Morris survives intense heat for 11th place at AGP
7/3/2004 10:35 (Press Release) -
Sirromet Wines Holden Commodore driver Paul Morris survived contact with Paul Radisich's car and oil spray on his windscreen when following Steve Ellery to finish 11th in today's second race of the Netspace V8 Supercar Challenge at Albert Park in Melbourne.
Morris completed the 19-lap race in a time of 38-mins 55.826-secs. His best lap time around the 5.3km circuit was 2-mins 1.170-secs, and he finished 41.518-secs behind race winner Jason Bright in a PWR Commodore.
After finishing 15th in yesterday's opening V8 Supercar event, Morris made a solid start to race two.
However, on the second lap his VY Commodore made contact with Radisich's Betta Electrical Ford Falcon at Turn Three. The incident temporarily left a trail of smoke pouring from the right-front tyre on Morris' car, but he was able to continue.
By mid-race the 36-year-old Gold Coast driver had moved up to 11th position and he closed on Ellery's 10th–placed Super Cheap Auto Falcon.
However, Morris had to drop back and remain behind Ellery because oil spray from the Falcon was covering his windscreen and obstructing his vision.
The third and final V8 Supercar event at Albert Park will be held over 10-laps tomorrow, before the Foster's Australian Formula One Grand Prix.
PAUL MORRIS QUOTES: "We made some changes to the roll-bar and shock-absorbers after yesterday's race. It improved the 'power down', but we lost mid-corner grip so tomorrow we will go back to the set-up we ran in the first race.
"The contact with (Paul) Radisich happened after he and (Anthony) Tratt got together. I went around the outside to try and keep out of the way. I was in the apex of the corner when we hit.
"The front bumper support was rubbing on the tyre which caused the smoke, but it sorted itself out. Later on I caught up to (Steven) Ellery, but my windscreen got covered in oil from his car so I had to drop back.
"Russell (Ingall) and I almost came together. He was chasing me and I braked as late as I could going into a right-hander. He tried to go up the inside, but couldn't stop and the Falcon shot across the front of me. I got around the corner, but he went off."
Release Date: 6/03/2004
Sirrormet/Paul Morris Motorsport
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