Christian Fittipaldi, who was scheduled to make his 2002 BGN debut this weekend in the Channellock 250 at Bristol Motor Speedway, will instead debut the #30 Mike’s Hard Lemonade Chevy at the Hardees 250 at Richmond on May 3. A conflict arose for Fittipaldi this weekend when his Newman/Haas Racing CART team scheduled a last-minute test session in Sebring, FL, on Thursday and Friday. The CART series remains Fittipaldi’s priority this season, and the session precludes his ability to qualify at Bristol. “I am disappointed that Bristol did not work out,” Fittipaldi said. “I was really looking forward to racing there. We will get everything ready for Richmond, and I am excited about racing under the lights there at night. I’ve raced at night in many parts of the world, in many different types of cars, and I really enjoy it.” Fittipaldi’s first and only BGN start came last November at Homestead. Mike’s Hard Lemonade served as the primary sponsor for that one-time effort with the Innovative Motorsports team.(Innovative Motorsports PR)(3-20-2002)
