SBRS: Sebring Bomarito on pole for round 2

Jonathon Bomarito secured his first pole of the young Formula Dodge National Championship Presented by RACER season in Round 2 qualifying at Sebring. The Californian lowered his previous mark on the 3.61-mile circuit set in yesterday’s session by over a second to capture the prime grid spot for tomorrow’s race. Juan Manuel Polar, who will start from pole in today’s Round 1 action, appeared comfortably on provisional pole late in the session until Bomarito bested his time on the last lap with a time of 2:24.126 sec. Polar will start on the front row in the number two position.

Leonardo Maia, who had predicted a top-3 result prior to the session, was true to his word and will start from third. Joining him on row 2 is Julio Campos, who was parked in provisional second until displaced late in the session. Barber-CART Karting Scholarship winner A.J. Allmendinger continues to improve form. He’ll start from fifth in tomorrow’s race. Polar, Maia, Campos and Allmendiger were the only racers, in addition to Bomarito, to record times in the 2:24.000 range.

Bomarito’s Round 2 pole time was 0.731 sec. quicker than Polar’s best time in Round 1 qualifying and a remarkable 2.241 sec. quicker than his own.

“The session went great,” said a pleased Bomarito. “The car was getting better and better as the session went on. I found a couple of new things out on the track, which I believe contributed to faster times. In yesterday’s qualifying session, I thought that the car was a bit sluggish. We talked about it and [Driver Coach] Chris Wilson tested it out and the car was definitely quicker and more responsive today.”

Polar’s times may be the result of his familiarity with the track, having competed at Sebring last year in the Southern Series and earlier this year in Round 1 of the Barber Dodge Pro Series. The young Peruvian showed only a hint of disappointment at being displaced from pole.

“I was pleased to have registered pole in yesterday’s qualifying session,” said Polar. “This is just the first round and I expect it to be an extraordinarily competitive championship. I think Bomarito did an exceptional job in today’s qualifying. I congratulate him on his session. I think that between today and tomorrow, we’re going to have two very exciting races.”

Round 2 race action is scheduled for Sunday afternoon.

2001 Formula Dodge National Championship Qualifying Results Round 2

Sebring International Raceway

<pre> POS/CAR#/DRIVER/RESIDES/TIME 1/23/Jonathan Bomarito/Salinas, California/2:24.126 2/38/Juan Manuel Polar/Sannisidro, Lima, Peru/2:24.541 3/53/Leonardo Maia/Oakland, California/2:24.773 4/17/Julio Campos/Santa Felicidade, Parana, Brazil/2:24.796 5/89/A.J. Allmendinger/Hollister, California/2:24.990 6/56/Scott Presti/Naples, Florida/2:25.241 7/9/Craig Duerson/St. Petersburg, Florida/2:25.332 8/35/Matt Franc/2:25.476 9/97/Grant Maiman/New London, Wisconsin/2:25.728 10/81/Dan Di Leo/Markham, Ontario, Canada/2:25.763 11/7/Damian Della-Santina/Los Angeles, California/2:25.772 12/14/Chip Bryant/New Braunfels, Texas/2:25.779 13/85/Tophie Stewart/Carmichael, California/2:25.808 14/16/Landon Yee/San Rafael, California/2:25.812 15/46/Ben Moore/Naples, Florida/2:25.920 16/5/Gary Longo/Evanston, Illinois/2:26.116 17/2/Curt Andrews/Plymouth, Wisconsin/2:26.133 18/42/Kevin Christensen/Castaic, California/2:26.393 19/30/Brian Rivera/Miami, Florida/2:26.492 20/65/Dan Kraus/Warwick, New York/2:26.494 21/83/James Gue/Roswell, Georgia/2:26.794 22/26/Tommy Contino/Hesperia, California/2:27.310 23/37/Jason King/New Hope, Minnesota/2:27.815 24/12/Burt Frisselle/Kihei, Hawaii/2:28.059 25/50/Robbie Montinola/Laguna Beach, California/2:28.345 26/20/Michael Curtiss/Alexandria, Virginia/2:30.833

- Andrew Torres