Anonymous - 6-3-2005 at 05:54 PM
http://www.lasvegassun.com/sunbin/stories/births/2005/jun/02...
by Brian Hilderbrand
June 02, 2005
It is only half the distance of the more famous Baja 1000, but this weekend's Tecate SCORE Baja 500 just might present more of a challenge to the 375
off-road racers expected to take part in the race which begins and ends in Ensenada, Mexico.
"The SCORE Baja 1000 has the well-earned legacy as the top desert race in the world, but the SCORE Baja 500 may be the toughest," said Mark McMillin,
who has six class victories in the 500 and has won the overall title twice. "The course is the toughest we see all year with the most diverse terrain,
changing weather conditions around the track, and with the most entries of the year, the competition is tougher than the Indy 500.
"Then, mix in over 150,000 spectators along the race route and you clearly have the ingredients for a real pressure cooker. It's one of those things
that you can't really fully comprehend unless you've been there and experienced it first hand."
You won't get an argument from Alan Pflueger, who captured the overall title for cars and trucks and Trophy Truck class victories last year in
Ensenada.
"Year in and year out, the Tecate SCORE Baja 500 is the roughest, toughest, most challenging course we race on," Pflueger said. "If you aren't
prepared by multiple practice runs, you won't be able to drive fast enough to win (because) there will be plenty of rocks waiting to jump out and bite
your front end off.
"Defending your title in any sport is difficult, but it is even tougher in SCORE desert racing when you include all the added competition and a course
that is as rough and tough as it gets."
Saturday's 37th annual Tecate SCORE Baja 500 will take the green flag Saturday morning (6 a.m. for motorcycles and ATVs and 8:30 for cars and trucks)
in downtown Ensenada. All vehicles will have 17 hours to complete the 419-mile course.
Highlights of the Baja 500 will be televised, on a delayed basis, as a one-hour primetime special this summer on The Outdoor Life Network (OLN).