Near miss for Shell Helix Racing
10/10/2004 7:20 (Press Release) -
Shell Helix Racing's Steve Johnson and Warren Luff missed out on the prized top 10 shootout by just over a 10th of a second and will start the Bathurst 1000 in 13th place.
Johnson was as disappointed as you've ever seen him, following the session, as he came to terms with what might have been.
"To be so close and miss out by such a small margin is devastating," Steve Johnson said.
"Our goal was to be in the ten and we didn't accomplish it so I am disappointed."
Co-driver Warren Luff tried to be a bit more upbeat, hoping the normally jinxed number and starting position would be a good omen.
"Hopefully it will be lucky thirteen," Warren Luff said.
"We really thought that we could make the shootout and it is not to be
so we're trying to be upbeat.
"It could certainly have been worse."
Despite the qualifying result the team still thinks it will be a threat.
"The thing to remember is that we've got a thousand kilometres ahead of us and anything can happen," Operations Director Dean Orr said.
"Realistically anyone in the top fifteen, maybe even twenty, can eye off a podium.
"Now our spot on the starting grid is determined it all comes down to our strategy on the day.
"We believe we'll be very competitive and that we have as much of chance as anyone."
David Brabham and Owen Kelly qualified in 24th place.
"It's disappointing but we just couldn't squeeze a faster time out of the Ford," David Brabham said.
"I had some decent understeer which prevented what I expect would have
been a mid two oh nine.
"We'll be going flat chat and we'll do the best we can with what we have.
"It will be important to stay out of trouble and get a good rhythm going.
"But, you just never know what is going to happen, do you?"
The V8 return to the track at 10am on Saturday morning.
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