Steve Johnson's top Ford
11/6/2004 22:11 (Press Release) -
Shell Helix Racing's Steve Johnson surprised many in today's first practice at Barbagallo Raceway in Perth by posting the fastest time by a Ford.
Johnson was the sixth fastest and one of only three Ford's in the top ten, his 56. 51-second lap was eight-tenths behind Greg Murphy who led session times.
"The Shell Ford was probably the best it's been for a long time," Steve Johnson said.
"We've been looking for early weekend speed and we had that today so I'm excited about what we accomplished today and about the rest of weekend.
Johnson agreed that today's form could be partly attributed to last weeks test session, the team's first since the Australian Grand Prix.
"Definitely the changes that we made and the improvements that we found during the last test made us stronger today," Johnson said.
"It's hard to know how much improving we've still got in us with a newly re-surfaced track 'cause we don't know what the track is capable of.
"After today's session everything certainly points to even faster times tomorrow for qualifying.
"Before we arrived in Perth the lap record was 57.99, it's amazing to think that we might break 55 after qualifying tomorrow.
"The original record was posted in 1996, and here we are eight years later with the top twenty-four bettering that time. It shows how good the track is now."
Warren Luff also impressed. Luff was 19th in practice but showed that he could be strong this weekend.
"I'm very happy, the balance of the Ford seems pretty good and moving forward to tomorrow I think we are going to have a very competitive package," Warren Luff said.
"Obviously everyone else is going to improve tomorrow but I still think that I can do better.
"The big thing for me was to complete some clean laps today, get comfortable and when I was comfortable to start to push and that's what I did."
The V8 action tomorrow includes qualifying, the top ten shootout and a 42-lap race.
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