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Audi S4s Laguna Seca qualifying

Monterey, Calif. - The Audi S4s of Derek Bell and Michael Galati returned to the front of the grid in qualifying, taking the second and fifth positions for tomorrow's one-hour Speedvision World Challenge GT Series race at Laguna Seca. Michael ...

Edited: Apr 15, 2002, 11:45 PM

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Monterey, Calif. - The Audi S4s of Derek Bell and Michael Galati returned to the front of the grid in qualifying, taking the second and fifth positions for tomorrow's one-hour Speedvision World Challenge GT Series race at Laguna Seca.

Michael Galati, driving the Champion Audi/Audi S4 Competition, put in a fast lap on his sixth circuit of the 2.23 mile track, to take the pole early in the morning qualifying session. Then on lap 10, a Porsche stole the pole from the S4, putting Galati on the outside of the front row for the race. Galati's time of 1:35.530, with a speed of 84.33 mph, is under the existing track record for the GT cars.

Derek Bell in the number 9 Legends of Motorsport/Audi S4 Competition qualified in fifth position, with a time of 1:36.484 and speed of 83.504 mph. Bell returned to the top five after suffering disappointing car troubles in the last three races.

Derek Bell , Legends of Motorsport/Audi S4 Competition: "Well, it is better than 15th. The car feels really good. I have a slight push through the two right handers, so we have to sort that out. But, it is nice to be up front with the fast cars for the start."

Michael Galati , Champion Audi/ Audi S4 Competition: "We thought we had the pole. I missed a shift on my last lap, so maybe if I hadn't made that mistake, I could have had it. The Porsche that is on the pole is fast here, so we will have to stay with him and make a race of it."

Rod Bymaster , manager, Audi Sport North America: "After the problems we had at the last four races, it is nice to have the cars at the front of the grid again. The race is going to be very exciting. The front of the field is very close together."

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