Ingall makes it 1-2 for Stone Brothers Racing
11/1/2005 16:26 (Press Release) -
Marcos Ambrose began the procession and Russell Ingall finished it to confirm what most people had already conceded – the Stone Brothers Racing is the most dominant force in the V8 Supercar Championship Series.
SBR team-mates Ambrose and Ingall finished first and second in the championship when the former produced a sterling last two races at the BigPond Grand Finale to leave second-placed contenders Jason Bright and Greg Murphy in his wake.
Ambrose had already sealed the championship victory last night (Saturday) and in front of a record crowd of 52,918 Ingall’s third in the final race compared to the 18th of Bright and the Murphy’s 23rd position secured second for the season.
Ambrose won all three races this weekend by streets. It was a one-man demolition of an entire field, the likes of which hasn’t been seen for many years.
Ingall described the finish as a dream. And it also included a memorable stoush with old enemy Mark Skaife.
“I’m quite happy to finish second in the championship to be perfectly honest,” Ingall said.
“You never know in this game. It throws heaps of curve balls at you and it did yet again today but clearly Marcos is streets ahead of everyone else at the moment.”
As if it were fate Skaife and Ingall, arch enemies who famously came together at this very event last year, again found themselves locking horns. Ingall trailed Skaife through most of the race, constantly trying to look for ways to pass and shove him out of the way.
With Ambrose way out in front all of the focus was on these two. It was as if the crowd had all tensed their bodies in anticipation of what seemed the inevitable – a shove from Ingall that went too far.
The dogfight didn’t end in tears but they did manage to work way through the field while firmly focused on each other. As tires wore, raindrops came overhead and tempers boiled.
“I kept thinking ‘should I do it’ but those ugly flashes from what happened here last year just kept coming back at me,” Ingall said.
“Then all of a sudden I thought it was time to engage the brain again. To his credit Mark drove very well given he was obviously in some kind of trouble with his car.”
Joining Ambrose and Ingall on the podium was Paul Radisich in his last drive for the Betta Electrical team when he finished second for the event. He heaped praise on Ambrose.
“There’s just no way that anyone can run with Marcos at the moment as he is really on top of his game,” Radisich said. “It is a pleasure to run behind him because it is just so pretty to watch.”
Radisich will join New Zealand outfit Team Kiwi Racing next year.
Release Date: 06/12/2004
Bigpond Grand Finale - AVESCO
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