Fifth for Bargwanna in Gold Coast opener
9/11/2004 18:53 (Press Release) -
Fresh from recording his best result of the V8 Supercar Championship at Bathurst, Orrcon Racing’s Jason Bargwanna continued his impressive form finishing fifth in the opening race of the Gillette V8 Supercar Challenge on the Gold Coast today.
After qualifying for his sixth top ten shootout this year Bargwanna started today’s 22-lap journey from tenth position. His Orrcon Racing team mate, Mark Winterbottom began his first race on the Surfers Paradise circuit from 22nd.
As the field entered the first chicane for the first time the traditional street fight began in earnest with several cars exchanging paint under brakes.
Using the experience that has previously netted him the victory in this event, Bargwanna elevated himself into seventh within the opening few laps. At the same time Winterbottom was holding station just outside the top 20.
The race was full of action and incidents with numerous Championship contenders coming to grief on the tight tricky street circuit.
Bargwanna drove a consistent race to clear away from his pursuer’s to finish fifth.
“It is always very hectic during the opening laps few laps around this place, the first aim was to get through them safely and then concentrate on the race,” said Bargwanna.
“For the first few laps the brakes were a bit “spongy”, this meant I couldn’t really challenge to move up the order, I had to try and hold station where I was.
“As it turned out the brakes came good and I continued to keep out of trouble to finish with a good result and a second straight top five finish.
“While we probably didn’t have the outright speed of the four guys in front of us we are not far very off them and after a few tweaks tonight by the guys we should be there with them.”
Winterbottom continued to adapt to the circuit elevating his Orrcon Racing Falcon up sixth positions throughout the duration to cross the line 16th in the heated conditions.
“It was very hot out there, especially when you are following someone so close like I was to Luffy (Warren Luff) for 10 or 12 laps,” said Winterbottom.
“The car was pretty hard to drive but we got there to the finish without any damage.
“Overnight the guys will work on improving to settle the car under brakes, if we can keep out of trouble move up a number of spots a top ten finish isn’t out of the question.”
Bargwanna’s fifth position elevated him to ninth in the Championship standings and within 23 points of eighth place, Winterbottom remains 16th.
Today’s race was won by Championship leaders Marcos Ambrose ahead of Greg Murphy followed by Todd Kelly.
Network Ten’s coverage of this weekend’s Lexmark Indy 300 continues tomorrow at 10am highlighting the second V8 Supercar race of the weekend scheduled for 30-laps.
GILLETTE V8 SUPERCAR CHALLENGE
RACE 1 RESULTS
1: Marcos Ambrose (Ford)
2: Greg Murphy (Holden)
3: Todd Kelly (Holden)
4: Craig Lowndes (Ford)
5: Jason Bargwanna (Ford)
6: Simon Wills (Holden)
7: Jason Bright (Holden)
8: Max Wilson (Ford)
9: Jason Richards (Holden)
10: Cameron McConville (Holden)
11: Steve Johnson (Ford)
12: Paul Radisich (Ford)
13: Brad Jones (Ford)
14: John Bowe (Ford)
15: Glenn Seton (Ford)
16: Mark Winterbottom (Ford)
17: Anthony Tratt (Holden)
18: Steve Ellery (Ford)
19: John McIntyre (Ford)
20: Paul Morris (Holden)
21: Garth Tander (Holden)
22: Paul Weel (Holden)
23: Rick Kelly (Holden) – 21 Laps
24: Tony Longhurst (Holden)
25: Mark Skaife (Holden)
26: Russell Ingall (Ford)
DNF: Warren Luff (Ford) – 19 Laps
DNF: Steve Richards (Holden) – 15 Laps
DNF: Paul Dumbrell (Holden)
DNF: Craig Baird (Holden) – 5 Laps
DNF: Dale Brede (Holden)
DNF: Alex Yoong (Ford)
TOP TEN SHOOTOUT
1: Mark Skaife (Holden) 1:50.8455
2: Marcos Ambrose (Ford) 1:50.8620
3: Rick Kelly (Holden) 1:51.2248
4: Russell Ingall (Ford) 1:51.2666
5: Steven Richards (Holden) 1:51.3283
6: Greg Murphy (Holden) 1:51.3918
7: Craig Lownders (Ford) 1:51.4860
8:Todd Kelly (Holden) 1:51.4877
9: Steve Ellery (Ford) 1:51.6114
10: Jason Bargwanna (Ford) 1:52 .1210
QUALIFYING
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
CHAMPIONSHIP POINTS (After 10 of 13 rounds)
1: Marcos Ambrose 1763
2: Jason Bright 1690
3: Rick Kelly 1601
4: Greg Murphy 1569
5: Russell Ingall 1540
6: Steven Richards 1509
7: Todd Kelly 1393
8: John Bowe 1245
9: Jason Bargwanna 1222
10: Garth Tander 1188
11: Steven Johnson (Ford) 1066
12: Paul Weel (Holden) 1059
13: Brad Jones (Ford) 1033
14: Mark Skaife (Holden) 1027
15: Glen Seton (Ford) 1025
16: Mark Winterbottom (Ford) 991
17: Jason Richards (Holden) 976
18: Cameron McConnville (Holden) 929
19: Craig Baird (Holden) 922
20: Craig Lowndes (Ford) 912
21: Warren Luff (Ford) 904
22: Paul Morris (Holden) 900
23: Anthony Tratt (Holden) 892
24: Tony Longhurst (Holden) 853
25: Paul Dumbrell (Holden) 844
26: Paul Radisich (Ford) 826
27: Steve Ellery (Ford) 767
28: Simon Wills (Holden) 724
29: Max Wilson (Ford) 579
30: David Besnard (Ford) 560
EVENT SCHEDULE
Sunday October 24
9:00am – 9:20am - Warm Up
12:00pm – Race Two (33 laps)
TELECAST TIMES
Network Ten
Saturday October 23
11:00am – 5:00pm
Sunday October 24
10:00am – 5:00pm
Release Date: 23/10/2004
Larkham Orrcon Racing
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