Overheat?

[Marksman]

Well I was out driving today with a friend and we were running the car a little hard playing around with a Mustang. It was 95* out. We never hit speeds over 45 MPH except for about 2/3 a mile. I watched the temp gauge slowly crawl up until it was a good bit higher than normal. I drove home and parked and when I shut down the needle was at the top of that inner range on the gauge. I sat for a minute before I popped the hook but when I did, there was coolant leaking from the cap of the surge tank and it was steaming. I looked under the car and a good bit of coolant had leaked out. We're talking a puddle a quarter the size of the car, all on the side of the tank.
What happened? Factors were the harder driving and I have a WAI.
I have a Hypertech 180* thermostat on order and I have a bottle of DEXCOOL to add when the car cools down(overnight).
Let me know,
Thanks
-Marksman

[kubiache]

Why your car got that hot...I don't know without more info, but driving hard and then immediately shutting down the car = bad. An engine can easily reach 300 degrees at shutoff, because there's not air moving over it or coolant pumping through it. Let it sit running for a few minutes with the AC on (it turns the fans on), but not too long. Give that a try. Buy a fan switch, too. I love mine. Why it overheated in the first place...driving hard for less than a mile shouldn't have done it, but I don't know.

[Marksman]

Point taken about shut off...
I drove for a good 20 minutes intown. Lots of stop and go. It was the highway stretch that was less than a mile. I suppose nothing is really wrong unless I popped a gasket, which I sure as hell hope not, but I'll find out tomorrow at the dealer.
I dont think there is a fan switch for a 97...
Thanks!
-Marksman