R3 PROVISIONAL QUAL. - Fords set the pace
7/4/2000 16:42 (Press Release) - Paul Radisich has set a blistering pace in the first qualifying session for round three of the Shell Championship Series, the Clipsal 500 in Adelaide, setting the fastest time in a frantic session where provisional pole position changed hands on seven occasions.
The Shell Helix Racing ace blasted his Falcon around the 3.22km street circuit in 1:25.06, inside the pole mark set in 1999 by fellow Ford man, Jason Bright.
In a challenge to the Holden dominance of recent rounds of the Shell Championship Series, Ford Tickford's Glenn Seton was second quickest giving Ford the provisional front row.
Radisich was the first driver under the 1:26 barrier, then Craig Lowndes, Mark Skaife, Garth Tander and Seton took turns at the top of the timesheets before Radisich pipped them all in the dying moments.
A sudden death top ten shootout at 3:15pm this afternoon will decide the final grid positions for tomorrow's opening 250km leg. Each of the top drivers will have one flying lap to set their final qualifying time and the pace of Radisich and Seton suggest they may be tough to match.
Kmart Holden driver, Steven Richards, may be forced to sit out the shootout
after a late session shunt into the wall left his team with some considerable repairs to do on his car. Richards will have to settle for tenth place on the grid if that is the case.
The Top 10 Shootout will take place later today.
**PROVISIONAL TOP 10**
1st PAUL RADISICH (Shell Helix Racing) - AU Falcon [1:25.0687]
2nd GLENN SETON (Ford-Tickford Racing) AU Falcon [1:25.2530]
3rd MARK SKAIFE (Mobil-Holden Racing) - VT Commodore [1:25.3195]
4th GARTH TANDER (Team Valvoline-Cummins) - VT Commodore [1:25.4773]
5th CRAIG LOWNDES (Mobil-Holden Racing) - VT Commodore [1:25.7645]
6th RUSSELL INGALL (Castrol Perkins Racing) - VT Commodore [1:26.0360]
7th JOHN BOWE (CAT Racing) - AU Falcon [1:26.0714]
8th LARRY PERKINS (Castrol Perkins Racing) - VT Commodore [1:26.1268]
9th STEVEN RICHARDS (Kmart Racing) VT Commodore [1:26.1273]
10th JASON BARGWANNA (Team Valvoline-Cummins) - VT Commodore [1:26.3513]
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