Ford set for Bathurst assault
10/10/2004 7:26 (Press Release) -
V8 Supercar Champion Marcos Ambrose (Pirtek Racing) will start tomorrow's Bob Jane T-Mart 1000 from fifth position after moving up from 10th position in today's top-10 shootout.
Steven Richards grabbed pole position by just 0.0012 of a second ahead of Jason Bright. Paul Dumbrell will start third and Greg Murphy fourth.
Following an accident and engine dramas on Thursday, the Tasmanian's charge for Bathurst has now been kick-started and he remains confident for tomorrow's big race.
“The shootout lap was the best we could do,” said Ambrose.
“I think there must have been an extra chicane out there for the Fords, or the Holdens missed a corner or two.
“We certainly have a better race car than qualifying here this weekend.
“This week has been difficult for us and I did not help that situation with my little oops on Thursday.
“I am happy to be starting fifth and being the leading Ford. There is no doubt that we are looking forward to the race.
“We have had tyre issues here the last couple of years, but we are confident we have gotten on top of that problem. It is certainly something we will be monitoring during the race.”
Fellow Tasmanian John Bowe (OzEmail Racing) will start alongside and is confident in figuring in the charge tomorrow.
“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.”
“The car was must 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.”
“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.
Ambrose Stone Brothers Racing teammate Russell Ingall (Caltex Havoline Racing) will be on the fourth row. His laps highlighted by an on-the-edge late braking move into the ultra-fast Caltex Chase.
“It's all good,” said Ingall.
“I think we should and could have been a couple of spots further up the grid, but it's a long day tomorrow.
“We knew the Commodores would be better over the one lap because they have more down force at the front end which helps them get heat into their tyres much faster.
“If it was a two-lap shootout I think the results would have been a lot different.
“The car was very solid in this morning's session and I think we are heading into tomorrow's race with a terrific package.
“Those guys can have the champagne today, we'll enjoy it tomorrow.”
The Caltex Chase also snagged Craig Lowndes (CAT Ford Performance Racing) who went on two wheels and across the grass.
“I am disappointed with myself as the car itself was really good, it was really nice across the top of the mountain and there is no doubt that the lap was on a par with our qualifying time,” said Lowndes.
“I made a slight mistake through the Chase and got it up off the kerb higher than I wanted.
“I got it back down on two wheels and soldiered on, but it was unfortunate as the car is much better than where it has ended up in the shoot out at 9th.
“Tomorrow is over 161 laps and I'm looking forward to it.”
Orrcon Steel Racing's Jason Bargwanna rounded out the ten. The 2000 Bathurst champion still confident in having a strong race package.
“The result of the shootout is a slightly disappointing result but realistically it will mean very little come tomorrow's race,” said Bargwanna.
“I think the lap overall was a little too clean and tidy to be an exceptionally quick lap. I lost a fair bit of time in the first sector and then carried the same loss over the top of the Mountain.
“Our first aim of the weekend was to ensure that we were in the shootout, and we have achieved that, now we will focus on the race and I think we have got a very fast and reliable race car.”
Tomorrow's Bob Jane T-Marts 1000 starts at 10am
Top-10 Bathurst V8 Qualifying.
1. Steve Richards / Jim Richards - Castrol Perkins Motorsport - Holden Commodore 2:07.9611
2. Jason Bright / Paul Weel - PWR - Holden Commodore +0.0012
3. Paul Dumbrell / Tong Longhurst - Castrol Perkins Motorsport - Holden Commodore +0.0749
4. Greg Murphy / Rick Kelly - KMart Racing - Holden Commodore +0.1566
5. Marcos Ambrose / Greg Ritter - Pirtek Racing - Ford Falcon BA +0.4879
6. John Bowe / Brad Jones - OzEmail Racing - Ford Falcon BA +0.5926
7. Paul Morris / Alan Gurr - Siromet Racing - Holden Commodore +0.7306
8. Russell Ingall / Cameron McLean - Caltex Havoline Racing - Ford Falcon BA +0.9914
9. Craig Lowndes / Glenn Seton - CAT Ford Performance Racing - Ford Falcon BA +1.4485
10. Jason Bargwanna / Mark Winterbottom - Orrcon Steel Racing - Ford Falcon BA +1.4920
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