RADISICH & WILSON FINISH IN TOP TEN
25/5/2004 20:02 (Press Release) -
Friday’s first practice session took place under overcast skies.
The Triple Eight Race Engineering team using the session to make final adjustments to both cars in readiness for the three race, Round 4 in the V8 Supercar championship this weekend at Darwin’s Hidden Valley Race Circuit.
Wilson in car# 888, posting the 12th fastest time of 1:10.7145 for the session, with team mate Paulo Radisich in car #88 a little further back at 16th fastest time of 1:10.7400.
The thirty-five minute practice session saw Todd Kelly of HRT post the fastest time of 1:10.0535.
Saturday’s second 35 minute practice session saw both Team Betta Electrical Fords bring their lap time down by a second lap on the previous practice session, with Max Wilson recording the second fastest lap with a 1:09.4700 and Paul Radisich not far behind with the 6th fastest time of 1:09.8291.
Both drivers commenting they were encouraged with their respective cars set-up and handling.
Qualifying got underway for the second group just after midday with lap times tumbling almost immediately.
Mark Skaife setting the early time of 1:09.3303, only to be relegated to 2nd position by PWR’s Jason Bright in car #50 with a time of 1:09.2821.
Max Wilson in the Team Betta Electrical Ford #888 managed to qualify 8th fastest with a time of 1:09.6209, however Paul Radisich in the second Team Betta Electrical Ford #88 finished outside the top ten in 13th spot with a time of 1:09.7629.
“I ran wide in turn four which lost me valuable time,” said Radisich.
“Its disappointing not to make the top ten, however I can now focus on race one of 17 laps.
Race One Report
Race one commenced at a cracking pace with Mark Skaife maintaining the lead to the first turn from team -mate Rick Kelly in car 22, the HRT Commodore.
Mixed fortunes where experienced by the two Team Betta Electrical Falcons, with Wilson dropping three places, whilst Radisich in car #88 made up one position by the end of the first lap.
Lap3 saw Wills in car #44 experience a problem with his Commodore, creating an eight car freight train behind him until Radisich made the break, with Max Wilson in hot pursuit.
By lap 5 Radisich was sitting in 10th spot, posting the fastest lap time for the race of 1:10.4320.
Both Team Betta Electrical entries managed to maintain 10th & 11th spots for the ensuing 11 laps, until Skaife and Ambrose had a coming together on the final lap, effectively putting Skaife out of the race with damaged steering.
Brad Jones in the Ozemail Falcon became another casualty by spinning off the circuit and hitting the wall, unable to finish the race.
These incidents allowed both Team Betta Electrical Falcons to improve on their positions by one placing, with Radisich finishing in 9th place and Wilson close behind in 10th position.
“It was pleasing to post the fastest lap of the race, but that doesn’t mean a lot to me, I would have preferred to have won, said Radisich.
“I got stuck behind John Bowe for quite a number of laps with him blocking my every move to get past.”
“This was a sprint race, being 17 only 17 laps and it is difficult to get into a rhythm and you have very limited time to seize every opportunity you can to make you way up the field,” Radisich commented.
“I got squeezed out in the early laps and forced back three positions which I found very difficult to make up in such a short race, however we have two 100 klm races tomorrow which I’m sure will serve me better,” Wilson concluded.
Russell Ingall went on to win race one with Todd Kelly in 2nd position and Marcos Ambrose in 3rd.
Release Date: 22/05/2004
Team Betta Electrical
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