Cracked Diff Ends Dynamik Push
24/3/2004 0:41 (Press Release) -
Mechanical problems thwarted Team Dynamik’s steady push through the field in today’s final race of the Clipsal 500, the opening race of the V8 Supercar 2004 series.
Team Dynamik’s Simon Wills adhered to his pre-race strategy of avoiding trouble, Today he started The Holy Grail car #44 in 25th spot on the grid and had pulled back 15 places in 44 laps, and had just broken into the top 10 when he had to retire two laps later.
A cracked differential housing resulted in engine overheating and the Team was forced to park the car on lap 49.
Team Dynamik’s mechanical crew worked to get the car running again but the problem could not be overcome.
It was a frustrating finish to a weekend that had promised much. The Holy Grail car #44 had qualified third fastest on Friday and maintained good car speed all weekend.
It was also more than a second a lap faster than it had been on the same circuit last year, all signs of great improvement in its first year.
The pit stop strategy, so important in the longer races, also seemed to have given the Team a advantage today. Car #44 pitted for tyres on lap 18, and for fuel on lap 21, and came out well in touch with the top 5, and a good finish beckoned.
However, today’s cracked diff housing blew those hopes away.
Wills wasn’t the only driver whose day ended abruptly: little more than half the field finished today. High profile casualties included Russell Ingall, Glenn Seton and Craig Lowndes, while four other cars were knocked out on lap 66 after a spectacular crash on turn 8.
Car #45 driver Dale Brede did not start today, with the Team focusing on repairing the car before the next round at Eastern Creek in two weeks.
Marcos Ambrose in the Pirtek Falcon car #1 showed the field his rear bumper for most of the weekend, with Steven Richards second in the Castrol Perkins Racing Team Holden, the PWR Holden of Jason Bright third.
Release Date: 23/03/2004
Team Dynamic
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