TOP TEN QUALIFYING EFFORT FROM FPR IN ADELAIDE
7/4/2005 19:19 (Press Release) -
Ford Performance Racing (FPR) driver Jason Bright had made a
strong start to the new V8 Supercar season by qualifying 5th for the first of
two Adelaide V8 Supercar street races. After consolidating this result in the
top ten shoot out with the 5th fastest lap time, the team was informed that
they had made an infringement when Bright's CAT FPR Falcon was not parked in
pit lane at the start of the afternoon's top ten shootout as required by new
2005 season rules. The team was offered the option to accept exclusion from the
top ten shoot out or face a stewards hearing. The team chose to accept the
penalty, relegating Bright to 10th for tomorrow's opening race.
Ford Credit FPV Falcon driver Greg Ritter qualified 26th after experiencing set
up problems with his brand new car throughout today's first day of V8 Supercar
competition.Bright struggled with traffic during Friday's qualifying session,
which was interrupted by a red flag stoppage when Holden driver Mark Skaife
crashed heavily at the final turn. With mere seconds remaining in the 20 minute
session, the 32 year old Victorian muscled his way into the top five, and
consolidated this result with his 5th fastest lap in the top ten shootout,
which was later excluded.
Pole position went to Holden driver Rick Kelly, with defending Ford Champion
Marcos Ambrose second and rival Ford driver Steve Ellery third.
#6 Jason Bright - "I couldn't get a clear lap until the very end of the
qualifying session, which was frustrating as I was confident that we could make
it into the top ten. I struggled to get a clear lap and then Mark Skaife hit
the wall just as I was on a flier, brining out the red flag. In the limited
time remaining we elected to run a new set of tyres, warm them up and find a
clear lap - which I did at the last possible opportunity. It was a good result
to qualify in the top five (before the shoot out) as we have been improving the
car with every session. We still have some issues, but I think we have
displayed great potential for the races ahead."
#5 Greg Ritter - "I'm a bit disappointed with our qualifying result after the
form that we displayed at the Grand Prix. We have been struggling with set-ups
throughout the day - and we made a wrong set up call for qualifying. We'll take
a look at it all tonight and work out a better race set up for tomorrow. On the
positive side, the car is being quite friendly on its tyres, which is important
here."
FPR Chief Engineer, Phil Keed - "We have been aiming to qualify in the top five
and to develop a good race package at the same time here and we achieved that
today. Jason's result was in some ways better than we expected as we weren't
concentrating all of our efforts on a qualifying car. Obviously it was a
disappointment for us to be excluded from the shoot out. We are still trying to
find our way with Greg's car, and because it is so completely new we are
struggling to find the right balance."
FPR takes to the Adelaide Parklands Street Circuit at 2:00pm (2:30pm EST)
tomorrow for the first of two 250 kilometre races to decide the opening round
of the 2005 Australian V8 Supercar Championship Series.
Release Date: 18/03/2005
Ford Performance Racing
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