July 2006

Lee Finishes a Solid Fourth In First Half of Formula BMW Doubleheader Saturday at IMS

INDIANAPOLIS, July 1 - Although his car developed an oversteering condition, Matt Lee of Syosset, N.Y. finished a solid fourth in Saturday's Formula BMW USA race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The support race for the United States Grand Prix was held in 90-degree temperatures.

Lee's Team Autotecnica/Twin tooth Racing teammate, Robert Thorne of Sherman, Conn., was 19th in the 29-car field.

Lee started on the pole for this event, as he will in the second half of the doubleheader here Sunday morning. Thorne started 22nd Saturday.

Robert Wickens, who started second, led every lap of the race, which was slowed by one yellow on lap two. The green waved again on lap three and it stayed out the rest of the way.

Lee remained in second place until the halfway point. He was about 2.022 seconds behind Wickens when Stefano Coletti passed him for that spot with seven laps down.

Simona de Silvestro pushed him to fourth on the tenth circuit around the 2.605-mile road course. Then Tobias Hegewald wiggled by on the next-to-last lap, but Lee got back around him on the last lap to regain fourth before the checkered.

Thorne got off to a great start, moving up two positions by lap two and two more by lap three. He slipped to 21st on lap five but by lap eight he was back up to 18th. He got as high as 17th, but he ended up 19th at the line.

Tomorrow morning's race is slated to start at 9:30 a.m. before the United States Grand Prix begins at 1 p.m.

Both Lee and Thorne's Autotecnica cars are sponsored in part by Bumper to Bumper, Autoparts Warehouse, the Francis A. Lee Company, Matt-Con Services Corp. and Integrated Structures. Both drivers are also looking for additional marketing partners to join their program.

On Thursday Lee and Thorne visited the pediatric ward of Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis in an appearance organized by Nena Ray of the Think First Foundation. They visited about 15 young patients and stressed the importance of wearing seat belts and helmets. FOX 59 Television and 1070 WIBC Radio covered the appearance.

Thorne was chosen to meet some Boy Scouts at the track Saturday night in another promotion. The scouts are camping in the infield of the racetrack tonight. "We're going to talk to them about our sport and sign some autographs," Thorne explained. "I was picked to go because I used to be a Boy Scout. I was a member of Troop 48 in Sherman, Conn. for awhile."

More information is available on the Internet at twintooth.com, autotecnicagroup.com and formulabmwusa.com.

Driver post-race quotes follow:

Matt Lee:

"My car developed a lot of oversteer. My start was OK, but Wickens got a better start than I did. After the restart the car started to act up, so it was more of a defensive race than an offensive race for me this time. The engine was overheating the whole time too.

"At the end I passed Hegewald in the banking coming onto the straightaway; I got under him.

"I had one close call when Simona [de Silvestro] pushed me into the grass under braking once, late in the race.

"I have to thank Team Autotecnica. They worked hard and we collected some points. Although I wish we could have been on the podium, I'm satisfied with my performance because I drove the car 100 percent. We'll just try again tomorrow. I'm starting from the pole tomorrow too, so that's good."

Robert Thorne:

"My car was OK, but with the heat the tires seemed to go away a little.

"My start was fine. I gained two or more positions on the first lap.

"There was a lot of action for the whole race, especially in Turn Eight. Everything was really close; too close sometimes.

"I'm happy I finished. I'd like to be up a lot further, but we'll try again in the morning."

Saturday's stats:

Race 1 (Round 7 of 14):

1. Robert Wickens
4. Matt Lee
19. Robert Thorne

Lee Finishes Fourth Again on Sunday In Formula BMW USA Action At the Indianapolis Motor Speedway

INDIANAPOLIS, July 2 - Matt Lee led Sunday morning's Formula BMW USA race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway at one point and he made a gutsy move to regain the lead at another point. Although no one can dispute that he tried his best, in the end the 16-year-old star went home with fourth-place points for the second time in less than 24 hours.

Lee, of Syosset, N.Y., is one of the main contenders for the championship, and collecting as many points as possible is crucial. He is now third in the series point standings with six races remaining, but the driver who is second will now concentrate on a European series and doesn't plan on competing in any more Formula BMW USA events this year.

Lee started on the pole. Robert Wickens out-dragged him into Turn One on the first lap but Lee was able to stay close to him. Stefano Coletti got into third place on lap four and the battle headed up even more. On lap five Coletti set the fastest lap of the race while Lee recorded the second-fastest lap of the race, just 0.043 of a second apart.

Despite the pressure from Coletti, Lee passed Wickens for the lead going into Turn One working lap six. He led for almost a lap, but before the lap was over he was pushed to third when both Wickens and Coletti got around him.

Lee was still able to stay close, however, and when he saw a possible opportunity to regain the lead in Turn One on lap 10 he went for it. It almost worked, but unfortunately room ran out and he ran over a curb, which caused his car to go off course. Coletti passed Wickens for the lead in the melee and Simona de Silvestro and Tobias Hegewald both got by Lee while he was in the grass to push him to fifth.

Lee passed Hegewald on lap 12 to regain fourth, and he stayed in that spot until the checkered on lap 15. Coletti, Wickens and de Silvestro took the podium spots in that order, while Hegewald finished behind Lee to round out the top five.

Lee's Team Autotecnica teammate, Robert Thorne of Sherman, Conn., had an action-packed race on Sunday too. Another competitor who was rejoining the field after going off course did so right where Thorne was running in Turn Four on lap five. The pair made contact, and Thorne spun. He regrouped immediately but his car's handling was compromised due to the contact so it was an accomplishment for him to even finish the 15-lap race, but he did so and was scored in 23rd position after starting 19th. After his spin he battled Adrian Herberts, Doug Boyer, Marco Santos and Jule Duc the rest of the way.

Both of the IMS races supported the United States Grand Prix. The next Formula BMW USA doubleheader is July 29-30 in support of Champ Car's San Jose Grand Prix in San Jose, Calif. The last two doubleheaders of the year are slated for Denver Aug. 11-12 and Canada's Mosport International Raceway Sept. 1-3.

Lee and Thorne's Autotecnica cars are sponsored in part by Bumper to Bumper, Autoparts Warehouse, the Francis A. Lee Company, Matt-Con Services Corp. and Integrated Structures. Both drivers are also looking for additional marketing partners to join their program.

More information is available on the Internet at twintooth.com, autotecnicagroup.com and formulabmwusa.com.

Driver post-race quotes follow:

Matt Lee:

"I have to thank Team Autotecnica for all their hard work. My car was better than yesterday, even after I ran over the curb.

"I passed Wickens going into Turn One, but then I went from first to third in one shot.

"Then later I just saw an opening and I went for it, but I caught the curb in Turn One. Luckily the car was still fine though.

"The engine was running a little hot when I was running close to other people, but by myself it was OK.

"The next race will be at San Jose and it will be all new for everybody. I love street courses, so I'm looking forward to it.

"I realize I'm lucky to be able to say that I'm 16 years old and I've already competed at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in four races. Many great drivers never get the opportunity to race here, and it's such a historic track. It's always great for us as a series to race in front of the Formula 1 crowds too."

Robert Thorne:

"A car went off track and then re-entered the track right where I was. It happened in Turn Four. I tried to get out of his way but he re-entered the track right in the racing line. My front-left corner and his right-rear corner touched and I spun. I'm not sure who it was; I think I know but since I'm not sure I won't say who now.

"My car was extremely toed-in after that. I was just glad that I finished, considering everything.

"Later in the race I had a battle with a car that had no rear wing. That made for an interesting battle, especially on the straightaway."

Sunday's stats:

Race 1 (Round 8 of 14)

1. Stefano Coletti
4. Matt Lee
23. Robert Thorne

Points After Round 8

1. Robert Wickens, 90
2. Stefano Coletti, 77
3. Matt Lee, 76
4. Simona de Silvestro, 71
5. Daniel Morad, 41
21. Robert Thorne, 4

Rookie of the Year Points After Round 8

1. Sebastian Savedra, 113
2. Maxime Pelletier, 97
3. Daniel Morad, 95
4. David Garza, 94
5. Jordan Dick, 66
6. Robert Thorne, 63