Johnson Returns Shell Helix to Top 10
9/5/2004 13:25 (Press Release) -
For the first time in two seasons Shell Helix Racing's Steve Johnson has returned to the V8 Supercar Championship top ten. Thanks to two eighth placings in the final two races of the V8 International at Pukekohe Raceway today, Johnson can return to his Gold Coast base with a smile on his face.
"It's great, it's a credit to the team for not giving up," Steve Johnson said.
"We just kept plugging away at it and did the best that we could; we didn't want to make too many mistakes.
"It's been a hell of a long time since I was in the top ten, so to be there at this early stage of the season is really fantastic."
Johnson came to Pukekohe with the championship top ten firmly in his sights.
"If I'd left New Zealand still sitting just outside of the ten I would have been really disappointed," Johnson said.
"It such a tough category, to get a car in the top ten is a tough ask, you have to work your but off to get it there so when you achieve it you have earned it.
"The Ford is still not perfect, I don't want to defend my position on the track I want to attack, but I'm sure we can eventually give the front runners a nudge.
"Obviously we need good results for the championship, I'd really like to be in the top five or six, and if we can do that it would be great."
Johnson showed a lot of mental fortitude to withstand a very competitive Jason Richards in the last race.
"I was pretty happy with my performance in that last race,"
"My Ford was faster at the start of the race but Jason (Richards) was a bit faster as we got into the race and he had home ground advantage.
"When you are in this situation you just have to drive as smooth and as fast as you can, and make no mistakes and if you make no mistakes then it is pretty hard for them to pass."
Warren Luff admitted to a frustrating day but could see light at the end of the tunnel.
"I think I stepped on a black cat this morning," Warren Luff said
"I made a couple of wrong decisions that had me trapped a couple of times, particularly with Mark Porter in the second race, it happened in the third race also.
"But the Ford was good, it seemed to have as much speed as anyone around me, it was a simple case of catching those in front of me, biding my time and then attacking when I could.
"When the time was right I was able to pass and pass well which says a lot about the Shell Ford.
"Put it this way, once I am able to put all of the good things together, make better split second decisions and keep out of trouble then I think I'm going to be a lot more competitive."
Release Date: 02/05/2004
Shell Helix Racing - DJR
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