NA-F2000: Minneapolis Hichcroft Racing qualifying

Lally and Dayton Put Their Bowmans Solidly in the Field For Today's U.S. F2000 Race MINNEAPOLIS, June 28 - On Sunday morning Highcroft Racing's Andy Lally and Duncan Dayton qualified their Bowman BC5s eighth and 12th, respectively, for a 30-lap/48 mile U.S. Formula 2000 event later today. The race, part of the Sprint PCS Grand Prix of Minnesota, is scheduled to start at 5:15 p.m.

Lally, of Northport, N.Y., spun three times in the half-hour qualifying session but still recorded a lap at an average speed of 72.118 mph in his Red Line Oil/Highcroft/Maida Bowman BC5 No. 5. Dayton, of North Salem, N.Y., lost first gear and had a lengthy pit stop, but not before he had run a lap at an average speed of 71.631 mph to earn the 12th starting spot in the 29-car contest. In addition to Highcroft Racing and Bowman America, Dayton's Bowman BC5 No. 4 carries a decal for WALCRO this weekend.

Track conditions are expected to be especially challenging later this afternoon, as a NTB Trans-Am race, a PPG Neon Challenge race and a one hour, 45 minute USRRC Can-Am/GT race are on the docket before the F2000 cars come back out at 5:15 p.m. for the final race of the weekend.

Marc-Antoine Camirand won the F2000 pole with an automatic new track record of 73.422 mph. This is the series' first appearance at this event.

Dayton was seventh-fastest in the practice session Saturday with an average speed of 70.628 mph. Lally was ninth-fastest in that session with a lap at 70.598 mph.

All the proceeds from the Sprint PCS Grand Prix of Minnesota benefit the Cancer Kids Fund of the Children's Hospital and Clinics-Minneapolis. Both Lally and Dayton visited the Children's Hospital on Thursday.

The event is staged on a 1.6-mile track on city streets near the Metrodome.