It's a risk, says Skaife, but we'll get through
11/3/2002 18:22 (V8 Wire - Jason Whittaker) -
Mark Skaife is acutely aware his Clipsal 500 campaign – and, indeed, his championship defence – could be over before it even begins.
"It's a risk, for sure," said Skaife, who faces a do-or-die qualifying shootout at Mallala Raceway on Wednesday to secure his rightful place on this weekend’s Clipsal 500 grid.
The four-time V8 Supercar champion is the Holden Racing Team’s designated hitter, given the task of pre-qualifying for the not-to-be-missed Adelaide spectacular in place of inexperienced Young Lion, Rick Kelly.
Worlds will collide if he is not among the fastest eleven on Wednesday, the undisputed cut-off for the 36-car grid, but he’s taking a cautious approach nonetheless.
“All things being equal, and baring any dramas, we should get through,” he said.
Wayne Gardner sees it as a bonus. The former motorcycle champion, making a cameo appearance for the Stone brothers in Adelaide, believes the track time at Mallala will better prepare him for the Clipsal marathon.
”The thing I am missing is time in the car and we need to make the most of the practice and qualifying sessions on Wednesday,” he said.
”When you look at the names on the pre-qualifying list I guess there are a few guys with a lot more to lose than me.”
Along with Skaife and Gardner, the all-star pre-qualifying bill includes; Greg Murphy, Todd Kelly, Craig Lowndes, Neil Crompton, Larry Perkins, Tony Longhurst, Simon Wills, John Bowe, Cameron McLean, Steve Reed, Dugal McDougall, Mark Noske, Tomas Mezera, Greg Crick and Ross Halliday.
Eleven into 17 doesn’t go, leaving six drivers out in the cold come Wednesday night.
For the likes of Skaife, Gardner, Murphy, Kelly, Lowndes, Crompton, Perkins, Longhurst and Wills, pre-qualifying should be a formality.
But the final two positions could be hotly contested. McLean had one of the fastest Fords at the Grand Prix meeting, while Bowe’s OzEmail Falcon was less than impressive at the same event. Both deserve entry – particularly Bowe, who would have been an automatic qualifier had it not been for his defection from Briggs Motorsport – but their qualification is by no means certain.
The rest seemingly face an uphill battle to displace any of the aforementioned stars from the event. Race organisers will be quietly hoping they don’t.
Drivers will have just 20 minutes to book a spot on the grid, following a 20-minute practice session.
Mallala will be open to the public on the day, with a $15 entry fee. AVESCO are donating proceeds to the Adelaide Children’s Hospital.
"With the high level of interest in pre-qualifying at Mallala we saw this as an ideal opportunity to assist the Adelaide Children's Hospital, who provide an outstanding health service for South Australian families,” AVESCO Chairman Tony Cochrane said.
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