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ALMS: BMW V12 LMR prototypes to start from third row

7 November 1999

                          Final Qualifying Saturday
Round 8, American Le Mans Series
6th November 1999, Las Vegas, Nevada 

Munich/Las Vegas. Lady luck deserted the two BMW V12
LMRs in qualifying for the final round of the American Le Mans
Series in America's gambling city of Las Vegas this weekend.
The two prototypes will start the race from fifth and sixth
positions. Finn JJ Lehto lapped the Nevada circuit in a time of
1 minute 08.619 seconds, good enough for fifth position,
behind the wheel of the No. 42 BMW prototype that he shares
with Briton Steve Soper. This year's Le Mans winner Joachim
Winkelhock qualified the BMW V12 LMR he shares with
American Bill Auberlen in sixth after lapping the 2.25 mile (3,6
kilometre) circuit in 1 minute 08.698 seconds in the No. 43 car. 

In the GT class Hans-Joachim Stuck was fourth fastest,
recording a lap of 1 minute 19.742 seconds in the BMW Team
PTG-prepared BMW M3 coupe. Stuck drives with Johannes
van Overbeek (USA), who can still win the GT drivers title. 

BMW Team Manager Charly Lamm: "It seems we have not yet
unlocked the secret of the Las Vegas Motor Speedway. After
three pole positions and twice being on front row of the grid,
today's qualifying result is not what we expected. Since we
arrived here we have not been able to close the gap to the front
runners. We lose time all over the circuit, in the infield as well
as on the straight. We already knew that pole position would be
difficult, and so preferred to concentrate on our race set up.
Therefore we made big change in set up and used a harder tire
compound than we usually would for a qualifying lap."

JJ Lehto #42: "We did what we could and fortunately we now
have a little less understeer. But we did not solve our set up
problem, especially regarding grip. We are missing one
second, which is a new experience for us."

Steve Soper #42: "We have been working hard to set up the
car properly. We have now used some of the data from car
number 43. Of course it is not ideal to make such a change
before qualifying, but it suits us better."

Joachim Winkelhock #43: "It went okay so far, although I did
not have a really clear lap. I believe our race depends on how
consistent the tires will be. The circuit has four tight bends out
of which one has to accelerate hard, which of course costs
rubber."

Bill Auberlen #43: "The team has made real progress on the
car and I was very pleased with it in the morning's session.
Different springs, shocks and some further adjustments made a
change for the better. The balance and especially the
high-speed handling improved a lot. Overall it makes me happy
that Joachim is in such good form. Together we will be a strong
team in the race."

Hans-Joachim Stuck #6 (BMW M3, BMW Team PTG): "I think
we are prepared for the race. My goal is to reach the podium
and I think there is a chance for third place."