R6 RACE 2 - Young Lion to the fore
11/6/2000 17:53 (Press Release) - Todd Kelly made the most of a stroke of tactical genius from the Holden Racing Team to take his first ever Shell Series race win in the second leg of the GMC 400 in Canberra today, the second surprise result thrown up by the new format unveiled this weekend.
Starting the third HRT car from ninth place in the first ever reverse grid race in V8 Supercars, Kelly stayed out of the pit lane chaos on lap two of the race when 17 of the 31 starters came in to get their compulsory stop out of the way.
The clean track allowed the 20 year old from the Holden Young Lions program to put some fast laps in before entering the pits on lap four where an excellent stop by the HRT crew allowed him to rejoin in the lead.
While there were the expected panel crushing incidents on the tight street circuit, none warranted a safety car period during the 25 lap race which may have allowed the field to catch him.
"I have been so pleased to be a part of the Holden Racing Team this year and it’s great to be able to give them a good result today," Kelly said. "Now we are in a strong position for race three so I hope I can get another good one there."
Neil Crompton in the Tickford Ford and Steven Johnson in the Shell Helix Ford employed similar tactics, stopping after the early mob, on their way to second and third placings while Garth Tander’s rotten Canberra luck continued with a second clash with the concrete ruining his race.
Johnson’s first ever top three finish in the Shell Series was very pleasing for the driver who has climbed into the famous number 17 Falcon vacated by his illustrious father, Dick.
"I got out of the pits in good position and I was able to slip by Brad Jones and Steven Richards while they jostled with each other and I’ve snuck into the top three," Johnson said. "It feels great so now I’ve got to get serious and do it more often."
Tander had looked set to atone for his crash yesterday, leaping into the lead from third on the grid on the opening lap. He pitted with the rest of them on lap two, came out behind Brad Jones, and as he fought to pass he spun himself into the wall. Tander was able to rejoin and finish 21st, leaving him on grid 19 for the last race.
Paul Morris survived a spectacular high speed crash which left his Big Kev Commodore buried deep into the tyre wall. John Faulkner also had a heavy hit on the concrete to end his race, while Russell Ingall, Cameron McLean, John Bowe and Steve Ellery also fell victim to this demanding new street circuit.
Steven Richards finished fourth after more expert team management from his Kmart Holden Racing crew. This result, combined with his third placing in the opening leg, sees him on pole for this afternoon’s 200km, double points final.
Neil Crompton will be second on the grid, followed by Greg Murphy and Jason Bargwanna. Championship rivals, Glenn Seton and Mark Skaife are fifth and sixth respectively.
More fascinating racing is sure to unfold in this afternoon’s third and final race with two compulsory pit stops, one for tyres and one for fuel, guaranteed to test the drivers and teams over the scheduled 50 laps.
**TOP TEN**
1st TODD KELLY (Mycar Holden Young Lions) – VT Commodore
2nd NEIL CROMPTON (Ford-Tickford Racing) - AU Falcon
3rd STEVEN JOHNSON (Shell Helix Racing) - AU Falcon
4th STEVEN RICHARDS (Kmart Racing) - VT Commodore
5th BRAD JONES (OzEmail Racing) - AU Falcon
6th MARK SKAIFE (Mobil-Holden Racing) - VT Commodore
7th LARRY PERKINS (Castrol Perkins Racing) - VT Commodore
8th GLENN SETON (Ford-Tickford Racing) - AU Falcon
9th PAUL RADISICH (Shell Helix Racing) - AU Falcon
10th CRAIG LOWNDES (Mobil-Holden Racing) - VT Commodore
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