Laguna Seca Friday Qualifying

BENTHAM TAKES PROVISIONAL POLE AT LAGUNA SECA

MONTEREY, Calif. - Canadian Lee Bentham took the provisional pole for Saturday's KOOL/Toyota Atlantic Championship race at the Honda Grand Prix of Monterey.

Bentham, of Richmond Hill, Ont., recorded a time of 1:20.218 around the 2.238-mile Laguna Seca Raceway course, for an average qualifying speed of 100.43 miles per hour. Anthony Lazzaro, of Acworth, Ga., will start second after posting a time of 1:20.588. Kenny Wilden, of Burlington, Ont., will start third with a time of 1:20.980.

Final qualifying is set for 12 p.m. on Saturday, with round 12 of the 13-race KOOL/Toyota Atlantic Championship is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. Bentham leads the drivers' championship with 131 points, eight points ahead of second-place Memo Gidley. MONTEREY, Calif. - Starting lineup for Saturday's 28-lap, 62.664-mile KOOL/Toyota Atlantic Championship race at Laguna Seca Raceway, with starting position, driver, hometown, car, time and speed in miles-per-hour. 1. Lee Bentham, Richmond Hill, Ont., Swift 008.a, 1:20.218, 100.436. 2. Anthony Lazzaro, Acworth, Ga., Swift 008.a, 1:20.588, 99.975. 3. Kenny Wilden, Burlington, Ont., Swift 008.a, 1:20.980, 99.491. 4. Matt Sielsky, Northbrook, Ill., Swift 008.a, 1:21.128, 99.309. 5. Buddy Rice, Phoenix, Ariz., Swift 008.a, 1:21.189, 99.235. 6. Rino Mastronardi, Italy, Swift 008.a, 1:21.211, 99.208. 7. Alexandre Tagliani, Lachenaie, Que., Swift 008.a, 1:21.405, 98.971. 8. Derek Hill, Costa Mesa, Calif., Swift 008.a, 1:21.505, 98.850. 9. Nicholas Rondet, San Diego, Calif., Swift 008.a, 1:21.515, 98.838. 10. Masaoki Nagashima, Tokyo, Japan, Swift 008.a, 1:21.523, 98.828. 11. Andrew Bordin, Woodbridge, Ont., Swift 008.a, 1:21.771, 98.528. 12. David Pook, Long Beach, Calif., Swift 008.a, 1:21.774, 98.525. 13. Memo Gidley, Novato, Calif., Swift 008.a, 1:22.290, 97.907. 14. Michael Conte, Seattle, Wash., Swift 008.a, 1:22.297, 97.899. 15. Andrea Delorenzi, Italy, Swift 008.a, 1:22.536, 97.615. 16. David Rutledge, West Vancouver, B.C., Swift 008.a, 1:22.607, 97.531. 17. Cam Binder, Calgary, Alberta, Swift 008.a, 1:22.751, 97.361. 18. John Rutherford, Ft. Worth, Texas, Swift 008.a, 1:22.773, 97.336. 19. Michael David, Corona, Calif., Ralt RT-41, 1:22.854, 97.240. 20. Eric Lang, New York, N.Y., Swift 008.a, 1:22.935, 97.145. 21. John Brooks, Tucson, Ariz., Ralt RT-40, 1:23.359, 96.651. 22. Rob MacDonald, Keswick, Ont., Swift 008.a, 1:23.416, 96.585. 23. Joe Sposato, Arcadia, Calif., Ralt RT-41, 1:24.667, 95.158. 24. Rennie Clayton, Tucson, Ariz., Ralt RT-41, 1:25.026, 94.756. 25. Bob Siska, San Francisco, Calif., Ralt RT-40, 1:26.991, 92.616.