Improved Day for Orrcon Racing
4/4/2004 8:39 (Press Release) -
Each year the V8 Supercar Championship continues to become an even closer fought affair and today’s qualifying session at Eastern Creek in Sydney for the second round of the 2004 Championship highlighted this fact with 1.7 seconds covering the top 25 cars.
After struggling for pace during yesterday’s practice sessions Orrcon Racing driver Jason Bargwanna showed improving signs for Larkham Motor Sport throughout qualifying today.
Bargwanna was tenth fastest during the final practice session. Following further adjustments to his Orrcon Racing Falcon Bargwanna was third fastest in his qualifying session improving his time from yesterday by over 1.5 seconds.
When the two qualifying sessions were combined his time of 1:33.0037 around the 3.43km circuit had the Orrcon Racing driver placed inside the top-20 as 19th fastest.
“The car was a lot better to drive than yesterday,” said Bargwanna.
“We need to find some more qualifying speed as it is vitally important with the field being so tight on the timesheets.
“In Adelaide we had a very consistent car in the race and I hope I can say the same thing following tomorrow’s 77-lap race and move up the order.”
Bargwanna’s teammate Mark Winterbottom also improved his time dramatically from yesterday overcoming a suspension problem in the front end of his Orrcon Racing Falcon during practice that was hampering his performance.
“We had a problem with suspension arm that kept on bending during practice that we sorted before qualifying but we still lacked outright pace,” said Winterbottom.
“The car didn’t react to the numerous changes we made today as well as what we would have liked and the guys will go over everything tonight to find some more pace.”
John Bowe set the fastest qualifying time of 1:31.8820 during the final moments of the 35-minute session ahead of Mark Skaife and Russell Ingall.
The V8 Supercars have a warm up tomorrow morning with the 77-lap (300km) race starting at 1:30pm.
QUALIFYING TIMES
1: John Bowe (Ford) 1: 31.8820
2: Mark Skaife (Holden) 1:32.1027
3: Russell Ingall (Ford) 1:32.1913
4: Steve Richards (Holden) 1:32.2653
5: Todd Kelly (Holden) 1:32.2932
6: Marcos Ambrose (Ford) 1:32.3319
7: Jason Bright (Holden) 1:32.3321
8: Paul Morris (Holden) 1:32.3371
9: Paul Radisich (Ford) 1:32.3943
10: Simon Wills (Holden) 1:32.4318
11: Max Wilson (Ford) 1:32.4854
12: Greg Murphy (Holden) 1:32.6010
13: Paul Weel (Holden) 1:32.6508
14: Glenn Seton (Ford) 1:32.6873
15: Craig Lowndes (Ford) 1:32.7471
16: Garth Tander (Holden) 1:32.8160
17: Rick Kelly (Holden) 1:32.9409
18: Craig Baird (Holden) 1:32.9863
19: Jason Bargwanna (Ford) 1:33.0037
20: Jason Richards (Holden) 1:33.0712
21: Warren Luff (Ford) 1:33.3144
22: Brad Jones (Ford) 1:! 33.3386
23: Paul Dumbrell (Holden) 1:33.4542
24: Cameron McConville (Holden) 1:33.4750
25: Mark Winterbottom (Ford) 1:33.6158
26: David Besnard (Ford) 1:33.6387
27: Steve Johnson (Ford) 1:33.7128
28: Steve Ellery (Ford) 1:33.7256
29: Dale Brede (Holden) 1:34.4402
30: Anthony Tratt (Holden) 1:34.8164
31: Tony Longhurst (Holden) 1:34.8538
32: Mark Porter (Holden) 1:34.9271
33: David Thexton (Ford) 1:36.6027
34: Phillip Scifleet (Holden) 1:38.6159
35: David Krause (Holden) 1:40.1491
WEEKEND SCHEDULE - ROUND 2, 2004
Sunday April 4
1:30pm – 3:45pm – Race 1 300kms
TV TELECAST - NETWORK TEN
Sunday April 4
2:30pm-5pm
Release Date: 03/04/2004
Larkham Orrcon Racing
|
|
