BOTH FPR FALCONS FAIL TO FINISH SECOND LEG OF THE CLIPSAL 500
22/3/2004 6:06 (Press Release) -
Ford Performance Racing (FPR) drivers Craig Lowndes and Glenn
Seton failed to finish today's second 250 kilometre leg of the Clipsal 500 in
Adelaide.
Ford Credit FPV Falcon driver Glenn Seton started the race strongly from 10th
position on the grid, making up two positions on the first lap and battling
strongly in 8th position until lap12, when his throttle partly jammed entering
the Adelaide Street Circuit hairpin. This caused an unavoidable impact with
Holden driver Paul Morris. Despite making several attempts to re-start the
engine and return the car to the pits, Seton was forced to retire.
CAT FPR Falcon driver and five time Adelaide race winner Craig Lowndes started
the race from 23rd on the grid with a brand new engine fitted overnight
following his engine failure during the closing stages of Saturday's race.
Lowndes made up two positions on the first lap and was racing consistently
making his first tyre stop on the 19th lap in line with the first yellow flag /
caution period of the race. Lowndes continued his charge from the rear of the
field until his engine's water belt broke, forcing the CAT FPR Falcon into the
pits for it to be replaced. This was carried out, but the engine had lost too
much water in the interim and continued to overheat, forcing Lowndes'
retirement in the pits on lap 33.
Overall, the weekend was a difficult start to the 2004 season with engine
problems hampering the team's progress throughout.
#6 Craig Lowndes - "All of the problems that we have had this weekend have been
engine related, so it is an area that we have to concentrate on and fix. We
experienced two completely non related engine problems this weekend, so there
are a number of issues that the team will be investigating. The car was good -
but not as balanced as yesterday. We made some changes overnight but due to our
engine problems in the warm up we couldn't try them out, so we found out during
the race that our Saturday set up was much better. The car took care of its
tyres and it was comfortable to drive, but not as fast as I'd like it to be."
#5 Glenn Seton - "I was heading towards the braking area for the hairpin and
the throttle partly jammed open on the entry and I couldn't pull it up. I was
hoping that Paul Morris wouldn't turn in at his normal spot so I could make it
across to the escape road, but he turned in and I couldn't avoid hitting him.
Then I tried several times to re-start the engine, but it wouldn't run. The car
was pretty good before the throttle problem and there are areas in which we are
lacking, but our race set up was a definite improvement on yesterday."
FPR Chief Engineer, John Russell - "A very disappointing race, we have let down
both of our drivers with engine related problems - a poor end to a tough
weekend."
Today's 78 lap race was won by SBR Falcon driver Marcos Ambrose, making it two
clean sweeps of the Clipsal 500 by Ford in 2004. Holden drivers Steven Richards
and Jason Bright made up the race two podium.
FPR has a rigiorous work schedule ahead to complete the 2004 configuration BA
Falcon V8 Supercar for Seton while investigating the causes of the team's
engine problems at this season opening round. FPR returns to the track at
Sydney's Eastern Creek Raceway from April 2 - 4.
Championship Standings after Round 1.
1. Marcos Ambrose - Ford - 192
2. Steven Richards - Holden - 186
3. Paul Weel - Holden - 171
4. Greg Murphy - Holden - 159
5. Jason Bright - Holden -147
6. Rick Kelly - Holden - 144
7. Paul Dumbrell - Holden - 141
8. Paul Morris - Holden - 132
9. John Bowe - Ford - 126
10. Mark Skaife - Holden - 126
18. Glenn Seton - Ford - 69
Release Date: 21/03/2004
Ford Performance Racing
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