R2 QUAL – Fords in the mist startle HRT
13/4/2002 18:04 (V8 Wire - Jason Whittaker) -
Ford’s hopes of arresting the Holden Racing Team’s dominance of the V8 Supercar series at Phillip Island Raceway tomorrow rest squarely on the talented shoulders of Pirtek racer Marcos Ambrose, after this afternoon’s qualifying.
He’ll attempt the improbable feat from pole position, his fourth career pole in just his second year on the circuit, after an impressive display in miserable conditions to upset the factory Holden juggernaut.
Qualifying was a lottery, with the weather ranging from tolerable to terrible. Ambrose mastered the conditions and timed his run impeccably to grab provisional pole, with a one-minute 44.77sec fastest lap, before blasting HRT out of the water – and there was plenty of it – to retain top spot in the one-lap shootout.
"It's been very tricky today with the weather changing so much, but the whole team stuck to its guns and we've gained a great qualifying result," Ambrose said.
"I really pushed in the second part of the lap, and the final corner was really good and that gave us the time. In wet conditions it's hard to get heat into the tyres, so the second part of the lap it got quicker and I had the confidence to go for it."
The red barons were relegated to second and third; Jason Bright claiming the front row position ahead of teammate Skaife, who earlier traded blows with Ambrose in qualifying.
It was a strong showing from the Gold Coast-based Stone Brothers Racing garage, with Ambrose’s mercurial teammate, David Besnard, securing a spot on the second row.
Besnard climbed from sixth in qualifying, and may have been even higher had he not locked a break on his hot lap.
"We've had good race-speed but have had some trouble in qualifying before this weekend," Besnard said. “With the weather remaining unpredictable, being up the front is a big advantage and I'm keen to make the most of it.”
Russell Ingall, who vowed to be more aggressive this weekend, was fifth fastest, ahead of pre-qualifier Paul Radisich. Commodore combatants Todd Kelly and Steven Richards will share the fourth row.
Briggs Motorsport’s pint-sized surprise packet, Brazilian import Max Wilson, continued to impress today. After qualifying seventh, the 29-year-old looked set for a slick shootout time but ran off the track at Honda corner. He finished tenth, one ahead of Jason Bargwanna.
Kmart Racing’s Greg Murphy was unlucky to miss the shootout in eleventh, ahead of Tony Longhurst, Craig Lowndes, Garth Tander and Jason Richards rounding out the top 15.
Steven Johnson mistimed his run, qualifying back in 18th, as did Simon Wills in 22nd.
Worse still, Level 1 stars Glenn Seton, Brad Jones, Mark Larkham, Neil Crompton and Cameron McConville all face pre-qualifying for the next round at Eastern Creek after qualifying outside the top 25 today.
Two 150km sprints face the drivers tomorrow, with a mandatory tyre change in each. With the rain set to continue, and HRT breathing down his neck, Ambrose is still a long way from claiming his second V8 Supercar round victory.
"Tomorrow will be very tough, but we're up for the challenge and I'm sure our race package will be just as strong," Ambrose said.
For complete qualifying results: click here.
For complete top ten shootout results: click here.
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