BMW WilliamsF1 Team-Montoya/Gordon Car Swap

Indianapolis (USA). 11th June 2003; Juan Pablo Montoya and Jeff Gordon were infidels today.
On Wednesday, June 11th, for the first time in history two drivers of their
level swapped cars at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Montoya, who won the
Monaco Grand Prix ten days ago with the BMW WilliamsF1 Team, and the
four-time NASCAR Champion Jeff Gordon (USA) enjoyed a very special racing
day. 

Montoya and Gordon drove six and seven flying laps respectively ­ plus in-
and out-laps - on their own on the 4.192 kilometres Indianapolis road
circuit which consists of parts of the legendary oval and a very winding
infield. For a final they both drove a parade lap side by side. For both of
them it was the first time they sat behind the wheel of a NASCAR car or F1
car respectively but also both the drivers clocked impressive lap times.

Montoya (27) was the first one to do his laps during the warm and sunny
noontime with the 1600-kilogram and approximately 800-bhp powerful Chevrolet
of 31-year-old Gordon. The Colombian F1 star was excited: "This was so much
fun, I really enjoyed myself. The NASCAR moves around a lot more than the
F1, it is much more active, but it also gave me a very good feedback. Once I
underestimated the weight of the car when I saw a corner and thought I would
make it, but I was braking too late and ruined a tyre. Also I found the
power of the engine impressive. Although at high speed, Jeff might confirm
that now, there is nothing you can compare with the BMW F1 engine."

Gordon, darling of the public all over the U.S., said after his laps with
the last year¹s Formula One car FW24, in which the BMW engine offers up to
900 bhp for a total weight of just 600 kilograms: "I really cannot describe
the great feeling I had. The corners come up so fast, and the car brakes so
well and turns so well, and at the exit of the corners it grabs it up and
just goes. It is unreal, like slot car racing. I drove full throttle on the
straight and got pressed into the seat much more than I would have imagined.
My neck is sore after only a few laps."

BMW Motorsport Director Mario Theissen also made a stopover at Indy on his
way to the Canadian Grand Prix. "It was a fantastic event for the two teams
and the fans around. And if you look at the drivers¹ faces it must have been
like Christmas for them. It was great watching these two professionals
getting familiar with each other¹s machines. Both had an approach full of
curiosity and circumspection. I think it was a brilliant idea to bring
together Formula One and the most popular U.S. racing series. Also it has
been a good promotion for the F1 race at the end of September, the Grand
Prix of the United States, which is BMW¹s most important overseas market."

Most of the BMW WilliamsF1 Team staff did follow the event live on TV in the
garage of the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Montreal, where the preparation
for the Canadian GP is underway.