Japan's Nobuhiro Tajima still has high hopes he will break his overall record of 10 minutes, 1.408 seconds Sunday in the 86th running of the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb. And with it, he would like to take home an additional $25,000 for driving the 12.42-mile, 156-turn course under 10:00.

However, after three days of practice on the 14,110-foot mountain, he has doubts that he or any other driver will accomplish the mission.

Only Tajima, who competes in the Unlimited Division, and two others, Paul Dallenbach of Basalt (Open Wheel) and Martinus Roestenburg of Manukau, New Zealand (Pikes Peak Open), have driven the lower half of the course in under 5 minutes.

Tajima, from Tokyo, is the first Asian champion of the nation's second-oldest sanctioned auto race, winning his first title in 1995. The course is paved for six miles, the same as last year.

This year there is a new challenge for the drivers and motorcycle riders, regardless of their divisions, to overcome. Concrete drainage ditches, ranging from 3 to 4 inches in height, were put down in several areas along the top third of the course. As a result, portions of the road have been reduced in width approximately 2 feet.

"I want the new record and to break the 10-minute barrier," said Tajima, who drives an all-wheel 2008 Suzuki XL-7. "But it's not going to be easy as the top section is very muddy and changed by the construction. This is not good for the times. It is very narrow, loose and slick and I don't think anyone is going to break 10 minutes."

Woodland Park's Clint Vah- sholtz, who has won 10 Stock Car Division championships on Pikes Peak and two additional titles on motorcycles, seems to have the right description of what the competitors are going to face.

"It is almost like being in a pipe and they are almost like Pikes Peak cliffs," said Vahsholtz, Super Stock Cars' top qualifier. "It was narrow enough, but now you are in a much tighter area as the ridges can cause you to crash. It's going to change the dynamics of everything on top and you have to be a lot more methodical."

Said Dallenbach, "It kind of puts a damper of getting a time under 10 minutes. If you get any kind of groove, it will be fine. Right now, the bottom is also so slick. It's hard to say."

While the course will be narrow for the cars and motorcycles, how is it going to affect the Semi Trucks?

"It's probably at least four or five seconds slower than in previous years," said Hollywood stuntman Mike Ryan, who has 10 Big Rig titles and has hit 98 mph through the Picnic Grounds. "It's definitely going to prove interesting and our approach will change. I thought it was time we built a new truck that would be suited more for asphalt as the whole thing will be paved before long. But there are always new challenges to face."

Super Stock Car driver Lynn Cowan, of Peyton, avoided a major disaster. During Friday's second practice run, he rolled his car near Engineer's Corner, a little over two miles into the lower portion of the course. He wasn't injured but his car is out of the race.

"I just got into the corner a little bit hot and just came around hard," said Cowan, who does have a backup car. "I'm OK."

The Pikes Peak camp grounds open at noon today and closes at 9 p.m. The toll gate opens at 4 a.m. Sunday for spectators not already in the camping areas. All uphill traffic will be stopped at the starting line at 8 a.m. with racing scheduled to begin at 9. Information: www.ppihc.com.