SONOMA, Calif. (July 15, 2005) – Two-time defending SCCA Pro Racing SPEED Touring Car Drivers’ Champion Bill Auberlen, of Rolling Hills Estates, Calif., led the morning practice session in his No. 1 Turner Motorsports/H&R Springs BMW 325i with a time of 1:46.905 (85.197 mph) at Infineon Raceway, and then watched as his time held through the afternoon practice session of the Infineon Grand Prix of Sonoma Presented by Ravenswood Winery.

Bill Auberlen at Speed.

James Clay, of Blacksburg, Va., led the afternoon session with a 1:47.938 (84.381 mph) in his No. 36 BimmerWorld BMW 325i and was second overall, followed by Bob Stretch, of Dallas, Texas, who was third in the No. 98 Wheels America/B5Wheels BMW 325i.  Stretch posted his fast time of 1:48.228 (84.155 mph) during the morning session.

RealTime Racing’s Pierre Kleinubing, of Coconut Creek, Fla., was fourth in the No. 43 A-SPEC/RealTime Racing Acura TSX, while Dino Crescentini, of Malibu, Calif., was fifth in the No. 73 Mazdaspeed/Tri-Point Motorsport Mazda 6.

Saturday’s SPEED Touring Car qualifying session is set for 9 a.m.  The 23-lap, Round Seven SPEED Touring Car race will follow on Sunday and is scheduled to start at 2:50 p.m.  The race will be broadcast live on SPEED Channel at 3 p.m.  All times are Pacific.

To follow Saturday’s qualifying and race action via live timing and scoring, or for other information, visit www.world-challenge.com.