Bright Posts Race Record in Placemakers V8 International
1/5/2004 6:10 (Press Release) -
Holden driver Jason Bright broke the practice record to top qualifiers for the PlaceMakers V8 International at Pukekohe Park Raceway today.
Bright clocked 56.36sec to go under the previous best set by five-times V8 Supercar champion Mark Skaife of 56.45sec in practice last year.
Three New Zealanders will contest tomorrow's Top-10 Shootout to determine final grid places for tomorrow afternoon’s first of three races. Defending Pukekohe champion Greg Murphy led the way in fifth fastest ahead of Steven Richards, sixth and Paul Radisich eighth.
Current V8 Supercar champion Marcos Ambrose (Stone Brothers Racing) was second fastest today and the only Ford in the top six, just 0.24s behind Bright. The Holden Racing Team pair of Mark Skaife and Todd Kelly finished third and fourth fastest ahead of Murphy.
Murphy (Kmart Holden) recognized that he off the sort of pace required to make it an unprecedented fourth straight victory at Pukekohe.
``We have not been able to put our fingers on a few things. It’s the same things that I’ve been complaining about for some time,’’ Murphy said.
``We know the areas we have to improve on but have not been able to do so. We’ve been pretty stagnant in our performance while a lot of others have made a jump forward.’’
There were no such concerns for Bright and his PWR Racing Holden Team who were quick throughout the first day’s practice at Pukekohe.
``We had a few troubles that set us back in the earlier rounds that didn’t show the real speed of the car. We are certainly a lot happier here,’’ Bright said.
However the HRT pair of Skaife and Kelly were the most surprised by their showing after a mediocre start to the season.
``We had to work pretty hard after Eastern Creek although we have not done much more than the small things. So I’m surprised that the two were capable of being up there today,’’ Skaife said.
Ambrose again led the Ford camp in his quest for victory at Pukekohe, which would be doubly pleasing for team owners Ross and Jimmy Stone, who were brought up a few kilometers from the circuit.
``It’s traditionally been a difficult track for Ford. I was told we are the only Ford that’s been on the podium here,’’ Ambrose said.
``I’d like to think we have a competitive package here this weekend.’’
The news was not so good for his team-mate Russell Ingall, who was quick in morning practice but could only manage the 11th best time to miss out on tomorrow’s top-10 shootout.
Another to have some problems was Team Kiwi’s Craig Baird who was only the 29th fastest and struggling after an enterprising start to the season.
It will certainly be a highly competitive day’s racing tomorrow with just 1.65secs covering the 32-car field in qualifying.
The top-10 shootout takes place tomorrow morning with the first race over 100kms in the afternoon. Sunday will see the two remaining races, both decided over 150kms.
Placemakers V8 International Qualifying, Friday
Jason Bright PWR Performance Holden 56.3655 1, Marcus Ambose Pirtex Ford 56.6062 2, Mark Skaife Holden Racing Team 56.6209 3, Todd Kelly Holden Racing Team 56.7160 4, Greg Murphy Kmart Holden 56.7184 5, Steve Richards Catrol Perkins Holden 56.8207 6, Max Wilson Betta Ford 56.8786 7, Paul Radisich Betta Ford 56.9058 8, Jogn Bowe OzEmail Ford 56.9423 9, Jason Barwanna Larkham Orrcon Ford 56.9425 10, Russell Ingall Castrol Halvoline Ford 56.9526 11, Steve Johnson Shell Helix Ford 56.9529 12, Rick Kelly Kmart Holden 57.0208 13, Paul Weel PWR Performance Holden 57.0298 14, Glenn Seton Ford Performance Racing 57.0829 15, Jason Richards Tasman Motorsport Holden 57.0904 16, Paul Morris Sirromet Holden 57.2546 17, Warren Luff Shell Helix Ford 57.2793 18, Simon Wills Holy Grail Holden 57.4051 19, Garth Tander Repco Valvoline Cummins Holden 57.4657 20, Graig Lowdnes Ford Performance Racing 57.4761 21, Brad Jones OzEmail Ford 57.4974 22, Mark Winterbottom Larkham Orrcon Ford 57.5168 23, Cameron McConville Repco Valvoline Cummins Holden 57.5263 24, Paul Dumbrell Castrol Perkins Holden 57.5393 25, David Besnard WPS Ford 57.5584 26, Steve Ellery Super Cheap Auto Ford 57.5756 27, Anthony Tratt Toll Racing Holden 57.6387 28, Craig Baird Team Kiwi Holden 57.7102 29, Mark Porter IMS Hydralink Holden 57.8811 30, Tony Longhurst Castrol Perkins Holden 57.9201 31, Dale Brede Holy Grail Holden 58.0219 32.
Release Date: 30/04/2004
AVESCO
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