Friday, March 18, 2005 SEBRING, Fla. – Rain or shine — or partly cloudy — Gerardo Bonilla can lap Sebring like you read about. After winning the opener yesterday in soaking conditions, in qualifying for today’s round two at Sebring International, on the pole he sits gain, having turned a 2:28.711, a full second clear of next-best Matt Varsha, who’s just ahead of the continuing-to-surprise Lucas McConnell. Under perfect partly cloudy conditions this morning, Bonilla took his second consecutive pole position.

Also showing well we’re Garrett Zine, Adam Tran and Cole Nelson, fourth through sixth, respectively. Qualifying seventh was 2005 Skip Barber Karting Scholarship winner Jordy Vorrath, ahead of a consistent Peter Ludwig, Irishman Eoin Ryan (last night was good for him, apparently) and the focused Paul Albert.

Southern Regional standout Lucas McConnell (#9) has shined in this week’s National; he’s qualified fourth and third for rounds one and two, though his 11th place finish in race one was not to his liking.

Starting grid following qualifying for Round Two (of 14) of Skip Barber National Championship Presented by RACER, at Sebring International Raceway, 3.7-mile, 17-turn road course:

1. Gerardo Bonilla, Orlando, Fla., 2:28.711/89.570 mph
2. Matt Varsha, Atlanta, 2:29.811
3. Lucas McConnell, Springfield, Va., 2:29.976
4. Garrett Zine, Rio Linda, Calif., 2:30.005
5. Adam Tran, Vancouver, B.C., Can., 2:30.259
6. Cole Nelson, Atwater, Calif., 2:30.526
7. Jordy Vorrath, White Rock, B.C., Can., 2:30.633
8. Peter Ludwig, New Paltz, N.Y., 2:30.845
9. Eoin Ryan, Co. Tipperary, Ireland, 2:31.179
10. Paul Albert, Ottawa, Ont., Can., 2:31.244
11. Alan Sciuto, Orange, Calif., 2:31.520
12. Andy Rossetto, Grafton, Wis., 2:31.595
13. Casey Neal, Middletown, Ohio, 2:31.624
14. Lorenzo Mandarino, Burnaby, B.C., Can., 2:32.295
15. Richard Heistand, Sunny Isles, Fla., 2:32.772
16. Pablo Sanchez Lopez, Xochimanga, Mexico, 2:32.795
17. Winston de Wardt, Steamboat Springs, Colo., 2:33.532
18. Chris Cook, Coopersburg, Pa., 2:33.661
19. Jimmy Locke, Center Barnstead, N.H., 2:33.703
20. Jimmy Holden, Tiona, Pa., 2:35.278
21. John Angelone, Bridgewater, N.J., 2:36.588
22. Terrick Mansur, Oranjestad, Aruba, 2:39.791
23. Alain Roger Matrat, Annapolis, Md., 2:44.746
24. Jeremy Morales, Glen Head, N.Y., 2:45.491

Title contender Lorenzo Mandarino had some suspension problems and jumped into a spare halfway through the session. The set-up was not near his liking and did well to qualify 14th.

Photos by Ricky Lusso

Rick Roso