Why is Access so slow for subqueries?

[Builder]

*** SLOW: returns a few records in 4 seconds ***
SELECT DISTINCT FIELD1, FIELD2, ...
FROM TABLE
WHERE PROJECT_ID = 1234
AND PROJECT_TYPE = 'G'
AND TASK_ID IN
(
SELECT DISTINCT PRNT_TASK_ID
FROM PROJECTS
WHERE PROJECT_ID = 1234
AND PROJECT_TYPE = 'I'
)
ORDER BY TASK_ORD;
*** BLAZING: RETURNS SAME DATA IN 1/4th of 1 second ***
SELECT DISTINCT P1.FIELD1, P1.FIELD2, ...
FROM PROJECTS P1
INNER JOIN
(
SELECT DISTINCT PRNT_TASK_ID
FROM PROJECTS
WHERE PROJECT_ID = 1234
AND PROJECT_TYPE = 'I'
) P2
ON P1.TASK_ID = P2.PRNT_TASK_ID
WHERE P1.PROJECT_ID = 1234
AND P1.PROJECT_TYPE = 'G'
ORDER BY P1.TASK_ORD;

[Baz]

Good question. It just is.

"Builder" <no*****@builder.comwrote in message
news:WQ*****************@bignews2.bellsouth.net...

*** SLOW: returns a few records in 4 seconds ***
SELECT DISTINCT FIELD1, FIELD2, ...
FROM TABLE
WHERE PROJECT_ID = 1234
AND PROJECT_TYPE = 'G'
AND TASK_ID IN
(
SELECT DISTINCT PRNT_TASK_ID
FROM PROJECTS
WHERE PROJECT_ID = 1234
AND PROJECT_TYPE = 'I'
)
ORDER BY TASK_ORD;
*** BLAZING: RETURNS SAME DATA IN 1/4th of 1 second ***
SELECT DISTINCT P1.FIELD1, P1.FIELD2, ...
FROM PROJECTS P1
INNER JOIN
(
SELECT DISTINCT PRNT_TASK_ID
FROM PROJECTS
WHERE PROJECT_ID = 1234
AND PROJECT_TYPE = 'I'
) P2
ON P1.TASK_ID = P2.PRNT_TASK_ID
WHERE P1.PROJECT_ID = 1234
AND P1.PROJECT_TYPE = 'G'
ORDER BY P1.TASK_ORD;