“I am now on the second row and will be right up there for the start,” said 16-year- old Summerton. “We were a bit high with our tire pressures in qualifying so we may be able to find a few more tenths in the race, but I am pleased with our effort. I’ll be on the inside of the second row for the start and I think that will be a good place to be.” “Like they say, sometimes it is better to be lucky than good so I am quite happy to move up to the front row,” said Bonilla. “I have driven this track before, but yesterday was my very first time in a Formula BMW FB2. The car is great fun to drive, very responsive and forgiving. This afternoon will be my first standing-start in a formula car and I am really looking forward to it.” Round 1 of the Formula BMW USA Championship is scheduled for 1:25 p.m. today. Qualifying: Race 1 1.   Matt Jaskol (Team Autotecnica) 52.098 2.   Gerardo Bonilla (Jensen Motorsport) 52.445 3.   Jonathan Summerton (R) (HBR Motorsport) 52.545 4.   Andreas Wirth                  (HBR Motorsport) 52.745 5.   Tom Milner (R)                 (Team PTG Motorsport) 52.781 6.   James Hinchcliffe (R) (AIM Autosport) 52.786 7.   Billy Johnson                    (Team PTG Motorsport) 53.046 8.   Kyle Herder                      (Atlantic Racing Team) 53.163 9.   Graham Rahal (R)               (Vitesse Farm Racing) 53.181 10. Trevor Daley (R)              (Atlantic Racing Team) 53.648 11. Alan Sciuto (R)                 (Jensen Motorsport) 54.315 12. Alexis Fenton (R)             (Team Autotecnica) 56.131 13. Tom Sutherland (R)         (Team PTG Motorsport) 56.446 14. Derek Burseth (R)            (Atlantic Racing Team) 1:02.074 Brian Frisselle             (Atlantic Racing Team) no time Joey Hand (Team PTG Motorsport) no time BMW Motorsport Director Mario Theissen adds, “Our junior talent promotion program is an intensive basic education for successful kart drivers who want to move up into Formula racing. Our priorities are to create a level playing field through technically identical vehicles and scrupulously defined regulations, and to ensure maximum safety.”

The ultra-modern Formula BMW racecar, which allows 15-year-olds to enter the world of motor racing, has been lining up on the grid all around the world since the 2002 season. It sets standards above all on the safety technology front. The single- seater, powered by a 140 bhp BMW motorcycle engine producing speeds up to 140 mph, features a carbon-fiber chassis and fulfils the safety requirements of the much higher-performance Formula 3 cars. In 2004, Formula BMW will be staged in four different series held in Germany, England, Asia and the USA. Formula BMW events will be part of the Formula One support program on five occasions around the world. All the series go hand-in-hand with a comprehensive education and coaching program, as well as substantial financial backing for promising young talent. The most distinguished graduate is Ralf Schumacher. The star of the BMW WilliamsF1 Team made his racing debut in the junior class in 1992.