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ALMS: BMW prototypes qualify fourth and seventh in Las Vegas

29 October 2000

Munich/Las Vegas. BMW works drivers JJ Lehto (FIN) and Jorg
Muller (D) will start fourth in Sunday's American Le Mans Series race
at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.  Lehto qualified the No. 42 BMW V12
LMR on the 2.25-mile road course in one minute 7.637 seconds. 
Teammates Bill Auberlen (USA) and Jean-Marc Gounon (F) are
seventh on the grid in the No. 43 BMW after Gounon qualified in
1:08.659.  BMW Team PTG driver Hans-J. Stuck (D) will start fifth in
the GT class.  His co-driver Boris Said (USA) qualified the No. 7 BMW
M3 in 1:19.254.

BMW Motorsport team manager Charly Lamm: "Things were better
today, not only the weather but also the performance of our BMWs. 
With both cars, we ran well during the free practice this morning and
JJ and the BMW 42 came much closer in qualifying.  With BMW 43,
we will improve because we will install a setup solution that JJ used
in today's qualifying."

JJ Lehto #42: "It was a very good qualifying because we went one
second faster than last year.  It's the first time this year we are able to
see such an improvement, and we're only one-tenth off from Panoz. 
The tires were working fine and the car is as good as it can be at the
moment.  It has been a much better day for me and the team."

Jorg Muller #42: "As usual, JJ did everything he could do.  It was
one of our better qualifyings:  We're closer to the front which we
haven't been for the last two races.  That looks promising, but on the
other hand, it looks like it's going to rain tomorrow, so everything
changes again."

Bill Auberlen #43: "Jean-Marc did a good job qualifying, and I'm
looking forward to having our teammate's setup tomorrow.  We're
where we are, so we'll make the best of it during the race."

Jean-Marc Gounon #43: "This is good for our team that JJ could run
so close to the front because he was trying some technical solutions
that Bill and I will get for the race.  That makes me feel very confident
for tomorrow."

Hans-J. Stuck #7 GT: "We are satisfied with our fifth position.  I think
our chance will come in the race.  This is one of the few occasions in
my life when I don't pray for rain tomorrow."