Formula BMW USA San Jose Grand Prix Preview

As Formula BMW USA joins the Champ Carsix straight poles in Rounds 1 through 6.
World Series for two consecutive race weekends,Behind these three are Maxime Pelletier (HBR
the San Jose Grand Prix will host the 9th and 10thMotorsport Team USA), Alexander Rossi (Team
rounds of the 2007 Formula BMW USAApex Racing USA) and Steven Guerrero (HBR
Championship on July 27 – 29. SeventeenMotorsport Team USA) standing fourth, fifth and
young drivers entered the race with a 1.5-mile,sixth respectively.
7-turn Redback Raceway. Reports say it willSeries graduates also continue to shine as they
provide quite a contrast to the rolling 4.0-mile,climb the motorsport ladder. The San Jose Grand
15-turn Road America circuit where Rounds 11Prix will seem to be a reunion as many graduates
and 12 will be held on August 9 - 12.compete in the Champ Car Atlantic Championship.
Part of the BMW 325e parts making company;Taking the overall pole, Robert Wickens (2006
the Formula BMW USA Championship passed theFormula BMW USA Champion) finished second in
midst of the season at Lime Rock Park on July 6the opening round of the Champ Car Atlantic
– 7. Round 8 marked the 50th Formula BMWseason at the Las Vegas Grand Prix and won in
USA race since the series started in 2004.just his fourth start in Portland. Eight more
So far, three young men have stood on the topFormula BMW USA graduates are racing in
step of the podium. They are also atop theAtlantics this year: James Hinchcliffe (04), Kevin
overall point standings. Daniel MoradLacroix (05), Matt Lee (06), Tom Sutherland (04,
(Eurointernational), one race winner last year on05), Simona De Silvestro (06), Frankie Muniz (06),
his way to the Rookie Championship, has earnedAdrien Herberts (05, 06) and David Garza (06).
five more victories this year, making him theAmong the first group of Formula BMW USA
driver with the most career Formula BMW USAJunior scholarship winners, Graham Rahal became
wins and a 77-point leader. Sophomore driverthe first Formula BMW USA graduate to earn a
Sebastian Saavedra (Eurointernational), who hadfull-time drive in the Champ Car World Series with
an advance win in Round 7 at Lime Rock Park,his start at Las Vegas this year. He became the
placed second in overall points. Rookie Estebanyoungest ever to reach a Champ Car World
Gutierrez (Autotecnica) after two 17th placeSeries podium with his second-place finish in the
finishes at Lime Rock may have fallen five pointsGrand Prix of Houston just this April.
behind Saavedra, but the 15-year old still leads theRound 10 qualifying will be held on Saturday at
Rookie standings. Gutierrez is a holder of a record11:50 - 12:20 p.m.