Bowe continues BJR blitz
4/7/2004 11:51 (Press Release) -
John Bowe’s consistent 2004 V8 Supercar season remained on track after today’s round six qualifying and Top Ten Shootout at Queensland Raceway.
Heading into the Shootout in 7th position after a scintillating single lap in the qualifying session, Bowe was unfortunately unable to match the effort in the flying one lap format but will still start tomorrow’s 300km race from 8th position.
“In qualifying we managed to get three tenths [of a second] gain from our second set of new tyres. In the scheme of things that’s huge and it was all down to better tyre preparation and some rear suspension changes,” said Bowe.
“When you look at our times before that lap, it’s fair to say that we were all a little surprised to have made it in [to the Shootout] so to drop a spot at the end of it was acceptable,” he added.
“If you had said to me this morning that we would qualify eighth, I would have been happy to take it, so it hasn’t been a bad day,” Bowe concluded.
Team mate Brad Jones has spent a frustrating day chasing grip from his OzEmail Falcon. The nine times Australian champ battled long and hard but will be forced to start from the 13th row of the grid.
“We managed to fix up my car to work well during the middle stages of the circuit but I just couldn’t get any sort of grip in the fast corners and here [at Queensland Raceway] it’s those corners that make the difference between a good and bad lap,” said Jones.
“The biggest frustration is that I know the car is better than 25th, so that’s made me bloody determined to race well tomorrow. It’s a long race, so I’ve got plenty of time to end up with a respectable result, “ he concluded.
Jones will be encouraged in knowing that despite his qualifying performances being down in 2004, his pace in the actual races has been exceptional. To continue to climb his way through the championship standings, he’ll need all this talent tomorrow.
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