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<< Laguna Seca / Monterey, California. The Aim
Autosport Formula BMW USA team traveled to Laguna Seca Raceway in picturesque
Monterey, California for the opening two rounds of the 2005 championship.
Based on pre-season testing with rookie drivers Kevin Lacroix and Rob
Bunker- the team had high expectations for a solid start to this year’s
campaign.
In race one Kevin Lacroix executed a stellar standing
start few professional racers ever master, the 16 year old rookie driver
rocketed from his fourth starting position and stole the race from the
19 other Formula BMW USA competitors. With the lead firmly in hand by
turn one he led the 15-lap contest flag-to-flag, finishing 1.694 seconds
ahead of Reed Stevens.
Kevin jumped into the lead at the very first turn,
never looked back and went on to win his very first career open-wheel
race starting from fourth place, the 16-year old rookie from St-Eustache,
Quebec had a perfect start and overtook pole sitter Richard Philippe
and two other cars to ease his way up in the lead.
AIM teammate Rob Bunker started ninth on the grid and
drove a steady race, staying out of trouble to finish seventh in race
one.
In race two Kevin started third and finished third
behind Philippe and Soulet as the race was marked by two full-course
caution periods, but the top-three never changed. Rob had an excellent
start and jumped ahead of several competitors, again driving a smooth
race coming home seventh.
Kevin Lacroix #22 (AIM Autosport /Auto Parts Plus-Uni-Select/Pennzoil/CR/
SKF Motor sports/Raybestos/Tenneco Automotive/Les Pièces d'auto
Lacroix)
Race One: Qualified- fourth (1:30.874) / Finished- first (+1.694
sec.)
Race Two: Qualified- third (1:29.746) / Finished- third
Quotes from Kevin:
“In race one my car was fast enough to keep me in the lead and
the fight behind was furious between three or four cars. I'm very happy
and my team deserves much credit. "The start was very good,"
said an excited Lacroix. "I don't know what I did, but I was like
a rocket. Maybe it was because I went to Space Camp. The battles behind
me allowed me to focus on the track ahead." I am confident looking
towards Mid-Ohio and am pleased to lead the Championship.
Rob Bunker #18 (AIM Autosport /Team RennSport)
Race One: Qualified- ninth (1:31.671) / Finished- seventh
Race Two: Qualified- eleventh (1:31.225) / Finished- seventh
Quotes from Rob:
"Seven-seven is pretty solid as far as championship points are
concerned. We'll hunt for a little more, but for the first weekend,
it's not bad at all. Rob said he prepared for the Formula One-style
starts by watching drag-racing on television. "Since I was a little
kid, I sat in front of the TV and watched John Force to the starting
light. Every time the light would go down, I'd slap my hand against
something." Bunker was satisfied with his race finishes. "We
need to work on the setup a little bit. But when it comes down to it,
it's up to me to make the car work, so I'll work on that myself,"
he said.
Race One Results:
1 Kevin Lacroix (R) AIM Autosport
2 Reed Stevens (R)
3 Maxime Soulet
4 John Zartarian (R)
5 James Davison (R)
6 Robert Wickens (R)
7 Rob Bunker (R) AIM Autosport
8 Matthew Lee (R)
9 Tom Sutherland
10 Race Johnson (R)
11 Justin Moon (R)
12 Doug Boyer (R)
13 Ryan Phinny (R)
14 Daniel Herrington
15 Darin Marcus (R)
16 Adrien Herberts (R)
17 Derek Burseth
18 Jules Duc (R)
19 Nathan DePagter (R)
20 Richard Philippe (R)
Race Two Results:
1 Richard Philippe (R)
2 Maxime Soulet
3 Kevin LaCroix (R) AIM Autosport
4 Robert Wickens (R)
5 James Davison (R)
6 Justin Moon (R)
7 Rob Bunker (R) AIM Autosport
8 Reed Stevens (R)
9 Matthew Lee (R)
10 Race Johnson (R)
11 Darin Marcus (R)
12 Doug Boyer (R)
13 Derek Burseth
14 Tom Sutherland
15 Nathan DePagter (R)
16 John Zartarian (R)
17 Jules Duc (R)
18 Ryan Phinny (R)
19 Daniel Herrington
20 Adrien Herberts (R)
AIM Autosport Notes:
- With Kevin Lacroix’s win in round one, AIM Autosport increases
its incredible streak of season opening podiums to ten consecutive years:
2005- Lacroix (FBMW USA)
2004- Hinchcliffe (FBMW USA), Wilkins (Formula Renault NA),
2003- Ranger (Fran-Am), Burchill (Formula Ford),
2002- Dumoulin/Taws (Formula Ford),
2001- Schreiber (Formula Ford),
2000- Macri (Formula Ford),
1999- Asaro (Formula Ford)
1998- Povoledo (Formula Ford)
1997- MacDonald/Simone (Formula Ford)
1996- Veilleux (Formula Ford)
1995- Bordin (Formula Ford)
Driver Points Standings:
1. Kevin Lacroix AIM Autosport 32
2. Maxime Soulet 27
3. Richard Philippe 20
4. Reed Stevens 18
5. Robert Wickens 16
6. James Davison 16
7. John Zartarian 10
8. Rob Bunker AIM Autosport 8
9. Justin Moon 6
10. Matthew Lee 5
11. Tom Sutherland 2
12. Race Johnson 2
13. Doug Boyer 0
14. Ryan Phinny 0
15. Daniel Herrington 0
16. Darin Marcus 0
17. Adrien Herberts 0
18. Derek Burseth 0
19. Jules Duc 0
20. Nathan DePagter 0
- Rounds three and four of the Formula BMW USA Championship will be
held at Mid-Ohio on May 20-22.
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