Bowe Continues Early Season Form
25/5/2004 12:09 (Press Release) -
The highlight for Brad Jones Racing during today’s V8 Supercar action at Darwin’s Hidden Valley circuit was an inspiring drive by John Bowe in the opening race, coming home in 8th position.
Bowe, who earlier in the day missed out on the Top Ten Shootout for the first time this year, started from 12th place on the grid but quickly asserted himself in the 20 minute sprint format race one.
“We were disappointed after not making the Shootout but we couldn’t find the balance in my OzEmail Falcon during qualifying. The car wasn’t bad, we just couldn’t find the ‘sweet spot’,” said Bowe.
“Our fortunes changed in the first race though. We had quite a good race car that was capable of keeping up with the lead group and with all the commotion happening ahead of me, finishing 8th was a pleasing result,” he added.
Bowe’s reference to ‘commotion’ was directed at a last lap, last corner incident between Mark Skaife and Marcos Ambrose, who at the time were dicing for the lead. The two cars exchanged body blows, relegating Skaife to 14th and Ambrose managed to limp home in 3rd.
Unfortunately the last lap drama wasn’t isolated to the leading cars. Brad Jones, who had qualified in 18th position earlier, had been battling hard throughout the race but was slammed by Paul Dumbrell as he was approaching turn 12 for the last time, pushing his OzEmail Falcon into a tyre barrier causing major damage.
An apologetic Dumbrell later spoke to the management team at BJR claiming that oil on his windscreen had obstructed his vision, resulting in his indiscretion.
“I’m shattered to be honest with you. This game [V8 Supercar racing] is difficult enough without having this sort of thing happening,” said a despondent Jones.
“I’d been keeping my nose clean for the entire race, just trying to consolidate my position. I was minding my own business when I got a huge hit up the rear and I had no where else to go other that the tyre wall at a great rate of knots,” Jones added.
The team at Brad Jones Racing will now be forced to spend the majority of the night repairing the damaged #21 Falcon, preparing for tomorrow’s two 35 lap races. A steward’s inquiry into the Jones/Dumbrell incident is underway as this material is being published.
Release Date; 22/05/2004
Brad Jones Racing - Ozemail
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