the veteran mindset comes in. "The Festival Curves are not as challenging as I thought they would be, but it's a great section of the track and they will make for a very exciting start," Salo said.
 

"They are also a great place to pass. I like this course a lot because it has slow corners and long straights which makes for great racing." And that's something that isn't in short supply in the U.S., he added.  "If I get a chance, I like to watch racing on TV," he said. "I love to watch the American Le Mans Series, Champ Car, Indy Cars, Formula 1, Speed GT (they have really good races), anything really. I'd rather watch racing on TV than be at a track. It's not fun being in the paddock at a race track with nothing to do. If I'm there, I'd rather be racing.

"Tracks in America are more fun to drive (than in Europe)," Salo added, before concluding, "There are lots of hills, slow and fast corners, and long straights. European tracks are all stadium tracks with no elevation changes. They are so boring for drivers."

MASERATI 4TH ON THE GT1 CLASS GRID AFTER QUALIFYING

Oliver Beretta in the factory Chevrolet Corevette C5-R stormed to his second pole position of the year in GT1 class qualifying at Portland. Behind Beretta by 0.178 was the sister car of Johnny O'Connell, who will team with Ron Fellows. The two are class leaders in points and have won three times this year. Third fastest in class was the No. 63 ACEMCO Motorsports Saleen S7R of Johnny Mowlem and Terry Borcheller, just ahead of the Maserati MC12. Actually, all six cars in class went under Beretta's fast lap last year of 1:09.981.

ALMS GT1 QUALIFYING TIMES, PORTLAND: 1st (8th overall) Oliver Gavin, England; Olivier Beretta, Monaco; Corvette C6-R (GT1), 1:08.193, 103.682; 2nd (9th overall) Ron Fellows, Canada; Johnny O`Connell, Flowery Branch, GA; Corvette C6-R (GT1), 1:08.371, 103.412; 3rd (10th overall) Johnny Mowlem, England; Terry Borcheller, Gainesville, GA; Saleen S7R (GT1), 1:08.661, 102.975; 4th (11th overall) Mika Salo, Finland; Fabrizio de Simone, Italy; Maserati MC12 (GT1), 1:08.846, 102.699; 5th (12th overall) Ryan Dalziel, Scotland; Alex Figge, Hollywood, CA; Corvette C5-R (GT1), 1:08.940, 102.559; 6th (14th overall) Michele Rugulo, Italy; Tom Weickardt, Whitefish Bay, WI; Dodge Viper (GT1), 1:09.926, 101.113