INGALL AND AMBROSE IN THE TOP FOUR AT INDY
9/11/2004 18:36 (Press Release) -
Stone Brothers Racing’s Russell Ingall and Marcos Ambrose were second and fourth respectively in qualifying for this weekend’s Gillette V8 Supercar Challenge on the streets of Surfers Paradise today.
Ingall clocked a lap of one minute and 50.5786 seconds in his Caltex Falcon while Ambrose notched a time of 1:50.6233 in his Pirtek Racing Ford.
The pair will have the chance to improve on their current grid positions in tomorrow morning’s top 10 shootout. The top four drivers were all under the existing qualifying record.
Both drivers only used one set of tyres during the 20-minute qualifying session, and that can only be an advantage going into tomorrow’s race opening race.
Due to the V8 Supercar pit lane not being determined as large enough, it has been decided that there will be no compulsory pit stops in the V8 Supercar events during the weekend.
This will mean a totally new approach to the races with tyre and brake wear being critical over the two races.
“My foot slipped off the brake,” joked Ingall about his last and fastest lap.
“No, actually I love this place, and race tracks you enjoy you usually go OK at.
“I did three consecutive laps in the (one minute) 50s and we did that without hanging it off the walls.
“The gloves are off this weekend, because I need a big result in the remaining three races to keep my championship hopes alive.
“The SBR cars are great race cars and I think our package for the two races will be solid. I can’t wait to get out there.”
Ambrose was second in the morning practice session behind Todd Kelly and Ingall was sixth after setting the fastest time early before a power steering problem cost him several minutes of the 35-minute session.
Ingall was fourth in the second session behind Greg Murphy, Mark Skaife and Steve Richards, who all put on new tyres towards the end of the session. Ambrose was seventh.
Ambrose was quickest in qualifying eight minutes from the end of the session and decided to park his car and save his tyres. It was a big improvement on last year’s qualifying when he missed his set-up and was 16th.
“The goal was always just to get into the top 10,” said Ambrose.
“We did that quite comfortably so we decided to save the car because every lap on these tyres is going to be critical.
“I am very happy with our progress so far. I might be leading the championship, but I will be going for the race win this weekend.
“That is what I have done for the past two years and nothing will change tomorrow or Sunday.
“If it’s on (the win) then I will be going for it.”
Tomorrow’s race is 22 laps, but Sunday’s contest has been reduced from 33 laps to 30.
Gillette V8 Supercar Challenge
Round 11 2004 V8 Supercar Championship
QUALIFYING RESULTS
1: Mark Skaife (Holden) 1:50.3768
2: Russell Ingall (Ford) 1:50.5786
3: Craig Lowndes (Ford) 1:50.5878
4: Marcos Ambrose (Ford) 1:50.6233
5: Rick Kelly (Holden) 1:50.7828
6: Todd Kelly (Holden) 1:51.0062
7: Steven Richards (Holden) 1:51.0302
8: Jason Bargwanna (Ford) 1:51.2554
9: Steve Ellery (Ford) 1:51.2962
10: Greg Murphy (Holden) 1:51.2966
11: Jason Bright (Holden) 1:51.3406
12: Simon Wills (Holden) 1:51.3409
13: John Bowe (Ford) 1:51.4574
14: Max Wilson (Ford) 1:51.5087
15: Glenn Seton (Ford) 1:51.5229
16: Steven Johnson (Ford) 1:51.5676
17: Garth Tander (Holden) 1:51.6971
18: Warren Luff (Ford) 1:51.8894
19: Paul Weel (Holden) 1:51.9067
20: Paul Dumbrell (Holden) 1:52.0735
21: Cameron McConville (Holden) 1:52.1209
22: Mark Winterbottom (Ford) 1:52.2443
23: Jason Richards (Holden) 1:52.5695
24: Anthony Tratt (Holden) 1:52.8991
25: Brad Jones (Ford) 1:52.9284
26: Dale Brede (Holden) 1:52.9905
27: Paul Morris (Holden) 1:53.0985
28: John McIntyre (Ford) 1:53.3698
29: Alex Yoong (Ford) 1:53.4289
30: Tony Longhurst (Holden) 1:53.6257
31: Paul Radisich (Ford) No Time
TRACK FACTS – SURFERS PARADISE
Venue: Streets of Surfers Paradise, Gold Coast, Queensland
2003 Race format: Qualifying (Friday); Top 10 Shootout and Race 1 (22 Laps-100km) (Saturday); Race 2 (33 laps-150km) (Sunday)
Circuit Length: 4.5km
Circuit Direction: Anti-Clockwise
Maximum Speed: 265 km/h (Back Straight)
Qualifying Record – Greg Murphy (VX Commodore) 1.50.7030 (2002)
Lap Record – Marcos Ambrose (AU Falcon) 1:51.6490 (2002)
CHAMPIONSHIP POINTS (After 10 of 13 rounds)
1: Marcos Ambrose 1667
2: Jason Bright 1612
3: Rick Kelly 1565
4: Russell Ingall 1519
5: Steven Richards 1509
6: Greg Murphy 1476
7: Todd Kelly 1303
8: John Bowe 1188
9: Garth Tander 1155
10: Jason Bargwanna 1138
V8 SUPERCARS (All times Eastern Standard)
WEEKEND SCHEDULE
Saturday – October 23, 2004
11.45am-12.05am – Warm-up
12.10pm – 12.50pm – Top 10 Shootout
3.50pm-4.50pm – Race 1 (22 Laps)
Sunday – October 24, 2004
9am-9.20am – Warm-up
Noon-1.30pm - Race 2 (30 Laps)
TV TELECAST – NETWORK TEN
Saturday – Noon-5pm
Sunday – 11am-5pm
Release Date: 22/10/2004
Stone Brothers Racing
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