SBR FACTS AND FIGURES CLIPSAL 500
7/4/2005 16:01 (Press Release) -
This weekend marks the opening round of the 2005 V8 Supercar Championship series with the Clipsal 500 on the streets of Adelaide, South Australia. There are plenty of expectations surrounding SBR this year after Pirtek Racing’s Marcos Ambrose and Caltex Racing’s Russell Ingall finished 1-2 in last year’s title chase.
Ambrose is chasing his third consecutive title, while Ingall believes he has a fantastic opportunity to record his first title after being runner-up four times.
SBR has experienced few changes during the off-season with just one staff movement in the engineering department.
MARCOS AMBROSE – PIRTEK RACING
2004 FLASHBACK
Ambrose was pretty quick straight out of the box and was actually fastest at the end of official qualifying. Unfortunately he lost a couple of spots in the shootout to Greg Murphy and Jason Bright, but was still the highest-placed Ford. Ambrose took the lead on lap 46 of the opening 78-race contest and was never headed as he raced away to a comfortable eight-second win as he slowed over the line to salute his team which had lined the pit wall. He completed the last 58 laps on one set of Dunlops. Ambrose became the first Ford driver to claim an outright victory at the Clipsal 500 when he won the second leg on the Sunday. Ambrose overcame an irregular throttle for the majority of the race to beat home Steve Richards and Jason Bright in the 78-lap battle in which just 17 of the 28-car field finished and just 12 of those on the lead lap. Ambrose held off Richards despite several re-starts in the closing stages of the race.
MOST MEMOR ABLE MOMENT
“Sharing a hotel room with David Besnard four years ago after he had eaten a bad prawn the night before. The guy spent all night in the loo and shower. At one stage I think he had one end in the loo and the other in the shower. I have never seen a person so sick. Winning last year’s event was also a terrific highlight of my time in Adelaide and my career as a whole.
THOUGHTS ON CLIPSAL 500
“This place has a huge atmosphere, but the race itself is bloody tough, especially when it is hot. It is one of the best street tracks to drive on. The walls trap all the heat and smoke and make the temperatures even hotter inside the car. We combat this with specially designed cool suits and it is imperative that your helmet ventilation system is working well.”
MARCOS AMBROSE – DETAILS & CHAMPIONSHIP RESULTS
Born: September 1, 1976
Car: Pirtek BA Falcon
Number: 1
V8 Supercar debut: 2001
2004 Championship: 1st
V8 Championship Results: 1st (2004); 1st (2003); 3rd (2002); 7th (2001)
Over Major V8 Supercar Results: 1st Sandown 500 (2004); V8 Supercar Rookie of the Year (2001)
Career highlights: 1st European Formula Ford championship (2000); 2nd Australian Formula Ford Championship (1997); 1999 British Formula Ford Championship (3rd)
Starts: 52
Poles: 16 – Eastern Creek (Rd 13), Queensland 300, Eastern Creek (2004); Sandown, Oran Park, Queensland Raceway, Winton, Eastern Creek (2003); Phillip Island, Oran Park, Winton, Qld 500, Sandown (2002); Eastern Creek, Qld 500, Bathurst (2001)
Race wins: 21 (Last win – Race 3 – Eastern Creek-Round 13, 2004)
Round wins: 13 – Eastern Creek (Rd 13), Sandown 500, Oran Park, Queensland 300, Adelaide Clipsal 500 (2004); Eastern Creek, Oran Park, Hidden Valley, Barbagallo, Winton, Eastern Creek (2003), Sandown (2002); Hidden Valley (2001)
CLIPSAL 500
2004 – Qualified 3rd; Race 1: 1st; Race 2: 1st; Overall 1st
2003 – Qualified 3rd; Race 1: 1st; Race 2: DNF; Overall: 11th
2002 – Qualified 3rd; Race 1: 3rd; Race 2: DNF; Overall: 9th
2001 – Qualified 6th; Race 1: DNF (Contact); Race 2: 6th; Overall: 12th
RUSSELL INGALL – CALTEX RACING
2004 FLASHBACK
Russell Ingall topped the time sheets in the opening practice session and was never out of the top five all day – until the shootout. Ingall struggled to get enough temperature into his Dunlops and dropped from fifth to seventh on the grid. Ingall made a blinding start in race one and was fifth by the opening turn. He gradually picked this way through the field to finish an impressive third. Sunday he was not so fortunate with his engine braking a valve spring on lap 10 and leaving him 14th outright for the weekend.
MOST MEMOR ABLE MOMENT
“I have had a lot of strong results in Adelaide, but I am yet to crack it for a win. I have finished 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 6th and 7th in races over the past few years, maybe this weekend we can make the move to the top step.
THOUGHTS ON CLIPSAL 500
“This is my old home town. I have not won in Adelaide yet, but I have been on the podium a few times. This race always wins the best event of the year and after you have been there you can tell why. It is an outstanding event with a great crowd. It is one of the best technical circuits you can drive on. It all adds up to a pretty awesome weekend.
RUSSELL INGALL – DETAILS & CHAMPIONSHIP RESULTS
Born: February 2, 1964
Car: Caltex BA Falcon
Number: 9
V8 Supercar debut: 1996
2004 Championship: 2nd
V8 Championship Results: 2nd (2004); 7th (2003); 2nd (2001); 9th (2000); 2nd (1999); 2nd (1998); 3rd; (1997); 6th (1996)
Other Major V8 Supercar Results: 1st Bathurst 1000 (1995, 1997); 1st Sandown 500 (1998); 2nd Bathurst 1000 (2002); 2nd Sandown 500 (1997, 2004)
Career Highlights: 1st Australian Formula Ford championship (1990); 2nd British Formula Ford 1600 Championship (1991)
Starts: 108
Poles: 1 Winton (2001)
Race wins: 24 (Last Win – Race 1, Hidden Valley, Darwin, 2004)
Round wins: 11 – Symmons Plains (2004); Surfers Paradise (2003) Queensland Raceway (2003), Winton (2001); Qld 500 (1999); Lakeside, Mallala, Hidden Valley (1998); Phillip Island, Winton (1997); Calder (1996)
CLIPSAL 500
2004 – Qualified 7th; Race 1: 3rd; Race 2: DNF (engine); Overall: 14th
2003 – Qualified 9th; Race 1: 7th; Race 2: 12th; Overall: 8th
2002 – Qualified 6th; Race 1: 21st; Race 2: 7th; Overall: 11th
2001 – Qualified12th; Race 1: 3rd; Race 2: 2nd; Overall: 2nd
2000 – Qualified 3rd; Race 1: DNF; Race 2: 6th; Overall 10th
1999 - Qualified 7th; Race 1: 4th (Just one race this year)
2005 CLIPSAL 500 SCHEDULE
Friday, March 18, 2005
9.45am-10.20am – Practice 1
12.15pm-12.50pm – Practice 2
2.20pm-2.40pm – Qualifying (Lower 50%)
2.45pm-3.05pm – Qualifying (Upper 50%)
4pm-4.30pm – Shootout
Saturday, March 19, 2005
2pm – Race 1 (78 Laps)
Sunday, March 20, 2005
11.40am-12.15pm – Drivers Parade
2pm – Race 2 (78 Laps)
TELEVISION SCHEDULE
Saturday, March 19, 2005
Network Ten – 1pm-5pm (EDST)
Sunday, March 20, 2005
Network Ten – 1pm-5pm (EDST)
*Check your local guides
Release Date: 15/03/2005
Stone Brothers Racing
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