Johnson Rises 21 Places To Take First Top-Ten Of Season
14/4/2004 22:08 (Press Release) -
Shell Helix Racing's Steve Johnson has finished sixth in today's 300-kilometre Eastern Creek V8 race after starting from 27th. Johnson was one of the fastest in this-mornings rain-marred warm-up session and took this form into today's waterlogged mini-enduro.
Johnson was ecstatic to be in the top-ten and to give his team such a good result after the tribulations experienced at the recent Clipsal 500 in Adelaide.
"Today was fantastic; some people take great results for granted when they're up the front and doing it everyday, we've had a hard time of it so it's good to be back up there again," Steve Johnson said
"After the warm-up this morning the Ford was really good, we were hoping the race was going to be wet 'cause we knew that we'd be competitive.
"I had a minor altercation with Bargs on about lap seven or eight, which bent the steering making it difficult to turn left, but had this not happened I think I could have done even better."
Johnson admitted that it was hard work during the race with the rain, and in-car precipitation that blinded him.
"I was working pretty hard but I was really enjoying it out there," Johnson said.
"There was a lot of water on the inside of the windscreen, it fogged up a lot and I couldn't see behind me, in my side mirrors or even the puddles on the track, but I knew who was in-front of me.
"I thought I might spear off and that was a bit of a worry.
"My windscreen wiper was also playing up; at times it was only smearing mud and I couldn't see anything, fortunately it started rain again and I could see.
Johnson was thrilled with his racing but was annoyed that the race was started behind the safety car.
"I couldn't believe we started behind the safety car, I didn't think it was raining that hard," Johnson said.
"This (the start) is the opportunity to take a few places 'cause we are all battling.
"I could have made up a lot of places with a proper race start, but the Ford was fast and I was able to pass a lot of people very early, getting myself right up there."
Warren Luff didn't experience the joy that his teammate did, finding the race frustrating.
"It was definitely very tough out there but we started well I thought," Warren Luff said.
"We were certainly fast in the wet but not as strong when it was drying out.
"But I had an off, which was my fault, I backed it into the gravel at turn one in spectacular fashion.
"This obviously made it difficult because I was then playing catch up.
"We had equivalent car speed on the track, if I hadn't made the mistake I think we could have got a second Shell Ford in, or near, the top-ten.
"I'm just thrilled for the team that Steven (Johnson) had such a great drive."
Release Date: 04/04/2004
Shell Helix Racing
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