Johnson fights for Championship Top Ten Position
3/12/2004 18:23 (Press Release) -
While all eyes are focussing on who will win the V8 Championship this weekend and who will be runner-up there is another fierce battle for position lower in the pack. Shell Helix Racing's Steve Johnson is battling with Garth Tander to determine who will finish the season as one of the Championship's top 10 drivers.
Coming into this weekend's final round, at Sydney's Eastern Creek, Johnson is only 46 points behind 10th placed Tander, and with form on his side.
"Mid-season I was placed just inside the top twenty, we've had a strong run and now we are in eleventh and not far behind Garth (Tander)," Steven Johnson said.
"Since Sandown I've collected 632 points and Tander has only got 345.
"I've been fighting hard to get into the top ten because it's important for me, the team and the sponsors.
"Garth has struggled a little since Sandown and we have not, I hope this continues this weekend and that I can snatch that final top ten championship placing.
"I'll just go hard and do my thing and hopefully be far enough in front at the end of the weekend."
Johnson's aim this season was to return to the top ten after sitting outside of it last year.
"All year the goal has been to finish the season in the top ten," Johnson said.
"It'd be great to do well here, particularly as Eastern Creek has been a bit of a bogey track for us over the last season or two.
"The team has fought really hard to get to where we are at the moment, we've scored some very strong points and have been one of the most consistent teams since Sandown."
Johnson started strongly today but he knows that qualifying tomorrow will determine how well he does this weekend.
"We made a positive start today but it means nothing really, qualifying is the key," Johnson said.
"The Ford has improved a lot since we were here in April but we'll only know that for sure after qualifying.
"It'd be so good for everyone if we can qualify strongly and finish off the season with a good result. It'd help set us up for next year as well."
In first practice today Warren Luff was fifth fastest recording a 1min 33.98 second lap with Johnson right behind him in sixth (1:34.06).
In second practice Luff was again fifth (1:33.43) and Johnson was eighth (1:33.55).
Tomorrow sees qualifying starting at 1.40pm (AEDT) followed by the shootout at 4.05pm and the first race at 6.30pm.
Release Date: 03/12/2004
Shell Helix - Dick Johnson Racing
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