Ambrose on Pole at Eastern Creek
4/4/2004 8:42 (Press Release) -
Stone Brothers Racing’s Marcos Ambrose will start from pole position in the second round of the V8 Supercar Championship Series at Eastern Creek Raceway in Sydney tomorrow.
Ambrose put together another top 10 shootout “blinder” to grab pole by 0.1102 of a second from Holden driver Mark Skaife – the effort moving the Gold Coast-based Tasmanian from a qualifying position of sixth place to the number one spot in his Pirtek Falcon.
Ambrose’s SBR teammate Russell Ingall has been tremendously quick for the last two days in his Caltex Havoline Ford, but dropped from third to sixth in the shootout.
“It had been a pretty tough weekend for us up until the shootout,” said Ambrose.
“We struggled to come to grips with the track with the tyres we had, but the boys put it all together for me for the shootout. This pole really is for the guys who came up with the right combination for me.
“280kms around Eastern Creek will not be as tough as 250km around the streets of Adelaide, but it is very important to start as close to the front as you can in these single format races.
“It is important to get a good start and try and build a break from there.
“We have had a pretty good record here recently and it would be nice to continue the run tomorrow.”
Ingall, who finished third overall in the opening Eastern Creek event last season, believes he has a terrific race car for the 280km distance tomorrow.
“We really have had a solid weekend to date, but I just missed it a little in the shootout,” said Ingall.
“The car has been very quick in all the sessions and I think we will have a very good race car.
“It is important to stay out of trouble and ensure we get as many points as possible.
“With a little luck and some good pit work and strategy I think we are in with a decent shot tomorrow.”
John Bowe was quickest after qualifying, but slipped off the track in the shootout and will start tomorrow’s race in 10th.
SHOOTOUT TIMES
1: Marcos Ambrose (Ford) 1: 31.9206
2: Mark Skaife (Holden) 1:32.0308
3: Steve Richards (Holden) 1:32.1352
4: Jason Bright (Holden) 1:32.4064
5: Todd Kelly (Holden) 1:32.4313
6: Russell Ingall (Ford) 1:32.6623
7: Paul Morris (Holden) 1:32.6730
8: Simon Wills (Holden) 1:32.9307
9: Paul Radisich (Ford) 1:33.0298
10: John Bowe (Ford) 1:38.9650
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 S! cifleet (Holden) 1:38.6159
35: David Krause (Holden) 1:40.1491
TRACK FACTS – EASTERN CREEK
Venue: Eastern Creek Raceway, Sydney, NSW
2004 Race format: Top 10 Shootout (Saturday); 1 x 300km race with compulsory tyre and fuel stops (Sunday)
Circuit Length: 3.43km
Circuit Direction: Anti-clockwise
Average Speed: 154.2kph
Maximum Speed: 260-270kph
Qualifying Record: Mark Skaife (Holden Commodore, 1999) 1:30.6550
Lap Record: Mark Skaife (Holden Commodore, 1999) 1:31.7301
2003 Outright Results: Marcos Ambrose, Craig Lowndes, Russell Ingall
2003 Attendance: 39,800
WEEKEND SCHEDULE - ROUND 2, 2004
Sunday April 4
1:30pm – 3:45pm – Race 1 300kms
Release Date: 03/04/2004
Stone Brothers Racing
|
|
