Paul Weel fourth in V8 series points
13/4/2005 18:24 (Press Release) -
Paul Weel is fourth in V8 Supercar championship points following the completion of the first round of the series, the Clipsal 500, held in Adelaide today. The 25-year-old, who started yesterday’s first 250km leg way back in 27th position before finishing 11th, moved into the top 10 during today’s final leg and finished an extremely creditable eighth in a fast, extremely competitive and sometimes spectacular race.
“There was plenty of action happening around me and I had to dodge a lot of bullets along the way,” a delighted and relieved Weel said.
“I just tried to stay out of trouble and be consistent in what were extremely difficult conditions. Fourth in points at the end of round one of a long season is a very good start to the year and a good result for the Super Cheap Auto Racing team.”
Having finished sixth in yesterday’s first leg and been running amongst the leaders at the start of today’s race, Greg Murphy’s day ended early when the gearbox in his Super Cheap Auto Racing Commodore broke its gearbox on lap eight.
“We broke the unbreakable; I’ve never had a gearbox go before and I don’t know what went wrong,” a disappointed Murphy said.
“I shifted from second to third and it just went ‘crack’. At first I thought I’d missed a gear, but there was just nothing there.”
Although he did not finish today, Murphy still gathered 81 championship points in yesterday’s race and sits 20th in the championship.
“For me, it wasn’t the best beginning to the year, but there is still 12 rounds to go and we head ‘home’ next to Pukekohe in New Zealand. I’ve had great results in the past and I can’t wait to get back,” he said.
A four-day record crowd of 255,600 people saw Marcos Ambrose claim wins in both legs and the series lead, with Craig Lowndes second and Holden Racing Team’s Todd Kelly third overall.
The second round of the 2005 V8 Supercar Championship Series, the Placemakers V8 International, takes place on 15-17 April at Pukekohe, New Zealand.
CLIPSAL 500 – RACE TWO RESULTS (TOP 10)
1. Marcos Ambrose, Pirtek Racing Falcon BA 3. Craig Lowndes, Team Betta Electrical Falcon BA
3. Mark Skaife, Holden Racing Team Holden Commodore VZ
4. Todd Kelly, Holden Racing Team Holden Commodore VZ
5. Paul Dumbrell, Team Perkins Racing Holden Commodore VZ
6. Cameron McConville, Repco Valvoline Cummins Holden Commodore VZ
7. Max Wilson, WOW Holden Commodore VZ
8. Paul Weel, Super Cheap Auto Racing Holden Commodore VZ
9. Rick Kelly, HSV Racing Holden Commodore VZ
10. Paul Radisich, Team Kiwi Holden Commodore VZ
V8 SUPERCAR CHAMPIONSHIP POINTS (after 1 of 13 rounds)
1. M. Ambrose – 192; 2. C. Lowndes – 183; 3. T. Kelly – 162; 4. P. Weel, S. Johnson – 141; 6. R. Ingall- 138; 7. P. Dumbrell – 135; 8. C. McConville – 129; 9. R. Kelly – 126; 10. J. Bright – 108; 20 – G. Murphy - 81
Release Date: 20/03/2005
Super Cheap Auto Racing - PWR
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