Laguna Seca: Touring Car qualifying notes

Lambert captures second career Speed Touring Car pole at Laguna.

MONTEREY, CALIF. (September 21, 2002) -- Paul Lambert, of Los Gatos, Calif., captured his second SCCA Pro Racing SPEED World Challenge Touring Car Woody's Ice Pole Position today at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, part of the Monterey Sports Car Championships. Chuck Hemmingson, of W. Des Moines, Iowa, and Pierre Kleinubing, of Exreim, Brazil, completed the top three.

Driving the No. 77 Sonneen Motorcars Parts & Services Audi A4, Lambert continued to show the pace he showed in Friday's practice. Late in the session, Lambert moved to the top of the time chart with a lap of 1:43.797 [77.620 mph]. At the checkered flag, no one had bested Lambert's new lap record, giving him the pole for Saturday's race.

"The biggest thing since the last race has been the support we've gotten from Sonneen Motorcars and the rest of the sponsors," said Lambert. "I think the start will be real exciting, especially for the fans. There's nothing like a four-wheel drive car rocketing of the line at a standing start."

At the start of the 20-minute qualifying session, Hemmingson was the first driver to post a significant lap. Driving the No. 19 OPM Motorsports/Mazda/TBPG Mazda Protege, Hemmingson looked to be in contention for the pole position, until Lambert bettered his lap of 1:44.090 [77.402 mph].

Kleinubing, running the No. 1 RealTime Racing Acura Integra R, was in contention for a front-row start throughout the session, posting a fast lap of 1:44.279 [77.262 mph].

Shauna Marinus, of Folsom, Calif., will start fourth, equaling her best qualifying position of the year, while her teammate Paul Bonaccorsi, of Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., completed the top five.

Round Nine of the SPEED World Challenge Touring Car will begin its 25-lap event Saturday at 6:20 p.m. (ET).

-scca pro racing-