FORMULA BMW USA ROUNDS 7 & 8 PREVIEW, USGP - INDIANAPOLIS

Woodcliff Lake, NJ - June 14, 2005. The 2005 Formula BMW USA season reaches its halfway point at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway this weekend, providing the ultimate venue for 23 eager young Formula BMW competitors to show some of the finest entry-level, open-wheel racing in the world.

As the preparations for the United States Grand Prix weekend begin, the battle for the title of 2005 Formula BMW USA Champion is tightening up considerably. Prior to the Round 6 race at Montreal on Sunday, only Kevin Lacroix (AIM Autosport) and Richard Philippe (Team Autotecnica) had reached the top of the podium. Philippe has two wins (R2, R4) while Overall and Rookie Points leader Lacroix has three (R1, R3, R5). Robert Wicken's (Team Apex Racing USA) breakthrough win in Round 6, however, and Lacroix's retirement in the early stages of that race has changed both points races considerably.

In the Overall points, only a scant nine separates Lacroix (72) from Maxime Soulet (63) in second. Wickens now stands third (62), only one point behind Soulet. Behind them are Philippe and Reed Stevens, each with 49 points. The Rookie battle has also closed up. Lacroix (75) leads Wickens (73) by two points. Stevens stands third (56), Philippe fourth (54) and James Davison fifth (41).

Wickens certainly had his finest weekend of the season at Montreal, but Rob Bunker and Matt Lee also recorded their best finishes. Every young Formula BMW USA driver is getting faster and each Round is becoming increasingly competitive. Last weekend was one for the Canadians, with Lacroix and Wickens winning. Will a US driver seize the day at Indy?

Added into the Indianapolis mix are two fast competitors from the German Formula BMW ADAC Series. German BMW Junior driver Tobias Hegewald scored the pole for both Montreal races and took a third in Round 6. Jonathan Summerton already knows how to win at Indy, having become the youngest-ever to win a race at the world's best known race track with his win in Round 5 in the 2004 Formula BMW USA Series. Summerton finished second in Round 5 at Montreal, so he is sure to be a factor at Indy.

Last season, the Indianapolis rounds provided some of the best racing of the season. With this season's competition at a fever pitch, Rounds 7 and 8 are sure to eclipse them for action and excitement.

Practice will be held on Friday, June 17 at 10:05 a.m., followed by the single qualifying session at 4:45 p.m. The Round 7 race is scheduled to start at 2:30 p.m. Saturday and the Round 8 race is scheduled to start at 9:30 a.m. Sunday.

Championship points after 6 of 14 races:

1. Kevin Lacroix (AIM Autosport, 72), 2. Maxime Soulet (Gelles Racing, 63), 3. Robert Wickens (Team Apex Racing USA, 62), 4. Richard Philippe (Team Autotecnica, 49), 5. Reed Stevens (HBR Motorsport Team USA, 49), 6. James Davison (HBR Motorsport Team USA, 35), 7. John Zartarian (Jensen MotorSport, 23), 8. Rob Bunker (AIM Autosport, 18), 9. Justin Moon (Gelles Racing, 18), 10. Edoardo Piscopo (EuroInternational, 18), 11. Jonathan Summerton (Walker Racing, 15), 12. Daniel Herrington (Jensen MotorSport, 14), 13. Tom Sutherland (HBR Motorsport Team USA, 13), 14. Tobias Hegewald (Atlantic Racing Team, 12), 15. Race Johnson (HBR Motorsport Team USA, 8), 16. Matthew Lee (Twintooth/BRM Motorsport, 8), 17. Darin Marcus (Gelles Racing, 4), 18. Doug Boyer (Jensen MotorSport, 2), 19. Adrien Herberts (Atlantic Racing Team, 2), 20. Paul Rees (Walker Racing, 1), 21. Derek Burseth (Burseth Racing, 0), 20. Ryan Campbell (Gelles Racing, 0), 21. Nathan DePagter (DRE Autosport, 0), 22. Jules Duc (Jensen MotorSport, 0), 23. Scott Harnell (SDH3 with Cinema Concepts, 0), 24. Ryan Phinny (Gelles Racing, 0)

Rookies: 1. Kevin Lacroix (75), 2. Robert Wickens (73), 3. Reed Stevens (56), 4. Richard Philippe (54), 5. James Davison (41), 6. Rob Bunker (33), 7. John Zartarian (29), 8. Edoardo Piscopo (25), 9. Justin Moon (22), 10. Race Johnson (19), 11. Matthew Lee (19), 12. Darin Marcus (15), 13. Adrien Herberts (13), 14. Doug Boyer (5), 15. Ryan Campbell (4), 16. Jules Duc (3), 17. Nathan DePagter (0), 18. Ryan Phinny (0)

Statistics:

Winners 2005: Lacriox (3), Philippe (2), Wickens (1) Pole Positions: Philippe (4), Hegewald (2) Podiums: Lacroix (3), Soulet (3), Philippe (2), Stevens (2), Davison (1), Piscopo (1), Moon (1), Hegewald (1), Wickens (2), Summerton (1)

Background:

Formula BMW is the world's leading entry-level class in Formula racing. In 2005 the series will be held in Germany, Britain, Asia and the USA. Up-and-coming drivers as young as 15-years-old are given the opportunity of entering motor racing with the high-tech, standard FB02 race car.

This racing car has been seen on the grid since 2002 and has set standards particularly on the safety technology front. The single-seater is propelled by a 140 bhp BMW engine up to 140 mph and exceeds by far the safety requirements for its class. BMW Motorsport has developed the FORS Formula Rescue Race Seat especially for Formula BMW. The HANSŪ safety system is also mandatory.

In 2005, Formula BMW will be staged five times as part of the Formula One support program. All the series offer a multifaceted Education and Coaching Program as well as sponsorship for promising racing talents. The best-known alumni of this talent hothouse are Formula One drivers Ralf Schumacher and Christian Klien.

BMW Motorsport Director Dr. Mario Theissen: "Formula BMW offers talented young drivers more than just a car. In the Education and Coaching Program we have designed specially for them, they learn everything they need to know to hold their own in the big wide world of motor racing. Formula BMW has shot out of the blocks to become the top entry-level class for Formula racing worldwide."

In December 2005 the Bahrain International Circuit will host the first Formula BMW World Final. Young racing drivers from the four regional Formula BMW series will compete against each other. The winner will get the chance to test a BMW WilliamsF1 Team car.