TOUGH OPENING DAY OF 2005 FOR ORRCON RACING
22/3/2005 19:37 (Press Release) -
Larkham – Orrcon Racing’s Jason Bargwanna and Mark Winterbottom had differing fortunes during the opening race for the QANTAS V8 Supercars at the Foster’s Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne today.
After qualifying in 17th and 27th respectively both Bargwanna and Winterbottom were both confident of moving up the order after several set up changes overnight.
Bargwanna’s fortunes turned sour early in the race when he was spun after contact from Rick Kelly in turn three on the opening lap. The impact caused damage to rear and right hand side of the number 10 Orrcon Racing Falcon and dropped Bargwanna to the back of the 32-car field.
“It was a very disappointing way to start the year, there is no other way you could really describe it,” said Bargwanna.
“While I was able to get back going again the steering was bent and the impact sent the car’s geometry out of sync making the car a handful to drive for the remainder of the race.”
As Bargwanna spun, his team-mate Mark Winterbottom capitalised on the early race incident to move up five positions to be 22nd at the completion of the opening lap.
Showing good early pace Winterbottom continued to run just outside the top 20 for the opening half of the race.
With a lap remaining Winterbottom elevated himself into 20th, the position he held until the finish.
“Over the first half of the race the car felt very good and I was setting a good pace to be moving up the order,” said Winterbottom.
“As the race wore on I wasn’t able to hold the same pace but was still able to salvage a good finish. It has given us a good base for the final two races of the weekend before our focus turns to the opening round of the Championship in Adelaide.”
Today’s opening race was won by Todd Kelly ahead of Marcos Ambrose and Mark Skaife. The Orrcon Racing Falcons of Winterbottom and Bargwanna finished 20th and 27th respectively.
The QANTAS V8 Supercars will be contest a 19-lap race tomorrow at 2:30pm with the final race to begin at 11:20am on Sunday.
EVENT SCHEDULE
FOSTER’S AUSTRALIAN GRAND PRIX
QANTAS V8 SUPERCARS
Saturday, March 5, 2005
12.30pm-12.40pm – Driver Parade lap
2:30pm – Race 2 (19 Laps)
Sunday, March 6, 2005
11:20am – Race 3 (10 Laps)
TV TELECAST – NETWORK TEN
Saturday – March 5, 2005
9am-5pm (AEDST)
Sunday – March 6, 2005
9am-5pm (AEDST)
TRACK FACTS – ALBERT PARK, MELBOURNE
Venue: Albert Park, Melbourne, Victoria
Circuit Length: 5.303km
Circuit Direction: Clockwise
Average Speed: 145kph
Maximum Speed: 275kph
Qualifying Record: Craig Lowndes (Holden, Commodore, 1999) 1:57.657s
Lap Record: Russell Ingall (Holden Commodore, 1998) 1:58.721s
Release Date: 04/03/2005
Larkham Orrcon Racing
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