LE MANS PRE-RACE NOTES 'N' QUOTES

      THE DAWN OF A NEW ERA.  After months of anticipation, weeks
 of hard work, and days of high anxiety, Oldsmobile's Aurora V8 is
 about to make its competition debut in the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
 Wayne Taylor, lead driver for the Doyle Racing Oldsmobile Riley &
 Scott team, completed the final warm-up this morning at 10:30
 a.m.  The Riley & Scott crew installed a fresh 4.0-liter
 Motorsport Aurora V8 yesterday, bolted on a new set of Pirelli
 tires, and made final chassis adjustments in preparation for the
 3:00 p.m. start.
 
      While Taylor is competing at Le Mans for the eighth time in
 his career, his co-drivers Jim Pace and Scott Sharp are rookies
 at the 24-hour classic.  The following are their comments as they
 prepared for a long day and night of driving at the Sarthe
 circuit.
 
      JIM PACE, 35, of Jacksonville, Fla., was an integral part of
 the victorious Riley & Scott team at the Daytona 24-hour and
 Sebring 12-hour races.
 
 When you began your racing career, did you every imagine that you
 would be racing at Le Mans?
 
      It was beyond a dream.  When a racer thinks about what he
 would like to accomplish in his career, Le Mans is such an
 ambitious goal that it doesn't even make the list -- it's like
 wanting to go to the moon.  It's something I've always known
 about, but it seemed like the opportunity was unattainable.
 
      To be here now, with a team like Riley & Scott, with the
 support of Oldsmobile and Pirelli, and with teammates like Wayne
 and Scott is difficult to describe.
 
 What are your impressions of Le Mans?
 
      This is the biggest race in my career.  Today is my first
 time at the 24-hour as either a spectator or participant.  The
 grandeur of the event is incredible; yesterday at the drivers
 parade, there were thousands of people lining the streets.  The
 people of Le Mans are so enthusiastic about the race, you share
 their excitement.
 
      A lot of people are cheering for us as the American team.
 To see Oldsmobile here for the first time, and to be a part of a
 team that has a legitimate shot at the first American win since
 1969 and the first sweep of the Triple Crown is so big.
 
 How do you deal with the distractions that accompany such a big
 event?
 
      Once I get to the race track, I mentally switch gears and
 focus on driving the car.  When I'm racing, Le Mans is just
 another track.  The first few laps I drove in pre-qualifying, I
 found myself saying, 'Wow!  This is Le Mans!'  But after a few
 times around, I began to concentrate on the corners, the braking
 points, and the gear changes.  When I'm in the car, I feel very
 calm."
 
 How will you spend the 24 hours?
 
      I usually don't sleep during an endurance race.  I've done
 several 24-hour races before, from showroom stock to the Rolex 24
 at Daytona.  When I'm out of the car, I'm so keyed up that it's
 difficult to sleep.  I'll try to rest between stints.  If things
 are going well, the enthusiasm keeps you going; if things turn
 sour, you feel so bad that you don't want to sleep either.
 
 What is your approach to the race?
 
      Now that we've gotten into an endurance mode, caution is the
 game plan.  I don't think we're going to lead this race early.
 The assets of this team are pit work and consistency.  That has
 made this team successful in the past, and it will be the key to
 whatever success we have at Le Mans.  The only lap we need to
 lead is the last lap.
 
 
 SCOTT SHARP, 28, of San Ramon, Calif., is also making his first
 start at Le Mans.  Sharp is a two-time Trans-Am champion, and
 co-champion of the Indy Racing League.
 
 What does it mean to you to race at Le Mans?
 
      As I was growing up, I always heard about Le Mans as a race
 where the greatest drivers in the world competed.  As I was
 coming up through the ranks, I had great respect for any driver
 who had raced at Le Mans.  To finally get to participate, and to
 be a part of such a quality effort with Riley & Scott and
 Oldsmobile is very exciting.
 
 Is this a special year for Scott Sharp after winning the Daytona
 24-hour, driving for A.J. Foyt in the Indy 500, and now racing in
 Le Mans?
 
      The drama and the emotion you feel at Indy and Le Mans are
 very similar.  The start of the race, the crowd, the energy you
 feel are overwhelming.  Le Mans is Europe's Indy 500, and to be
 able to race in both events has made this a special season.
 
 How will you spend the time when you aren't driving?
 
      I didn't sleep at Daytona for 38 hours, and I doubt that
 I'll be able to sleep tonight.  Generally I'm better driving than
 I am sitting around, so I hope that I have plenty of time in the
 car.  As long as I can hear the cars on the track, I can never
 relax enough to sleep.
 
 Do you enjoy driving at night?
 
      I *love* driving at night.  It's always been something I've
 liked since I started racing showroom stock cars in a 24-hour
 race at Mosport.  Driving at night is a challenge.  Some teams
 and drivers tend to slow down in darkness, but I don't expect
 that we will.  The night is when we can gain ground on the
 competition.
 
 Is there a part of the track you especially enjoy?
 
      I really like the first section of the track.  The first
 four turns are high-speed twisties where you tap the brakes,
 turn, and stand on the throttle.  Going into the chicanes, our
 car goes in *deep*; I think we can outbrake anybody.  The Porsche
 Curves are very daunting -- you carry so much speed, you're flat
 out in fourth gear, and they're blind.  With only 20 laps on the
 course, I'm still not entirely comfortable with that part of the
 course.  I figure by the end of the race, I should be comfortable
 everywhere!