Toyota Pro/Celebrity

Film producer and director Brad Lewis, producer of Pixar's Academy Award winning film "Ratatouille," posted the fastest qualifying time among the celebrity drivers in the 32nd Annual Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race. As the fastest qualifier, Lewis earns the coveted inside track position for tomorrow's race and $15,000 will be donated by PEOPLE to Lewis' charities of choice, the Samaritan House and Little Hands, both in San Mateo County. PEOPLE's Ellie Duque, Western advertising director, and Cathleen Cull, account manager, presented the ceremonial check.

Lewis' time of 1:48.714 and best speed of 65.169 mph edged out ESPN pit reporter Jamie Little, who finished with 1:49.152 and best speed of 64.908. Favorite Drew Lachey of Dancing with the Stars finished in fifth Celebrity position at a time of 1:51.118 and a best speed of 63.759.

NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Champion Mike Skinner (who was the Pro winner of the 2007 Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race) led a tight group in the Pro category, logging the best time of 1:46.642, followed by professional cyclist and Olympic Gold and Silver Medalist Marty Nothstein only .553 behind, and NHRA Funny Car Champion Tony Pedregon 1.203 off the leader. Two-time NHRA Funny Car winner Whit Bazemore turned in a fourth-place qualifying of 2.403 behind Skinner.

The field of 18 drivers competed in a 30-minute session on the 1.97-mile street circuit through the downtown streets of Long Beach. The Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race, one of six featured events during race weekend, gives fans a chance to see their favorite stars duke it out on the track at the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach.

Lewis' credits include producing Dreamworks' "Forces of Nature" and "Antz." He was executive producer of visual effects for the 20th Century Fox hit "Broken Arrow" (with John Travolta and Christian Slater).

Lewis, who is Mayor of San Carlos, CA, selected two local charities to share the PEOPLE Pole Award. Samaritan House is a broad-based nonprofit that provides food and housing for area residents in San Mateo County.

Little Hands, a nonprofit nonsectarian parent cooperative, is a school for parent education and child socialization whose goal is to provide a support system for parents.

"My daughter went to Little Hands, and it is the most caring pre-school program I've ever encountered," said Lewis. "It's important to give the kids a good start, and I'm pleased that I'm able to lend my support to Little Hands and Samaritan House through PEOPLE's generous donation."

The starting race grids for tomorrow follow.

Celebrity Grid:

Row 1: 11-Brad Lewis (1:48.714) 1-Jamie Little (1:49.152)
Row 2: 18-Bud Gordon (1:49.593) 14-William Fichtner (1:49.666)
Row 3: 20-John Salley (1:50.642) 12-Craig Barto (1:51.078)
Row 4: 5-Drew Lachey (1:51.118) 10-Daniel Goddard (1:51.875)
Row 5: 3-Eric Dickerson (1:51.933) 7-Wilmer Valderrama (1:52.099)
Row 6: 6-Raymond Cruz (1:52.520) 19-Nancy Lieberman (1:52.617)

Professional Race Grid:

Row 7: 23-Mike Skinner (1:46.642) 24-Marty Nothstein (1:47.195)
Row 8: 26-Tony Pedregon (1:47.845) 16-Whit Bazemore (1:49.045)
Row 9: 22-Beccy Gordon (1:49.391) 17-Sarena Traver (1:51.931)

(car numbers precede driver's name and time)

In addition to the $15,000 that is donated by PEOPLE, Toyota will donate $5,000 to "Racing for Kids" in the name of each celebrity racer, and another $5,000 to the winner's charity of choice. Racing for Kids is a non-profit program benefiting children's hospitals in southern California.

On behalf of the race and its participants, Toyota has donated close to $1.6 million to various children's organizations since 1991.