Bowe Improves BJR’s Bathurst Odds
10/10/2004 7:25 (Press Release) -
The OzEmail Falcon of John Bowe and Brad Jones will line up for tomorrow’s Bathurst 1000 as one of the favourites after Bowe placed the team on the third row of the grid during today’s top ten shootout.
Qualifying 8th yesterday, Bowe has improved the grid position of the OzEmail Ford by two places and although the multiple Bathurst champ wasn’t happy with the performance, he admits he and Jones have the package to win Australia’s Great Race.
“I’m actually pretty disappointed with our time in the shootout. I’m not sure if I could have driven any better but the OzEmail Falcon wasn’t quite right,” said Bowe. “It lacked balance and was too ‘pushy’ through the tight corners.”
Bowe went into the shootout full of confidence after setting the second fastest lap time in this morning’s practice session – “The car was much sharper this morning, maybe it had something to do with the track temperature but it was definitely harder to drive this afternoon.”
“Yesterday we struggled for grip and after practice this morning, I thought we had fixed that but it was back again in my shootout lap.”
Commenting on his chances for tomorrow’s 1000 kilometre epic, Bowe added- “We have an awesome race package and I have a co-driver [in Brad Jones] that is driving brilliantly. His times right through the event have been fantastic.”
“You would have to think that if we get that little bit of luck that you need at Bathurst, we could well be in the mix come tomorrow afternoon,” Bowe concluded.
Brad Jones Racing can take claim to having their most successful team Bathurst campaign to this point. With both OzEmail Falcon’s starting from inside the top 15 and Andrew Jones’ pole position in the Konica Minolta V8 Supercar race, expectations have been exceeded.
“It’s been a solid result for BJR so far but that means nothing unless we get a decent result tomorrow. You just need to look at what happened to Andrew today to prove that,” said team owner, Brad Jones.
Brad’s comments are related to Andrew Jones’ devastating blow in the 25 lap Konica Minolta race. Leading by over seven seconds with just four laps remaining, Jones’ had a engine failure that subsequently caused a brush with a tyre wall, ending the race for the series champion.
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