Sears Point qualifying report

SONOMA, Calif. (July 21, 2001) Johannes van Overbeek, of Danville, Calif., earned his second pole of the season on just his second lap during qualifying for tomorrow's Speedvision World Challenge GT Championship Round Six race at Sears Point Raceway. Peter Cunningham, of West Bend, Wis., and Michael Galati, of Olmstead, Ohio, will start second and third, respectively.

Van Overbeek, No. 81 Flextronics/Intel Porsche 911 GT3 Cup, sped to the pole early, pulled in the pits and then sat back and watched his time of 1:48.244 (83.810 mph) hold up while the 20-car qualifying field tried to play catch-up. He collected the pole in a field that included numerous drivers who consider Sears Point their home track.

"We've had a rocky road since our last pole at Sebring earlier this season," said van Overbeek. "The run today was similar to that of Sebring because I turned my fastest lap on the second lap of qualifying. After we had the pole I brought it in and we just sat on that time. It's a tough, tough track."

For van Overbeek, it's the fourth pole of his career. But tomorrow's race won't be as easy as today's run.

"The Audi and the Corvette will be up front at the start due to the Audi's all-wheel drive system and the power of the Corvette," said van Overbeek. "But on this course it will come down to who drives the smoothest."

With the pole, van Overbeek earns two championship points in the World Challenge GT Championship hunt and will advance to fourth in the point race with 99. Point leader Michael Galati, No. 9 Champion Audi/Audi S4 Competition, qualified third and looks to build on his 146 point total.

-SCCA/SCCA ProRacing