Marcos and Russell's guide to the Clipsal 500
16/3/2004 5:24 (Press Release) -
The following is a detailed lap of the Adelaide street circuit to be used in this weekend's Clipsal 500. Also find following thoughts, results and memorable moments relating to this venue from both Marcos Ambrose and Russell Ingall. Ambrose will be returning in his Pirtek Falcon for the first time with the number 1 plate on his door as the defending series champion. Ingall heads into his second season with SBR in the Caltex Havoline Ford and will continue to carry the number 9 plate.
ADELAIDE TRACK PROFILE - WITH MARCOS AMBROSE
“There is no doubt that the Clipsal 500 is one of the best events of the V8 Supercar Championship Series with a huge atmosphere and massive crowd and promoter support.
From a racing perspective it is also one of the most demanding weekends of the championship, especially if the temperature starts to creep up.
The circuit is fantastic to drive on, but the concrete walls trap all the smoke and fumes and it’s imperative that your helmet and car ventilation is working correctly.
You flash over the start finish line in fifth gear at about 220kph.
You brake at the end of pit lane and look for the outside curb so you can virtually use it as a “ski jump”.
That sets you up to keep your foot flat for the left hand kink out of the chicane, this can certainly be a little tricky on older tyres.
The next section is all second gear as four corners virtually become one, it just all flows.
You need to be careful because there is a lot of road camber on the exit of each corner and the car tends to want to slide around at the rear, this is a section where you can make up a lot of time.
The run on to the back straight is relatively simple and as you hit sixth gear and a top speed of around 230kph you charge towards the most challenging corner in Australia.
This high-speed right-hander allows you no vision on the entry or the exit, with only concrete walls to stop you if you make a mistake.
It‚s then heavy on the brakes and back through the gears for the hairpin which is a very slow, sometimes first gear, corner.
This is a prime passing spot, but it is difficult to get the power down as quickly as you would like.
The left-hander behind the paddock area is tricky because it tightens up on you on the way out and it‚s easy to run into the wall on the outside if you are going too fast.
You are then back on to the circuit proper and the surface smooths out. The right-hand kink before the last hairpin is also difficult because you are braking right the way through it and it is easy to lock a wheel, that is certainly bad for business, especially on the opening lap of a 250km event.
It is important to get in and out of the hairpin as smoothly as possible to ensure a quick run on the front straight where you start it all over again.
In total we complete about 24 gear changes per lap for a total of around 1872 for the 78 laps of each 250km race.
We had a great start here last year by winning the first race on the Saturday, but unfortunately things did not go so great on the Sunday.
We are looking forward to making up for that this weekend.”
CLIPSAL 500
MARCOS AMBROSE - PIRTEK RACING
MOST MEMORABLE MOMENT
“Sharing a hotel room with David Besnard three years ago after he had eaten a bad prawn the night before. The guy spent all night in the loo and shower. At one stage I think he had on”
THOUGHTS ON CLIPSAL 500
“This place has a huge atmosphere, but the race itself is bloody tough, especially when it is hot. It is one of the best street tracks to drive on. The walls trap all the heat and smoke and make the temperatures even hotter inside the car. We combat this with specially designed cool suits and it is imperative that your helmet ventilation system is working well.”
CHAMPIONSHIP RESULTS
Debut: 2001
Starts: 39
Poles: 13 - Sandown, Oran Park, Queensland Raceway, Winton, Eastern Creek (2003); Phillip Island, Oran Park, Winton, Qld 500, Sandown (2002); Eastern Creek, Qld 500, Bathurst (2001)
Race wins: 10 (Last win ˆ Eastern Creek (Round 13, 2003)
Round wins: 8 - Eastern Creek, Oran Park, Hidden Valley, Barbagallo, Winton, Eastern Creek (2003), Sandown (2002); Hidden Valley (2001)
CLIPSAL 500
2003 - Qualified 3rd; Race 1: 1st; Race 2: DNF; Overall: 11th
2002 - Qualified 3rd; Race 1: 3rd; Race 2: DNF; Overall: 9th
2001 - Qualified 6th; Race 1: DNF (Contact); Race 2: 6th; Overall: 12th
RUSSELL INGALL - CALTEX HAVOLINE RACING
MOST MEMORABLE MOMENT
“I have had a lot of strong results in Adelaide, but I am yet to crack it for a win. I have finished 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 6th and 7th in races over the past few years, maybe this weekend we can take the steps to the top step. This was my first official championship race for Ford last year and I think we will all be better with a year under our belts.”
THOUGHTS ON CLIPSAL 500
“This is my old home town. I have not won in Adelaide yet, but I have been on the podium a few times. This race always wins the best event of the year and after you have been there you can tell why. It is an outstanding event with a great crowd. It is one of the best technical circuits you can drive on. It all adds up to a pretty awesome weekend.”
CHAMPIONSHIP RESULTS
Debut: 1996
Starts: 95
Poles: 1 Winton (2001)
Race wins: 23 (Last Win - Gillette V8 Supercar Challenge, Surfers Paradise (Race 2), 2003)
Round wins: 10 - Surfers Paradise (2003) Queensland Raceway (2003), Winton (2001); Qld 500 (1999); Lakeside, Mallala, Hidden Valley (1998); Phillip Island, Winton (1997); Calder (1996)
CLIPSAL 500
2003 - Qualified 9th; Race 1: 7th; Race 2: 12th; Overall: 8th
2002 - Qualified 6th; Race 1: 21st; Race 2: 7th; Overall: 11th
2001 - Qualified12th; Race 1: 3rd; Race 2: 2nd; Overall: 2nd
2000 - Qualified 3rd; Race 1: DNF; Race 2: 6th; Overall 10th
1999 - Qualified 7th; Race 1: 4th (Just one race this year)
TRACK FACTS – ADELAIDE STREET CIRCUIT, ADELAIDE
Venue: Parklands, Adelaide, South Australia
2004 Race format: Top 10 Shootout, Race 1 – 78 Laps (Saturday 2pm); Race 2 - 78 Laps (Sunday 2pm);
Circuit Length: 3.22km
Circuit Direction: Clockwise
Average Speed: 130kph
Maximum Speed: 250kph
Qualifying Record: Mark Skaife (Holden VX Commodore, 2002) 1.22.1273
Lap Record: Mark Skaife (Holden VY Commodore, 2003) 1.23.2731
WEEKEND SCHEDULE - ROUND 1, 2004
V8 SUPERCARS
Friday
9:30am – 10:05am – Practice 1
12:00pm – 12:35am – Practice 2
2:05pm – 2:25pm – Qualifying Lower 50%
2:30pm – 2:50pm – Qualifying Upper 50%
4:35pm – 5:05pm - Top 10 Shootout
Saturday
11:10am – 11:30am - Warm up
1:30pm – 1:45pm - Cars to grid
2:00pm- 4:15pm - Race 1 - 78 laps
Sunday
10:15am – 10:35am - Warm up
11:15am – 11:25am – Drivers Parade
1:30pm – 1:45pm - Cars to grid
2:00pm- 4:15pm - Race 2 - 78 laps
TV TELECAST - NETWORK TEN
Saturday March 20
1pm-5pm
Sunday March 21
1pm-5pm
Release Date: 15/03/2004
Stone Brothers Racing
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