Westpoint Racing's top ten duo
13/4/2005 17:40 (Press Release) -
Steven Johnson came fourth and Glenn Seton has finished ninth to give Westpoint Racing a dream start to the 2005 V8 Supercar Championship. Coming in behind Marcos Ambrose, Russell Ingall and Craig Lowndes, Johnson made the first 250-kilometre leg of the Clipsal 500 a Ford quadrella.
Johnson was extremely happy with his BA Falcon and thrilled to give the team, and the team's new sponsor Westpoint, a strong season starting result.
"It's really good to have the hard work pay off," Steven Johnson said.
"We went to the GP with a little more confidence then we have had in the past and after the test day we thought we might have quite a good car.
"All in all the car's great and probably the fastest and most consistent that it has been in a long time.
"It's a credit to the team, and great for Westpoint, Ford and all of our sponsors."
Johnson also said that for the first time in a long time he felt he had a fast race car that could attack.
"It was fantastic to be able to catch and pass other drivers, we haven't been able to do that for a while," Johnson said.
"It must have been good for the team and for the fans to watch the car come through the field and attack; we really held our own against some traditionally fast teams.
"Last year I was forced to defend and hold my line a lot, I certainly didn't have to do that today, I think that I've got a car that can catch, pass and pull-away.
"Hopefully we can do it again tomorrow."
Glenn Seton had one of the duals of the race with Todd Kelly, and showed that he is still a force to be reckoned with in V8 Supercars.
"It was quite a race with Todd Kelly wasn't it," Glenn Seton said.
"Todd gave me quite a serve on several occasions, trying to unsettle me and get past, but we held in there.
"I think we perhaps showed a few people that we are going in the right direction."
Seton's elevation through the field came thanks to some great driving and a very strong pit strategy.
"It was quite a strategy by the team to get me in early," Seton said.
"I was hit from behind by Paul Weel on the first lap which partially dislodged the rear bumper-bar and the stewards forced me in.
"I came in on lap seven and the team did a tyre change, so the front tyres did the entire race and the rears did about seventy laps.
"The fuel stop came on lap 23, the same as Steve (Johnson), and that helped my track position considerably.
"To start from 24th, be in 30th by lap eight and then climb up to a finishing position of ninth showed we made the right decision to change tyres while the boys fixed the damage to the bumper."
Seton was equally as pleased with the performance of the Westpoint Ford.
"It was encouraging to know how consistent the car is," Seton said.
"The car felt good during the race and it will be better still after we make some further improvements tonight.
"I went out there to finish in the top-ten, which I did, and to get some good points.
"If we can come out tomorrow, do the same job, maybe finish a little higher or at least stay in the top-ten it will be a great start to the Championship."
The second 250 kilometre leg of the Clipsal 500 starts at 2pm (Adelaide time) tomorrow afternoon.
Release Date: 19/03/2005
Wespoint Racing - DJR
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