Johnson and Luff qualify midfield
4/7/2004 11:51 (Press Release) -
Shell Helix Racing's Steve Johnson and Warren Luff may not have been as high up the starting grid for tomorrow's Queensland V8 Supercar race as they would have liked but they admit that the team's qualifying positions are improving.
Warren Luff will start from 16th and Steve Johnson 18th tomorrow in what is a 280-kilometre sprint from go to whoa.
"Both Steve and I are disappointed to be in the middle of the field but we are improving and that's the point to be taken away from qualifying," Warren Luff said.
"After the two practice sessions we were in high spirits and expecting strong performances but we couldn't get it together.
"I was struggling for grip out there. The track is very different to how it was last week during our test days, we knew we could go faster but it just didn't happen."
Agreeing with his teammate Johnson said that anything could happen in a 280-kilometre race and that both he and Luff were a good chance of the top ten or higher.
"The thing with these mini endurance races is that anything can happen and usually does," Steve Johnson said.
"I've started a lot lower than eighteenth before and cracked a top ten placing so as disappointing as it is to be where I am there is a lot to look forward to."
Luff believes that both Shell Ford's will be a threat tomorrow after a weekend of very consistent times.
"I think Shell Helix Racing could be a team to watch tomorrow," Luff said
"Before this weekend's event neither Steve (Johnson) nor myself had ever lapped Queensland Raceway lower than a one minute (point) eleven, we were in the tens today.
"The Shell Fords are definitely getting faster and faster, we'll put qualifying behind us and focus on the race.
"We'll make a few changes tonight to both cars and be strong tomorrow."
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