AMBROSE FASTEST DESPITE ACCIDENT
3/12/2004 18:26 (Press Release) -
Stone Brothers Racing’s Marcos Ambrose was the fastest driver in today’s opening practice session for this weekend’s final round of the V8 Supercar Championship Series at Eastern Creek in Sydney – but things did not go all his own way.
Ambrose, who only needs to finish 15th in the opening race of the weekend tomorrow night to clinch back-to-back V8 Supercar titles, had a frightening start to his weekend when he crashed his Pirtek Falcon towards the end of the morning session.
The SBR crew managed to get the car back in one piece for the second session in which he was also the fastest until Jason Bright nipped him in the closing stages. Ambrose's opening session time was enough for him to hold on to the prime position at the top of the table.
Ambrose’s SBR team mate Russell Ingall was third quickest in the morning session in his Caltex Falcon, but he simply had no decent practice tyres for the second session and he eventually finished 14th overall for the day.
The morning incident is proof that Ambrose is not taking things lightly this weekend, despite his comfortable position in the championship.
“We were just having a real go in the morning session on a trying track,” said Ambrose.
“I hit a puddle of water on the outside of turn one and speared off across the wet grass. I am not too sure if it was a simple mistake or whether we had a deflating front right, because it was flat after the accident.
“There was a decent impact, but thankfully there was not too much major damage to the car. The guys did a great job to bend it back into shape in time for the afternoon session.”
Ingall said his car felt very good and that new rubber would see him fire up the time sheets tomorrow.
“The car feels fast, we just did not put new rubber on like a lot of the other guys in front of me,” said Ingall.
“We are not that far away which is pretty pleasing considering the boots we had on today.
“I don’t think we really need to make many changes overnight other than throw on some newer tyres.
“It is amazing how some newer Dunlops can fix all your problems. I am really looking forward to tomorrow and getting on with the job of chasing second place in the championship.”
PRACTICE SESSIONS COMBINED
1: Marcos Ambrose (Ford) 1:33.1291
2: Jason Bright (Holden) 1:33.1836
3: Mark Skaife (Holden) 1:33.3194
4: Todd Kelly (Holden) 1:33.4069
5: Warren Luff (Ford) 1:33.4363
6: David Besnard (Ford) 1:33.4457
7: Craig Lowndes (Ford) 1:33.5321
8: Steve Johnson (Ford) 1:33.5561
9: Steve Richards (Holden) 1:33.5728
10: Paul Morris (Holden) 1:33.5764
11: Max Wilson (Ford) 1:33.6318
12: Steve Ellery (Ford) 1:33.6771
13: Garth Tander (Holden) 1:33.6851
14: Russell Ingall (Ford) 1:33.7172
15: Paul Radisich (Ford) 1:33.7229
16: Brad Jones (Ford) 1:33.7765
17: Jason Bargwanna (Ford) 1:33.7950
18: Paul Weel (Holden) 1:34.9616
19: John Bowe (Ford) 1:34.0099
20: Greg Murphy (Holden) 1:34.1953
21: Simon Wills (Holden) 1:34.2352
22: Paul Dumbrell (Holden) 1:3088
23: Craig Baird (Holden) 1:34.3593
24: Jason Richards (Holden) 1:34.3745
25: Mark Winterbottom (Ford) 1:34.3985
26: Glenn Seton (Ford) 1:34.4131
27: Rick Kelly (Holden) 1:34.5083
28: Cameron McConville (Holden) 1:34.5602
29: Owen Kelly (Ford) 1:34.5709
30: Lee Holdsworth (Holden) 1:35.1756
31: Dale Brede (Holden) 1:35.4138
32: Alex Davison (Holden) 1:35.5863
33: Anthony Tratt (Holden) 1:35.6060
34: Garth Walden (Ford) 1:36.9040
35: Christian D’Agostin (Holden) 1:37.0765
TRACK FACTS – EASTERN CREEK
Venue: Eastern Creek Raceway, Sydney, NSW
2004 Race format: Top 10 Shootout; 1 x 26 lap race (Saturday night); 2 x 39 races with compulsory tyre stops (Sunday)
Circuit Length: 3.43km
Circuit Direction: Anti-clockwise
Average Speed: 154.2kph
Maximum Speed: 260-270kph
Qualifying Record: Mark Skaife (Holden Commodore, 1999) 1:30.6550
Lap Record: Mark Skaife (Holden Commodore, 1999) 1:31.7301
CHAMPIONSHIP POINTS (After Round 12)
*Adjusted after CAMS ruling on race three in Tasmania
1: Marcos Ambrose (Ford) 1982
2: Greg Murphy (Holden) 1825
3: Jason Bright (Holden) 1816
4: Russell Ingall (Ford) 1776
5: Rick Kelly (Holden) 1701
6: Steven Richards (Holden) 1661
7: Todd Kelly (Holden) 1513
8: Jason Bargwanna (Ford) 1402
9: John Bowe (Ford) 1400
10: Garth Tander (Holden) 1320
WEEKEND SCHEDULE - ROUND 13, 2004
Friday December 3
10.30am-11.15am – Practice
1.15pm-1.50pm – Practice
Saturday December 4
11.40am-Noon – Practice
1.40pm-2pm – Bottom 50% qualifying
2.05pm-2.25pm – Top 50% qualifying
4.05pm-4.35pm – Top 10 Shootout
6.30pm- 26 Laps (Race 1)
Sunday December 5
10am-10.20am – Warm-up
12.30pm – 39 Laps (Race 2)
3.40pm – 39 Laps (Race 3)
TV TELECAST - NETWORK TEN
Saturday, December 4:
• 4.00pm - 5.00pm: Top Ten Shootout
• 6.00pm - 7.30pm: Race 1
Sunday, December 5:
• 1.00pm - 5.00pm. Race 2 & 3
Release Date: 03/12/2004
Stone Brothers Racing
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