>I also tested this same query in VS.Net 2.0 from the Server tool and got a similar result as with VFP. I copied the query from the VS.Net query panel to the QA and it ran in less than a blink of the eye.
>

What are you using to connect SQL Server from VFP, SQL ODBC, Native client?
My guess is that one of setting is different when query is run through QA or otherwise.