AMBROSE AND INGALL COMPLETE 1-2 V8 CHAMPIONSHIP SWEEP!
11/1/2005 16:20 (Press Release) -
Stone Brothers Racing duo Marcos Ambrose (Pirtek Racing) and Russell Ingall
(Caltex Racing) have completed the 2004 V8 Supercar season with the top
two spots in the championship.
It's the first time since Glenn Seton and Alan Jones in 1993, that Ford
teammates have finished 1-2 in the championship.
To complete a great weekend for Ford, Ambrose won the round with victory
in all three races ahead of Paul Radisich (Team Betta Electrical) and Russell
Ingall in third. It was Ford's first clean-sweep of the podium since the
Sandown 500 in September.
Ambrose was simply in a class of his own, controlling each of the three
races. His 27-second winning margin in the final race underlined his dominance
of the weekend.
“It was pretty much the perfect weekend for me, Russell, the team and all
the Ford fans, ”said Ambrose.
“To be there at the end in front of all those people with Russell and the
team was an amazing experience. The emotion of achieving what we have this
weekend and this year has been awesome.
“I'm so happy for Russell to come through and give us the 1-2 in the championship.
Last night I was thrilled for myself. Today, I'm glad to have the round
but even more delighted with the result for the team.
“From the driver's seat I couldn't have asked for any more. The car was
great, even after crashing on Friday. It was a true testimony to our preparation
and determination to hit back in qualifying and the races.
“To complete my fourth season in V8 Supercars with two championships is
just fantastic. I gave myself a five-year plan of achieving a championship.
Despite having won two, I'm even more determined to get three.
“After winning last year I wanted to really enjoy this year. I have enjoyed
the year and my passion has got even stronger. Having all the support around
country is a very humbling experience and is something that makes you even
more determined to give it everything.
“With Russell and I backing-up for our third season together next year
our teams is stable and strong. The important thing is that no one in the
team is complacent and we are going to give it all next year. I know that
Russell will be tough, but that's great for our team and all the Ford fans.
“I'm going to enjoy the break, then come February we'll start it all up
again for the first race at the Grand Prix in March.”
For Russell Ingall it was a case that you never give up. Despite a slow
stop in race #1, a drive through penalty for pitlane speeding in race #2,
it was classic Enforcer in race #3 as he hounded archrival Mark Skaife.
The battle had everyone on the edge of their seats, but Skaife was able
to hold off Ingall.
In terms of the overall position for the weekend it mattered little, as
Ingall was still able to finish third overall, as his championship rivals
Greg Murphy and Jason Bright struggled.
Despite being the fourth time he's finished runner-up in the championship,
Ingall was thrilled to round out the 1-2 championship result.
“Just awesome for the whole crew to be 1-2 in the championship,” said Ingall.
“We've had our dramas through the year, but over the final two rounds we've
been great. So to round out the year is a massive bonus, not just for the
result of this year but also going into the off-season and into 2005.
“It was another crazy weekend, but it shows you should never give up and
the boys backed me up all the way in the pits.
“That last race was a classic Ingall/Skaife battle. I can tell you I was
determined to get by, but the crew kept me in the loop about the championship
situation. I kept the pressure up hoping to force him into an error, but
he kept it straight.
“I'm determined to get it all together next year. However, I have a teammate
who has the complete package; he prepares well, tests well, practices well,
qualifies well and when it comes to racing - he's the class of the field.”
Paul Radisich rounded out his career with Team Betta Electrical in great
fashion with second overall for the round.
“Great way to finish my time with the team and Ford,” said Radisich.
“It was clearly a very special weekend for Ford and to be part of that
has been great.
“This year we've had plenty of dramas, but I'm pleased to be leaving on
the right note.
“Today I had the opportunity to race with Marcos. I can tell you he's a
great driver and his team has a great racecar. He's going to be tough to
beat next year.”
Craig Lowndes (CAT Ford Performance Racing) was inline to finish second
overall, but an engine failure with six laps remaining in the final race
robbed him of that chance.
Ambrose's final statistics for year read five wins, to make it 13 for his
career from 52 starts.
For Ford it was round six wins for the year, with Ingall winning in Tasmania.
Ford finished with five drivers in the top-10 of the championship, with
Jason Bargwanna (Orrcon Steel Racing) in eighth, John Bowe (OzEmail Racing)
in ninth and rounding out the 10 was Steven Johnson (Shell Helix Racing).
The V8 Supercars will reconvene for the Australian Grand Prix support event
in Melbourne on the first weekend of March.
Top-10 Overall - BigPond V8 Grand Finale - Eastern Creek
1. Marcos Ambrose - Pirtek Racing - Ford Falcon BA
2. Paul Radisich - Team Betta Electrical - Ford Falcon BA
3. Russell Ingall - Caltex Havoline Racing - Ford Falcon BA
4. Steven Richards -Castrol Perkins Motorsport - Holden Commodore
5. Mark Skaife - Holden Racing Team - Holden Commodore
6. Cameron McConville - Valvoline Racing - Holden Commodore
7. Steven Johnson - Shell Helix Racing - Ford Falcon BA
8. Jason Richards - Tasman Motorsport - Holden Commodore
9. Jason Bargwanna - Orrcon Steel Racing - Ford Falcon BA
10. Craig Lowndes - CAT Ford Performance Racing - Ford Falcon BA
Top-10 Championship
1. Marcos Ambrose - Pirtek Racing - Ford Falcon BA 2174
2. Russell Ingall - Caltex Havoline Racing - Ford Falcon BA -238pts
3. Jason Bright - PWR - Holden Commodore -254pts
4. Greg Murphy - KMart Racing - Holden Commodore -261pts
5. Steven Richards -Castrol Perkins Motorsport - Holden Commodore -355pts
6. Rick Kelly - KMart Racing - Holden Commodore -381pts
7. Todd Kelly - Holden Racing Team - Holden Commodore -551pts
8. Jason Bargwanna - Orrcon Steel Racing - Ford Falcon BA -648pts
9. John Bowe - OzEmail Racing - Ford Falcon BA -672pts
10. Steven Johnson - Shell Helix Racing - Ford Falcon BA 758pts
Release Date: 05/12/2004
Ford Racing Australia
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