Ford sweeps Sandown
18/9/2004 17:43 (Press Release) -
Marcos Ambrose and Greg Ritter (Pirtek Racing) have led home a Ford Falcon 1-2-3 at the Betta Electrical Sandown 500. The Ambrose/Ritter combination finished ahead of Stone Brothers Racing teammates Russell Ingall and Cameron McLean (Caltex Havoline Racing) with Shell Helix Racing's Steven Johnson and Warren Luff in third.
The victory was Ford's first in the Sandown 500 since Dick Johnson and John Bowe (Shell Helix Racing) took the chequered in 1995. It was also the first clean-sweep of the podium at Sandown since that year when Glenn Seton and Allan Grice took second (Peter Jackson Racing), Steve Johnson and Charlie O'Brien (Shell Helix Racing) third, and Tony Longhurst and Wayne Park (Castrol Racing) fourth.
It's Ford first 1-2-3 in the V8 Supercar Championship Series since April 2003 when Ambrose finished ahead of Craig Lowndes (CAT Ford Performance Racing) and Ingall at Sydney's Eastern Creek.
It's Stone Brothers Racing's first 1-2 since the Queensland round of 2003, when Ingall won ahead of Ambrose.
It was Ambrose first endurance race win, his fourth of the season and 12th of his career. For co-driver, Greg Ritter, it was his first V8 Supercar win.
The race was a classic with 12 safety car periods due to numerous incidents throughout the 500km event. In fact the time limit of three hours and 45 minutes brought the race to an end one lap early.
Of the incidents on the track was a spin by Greg Ritter that dropped the #1 Pirtek Falcon from first to 10th. A safety car period two laps later allowed him to catch the field and hand over the car to Ambrose. The champion then went on a charge and by lap #113 he had retained the lead. On lap #120 he set a new lap record that was 0.8 of a second faster than Craig Lowndes mark of 1999.
Apart from Ritter's spin, the #1 Falcon dominated the race. Ambrose sprung to the lead from his second position on the grid, to comfortably control the race.
Ritter took over on lap #59 and continued to pull away from the opposition. His only drama being his spin off the track.
With Ambrose back in the seat and back in the lead, he was never challenged all the way to the finish.
The post-race celebration spilled over with the champion being mobbed by fans and several thousand people chanting “1-2-3!”
Ambrose now holds a 23 point lead going into the biggest race of them all, the Bob Jane T-Marts 1000 at Bathurst.
“An incredible day, to win the race, hear the fans and come away with the championship lead is pretty much perfect,” said Ambrose.
“It's great for Greg and I, our team to get a 1-2 and winning for Ford is a great reward in their home town. Bring more of it I say!
“Winning my first endurance race is very special. I'd like to add the big one at Bathurst in a few weeks time. There's no reason why we can't do it.
“The result is great for the championship. We've won four times this year, so it's just reward for our performance.
“There was plenty of excitement out there, both of our own doing as well as others. To come away out of all that with victory is somewhat of a relief.
“I'm pleased for Greg, who although made that slip-up, has done a great job this weekend. He's really been a team player and along with Cameron McLean in Russell's car, has given our team this result.
“In terms of the safety car periods, I'm not that upset. In fact it did help us at one stage.
“Now it's off to Bathurst. We are better off after this strong run and I can't wait to get to Mount Panorama.”
For Greg Ritter today's result is a major boost. A plasterer by trade, Ritter finally earned the reward for many years of trying to break into V8's.
“This is the biggest result of my career, no doubt,” said Ritter.
“When Ross Stone called me and asked me to be part of this program, I knew it was the opportunity of a lifetime.
“The car was a missile today, just awesome.
“It was easy to drive quickly and I felt at home behind the wheel.
“The spin was a big surprise. Turn #1 was very slippery and I went a little wide and the car turned around. I'm sure we'll go over it after this weekend.
“The result and the celebration made up for it and I can't wait for Bathurst. My approach will not change. I'm in the team to support Marcos and that's what I'll do.”
Russell Ingall had to fight his way through the field after starting from 15th on the grid. McLean then put in a great drive that included passing moves on Greg Murphy, Jason Bright and Cameron McConville. He handed the car back to Ingall, who held the lead until Ambrose got by. From that point he settled into a comfortable second place.
“Considering our starting position we're delighted with the result,” said Ingall.
“I did enjoy the fight and the SBR cars are clearly the pick of the bunch right now.
“Cameron did a great job. After seeing how well he drove, I'm excited about our chances up at Mount Panorama.
“There was a lot of good teams out that struggled to bring home one car, so to have two at the pointy end is a great reward for the SBR team”.
For McLean it was a career high.
“Only one thing could top this and that's a repeat next month,” said McLean.
“To have a real racecar underneath me has been awesome. To pass major drivers and teams today was a major buzz.
“In many ways this track doesn't suit me. Bathurst is where I feel at home and I can't wait to get aboard the #9 Falcon again.”
Shell Helix Racing earned its best result since winning the 2001 Queensland 500 (Steve Johnson and Paul Radisich).
It was the lesser-experienced Warren Luff who put in one of the drives of his career. Double stinting after being handed the car on lap #57. Luff went on a charge over the second half of the race, passing Murphy and then McConville for third.
“We brought a new car this weekend and it certainly did the trick,” said Steve Johnson.
“To get a result like this going into Bathurst is great for everyone associated with our team. The boys really deserve it.
“We learnt a lot about this new car over the weekend. We'll be better off going to Bathurst as we'll have another test in Queensland. We'll be really on top of the car from the moment we arrive at Mount Panorama.
“I have no doubt that we'll be a team to look out for in the Bob Jane T-Marts 1000.”
Luff's drive drew plenty of praise from not just his team but also many of others on the pit lane.
“I'm really happy for the team, that's the most important thing for me,” said Luff.
“It's certainly a career highlight and I hope that I proved why I'm with this team.
“We didn't cruise and collect today, we raced all the way. It shows the speed in our car as well as its strength. It never missed a beat and felt as strong at the finish as when I first jumped in.”
Ford finished with five cars in the top-10. Orrcon Steel Racing's Jason Bargwanna and Mark Winterbottom brought their Falcon home in sixth, while John Bowe and Brad Jones (OzEmail Racing) went all the way from 21st on the grid to finish seventh.
Teams now head to Mount Panorama in Bathurst for the Bob Jane T-Marts 1000 over the weekend of 7-10 October.
TOP-10 RESULTS - BETTA ELECTRICAL SANDOWN 500
1. Marcos Ambrose / Greg Ritter - Pirtek Racing - Ford Falcon BA 2. Russell Ingall / Cameron McLean - Caltex Havoline Racing - Ford Falcon BA 3. Steven Johnson / Warren Luff - Shell Helix Racing - Ford Falcon BA 4. Garth Tander / Cameron McConville - Valvoline Racing - Holden 5. Rick Kelly / Greg Murphy - KMart Racing - Holden 6. Jason Bargwanna / Mark Winterbottom - Orrcon Steel Racing - Ford Falcon BA 7. John Bowe / Brad Jones - OzEmail Racing - Ford Falcon BA 8. Paul Dumbrell / Tony Longhurst - Castrol Perkins Motorsport - Holden 9. Jason Richards / Fabian Coulthard - Tasman Motorsport - Holden 10. Jason Bright / Paul Weel - PWR - Holden
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