Round 3 PlaceMakers NZ V8 International - Part 2 Qualifying
1/5/2004 14:46 (Mark Jones) -
PWR lead driver Jason Bright has given himself the best possible chance of securing pole position for the PlaceMakers NZ V8 International in Saturday Mornings pole shootout after taking provisional pole position in Friday afternoons qualifying session at Pukekohe Park, New Zealand.
The Melbourne based driver scorched around V8Supercar's fastest circuit in a time of just 56.3655 seconds, a new record at the Auckland venue. Bright was the fastest in practice and maintained his advantage into the qualifying session which decides grid positions 11 through 32 with the fastest ten cars proceeding to the Saturday shootout.
Second fastest was reigning V8Supercar Series Champion, Tasmanian Marcos Ambrose, but was over two tenths distant from Brights time. Team mate Russell Ingall will start from grid position eleven after missing the crucial top ten shootout for pole position.
The Holden Racing Team occupied the next two positions, Mark Skaife leading team mate Todd Kelly, taking the first step towards overcoming a poor start to the season for the five time champion team.
Fifth fastest, Kmart Racing's Greg Murphy heads into the his home event facing the toughest challenge yet to his four year undeafeated run.
Sixth fastest is series points leader Steven Richards, just ahead of Team Betta Electrical pair, Brazilian Max Wilson and New Zealander Paul Radisich.
Three times series champion, Craig Lowndes had a disappointing run through practice and qualifying after gearbox dramas blighted his early pace and the Ford Performance Racing driver has qualified 21st, just behind another driver off his expected pace, 2000 Bathurst champion, Garth Tander, and six places behind his FPR team mate Glenn Seton.
The shootout will be held at 11:45 on Saturday morning and will be followed by the first of three races for the weekend, a 100 kilomtre race, with two 150 kilomtre races to be held on Sunday.
Qualifying Order:
P1 50 Jason Bright PWR Performance Products 0:56.3655
P2 1 Marcos Ambrose Pirtek Racing +.2407
P3 2 Mark Skaife Holden Racing Team +.2554
P4 22 Todd Kelly Holden Racing Team +.3505
P5 51 Greg Murphy Kmart Racing Team +.3529
P6 11 Steven Richards Castrol Perkins Motorsport +.4552
P7 888 Max Wilson Team Betta Electrical +.5131
P8 88 Paul Radisich Team Betta Electrical +.5403
P9 12 John Bowe OzEmail Racing Team +.5768
P10 10 Jason Bargwanna Larkham Orrcon Racing +.5770
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