Ingall Fifth For Supercheap Auto Racing at Sandown, First Hodlen Home
09-06-2008
Supercheap Auto Racing's Russell Ingall has recorded his best V8 Supercar round result since switching back to Holden at season's beginning, finishing fifth overall at the Midas 400 event in Melbourne.
The highest placed Holden driver for the round, Ingall got the weekend off to a great start by qualifying the #39 SCAR Commodore sixth quickest Sunday - his first top 10 grid position of the season - and storming home to finish fourth in Race 1 later that day.
But it all could have all turned sour for the former V8 Champion, narrowly missing Rick Kelly's HSV Dealer Team Commodore and what could have potentially been a huge incident when Kelly lost control of his car and spun at high speed. Ingall emerged through a cloud of smoke unscathed as did fellow Holden driver Garth Tander, while Kelly lost only three spots and continued to finish the race seventh!
The Queen's Birthday holiday Monday brought rain for Race 2 and Ingall struggled in the wet but still fought hard to finish seventh to set up a possible podium.
The final 39 lap race was run in dry conditions and Ingall's good form continued, finishing sixth when the chequered flag flew after an enthralling battle with fellow Holden driver Todd Kelly and rookie Shane Van Gisbergen over the closing stages - the three running nose-to-tail to the end.
After qualifying in 25th, team-mate Paul Morris had a very good first race Sunday, muscling his way through the field to finish a strong 15th, but his fortune didn't continue the following day - Morris also struggling in the damp conditions of Race 2 and receiving a drive-thru penalty in the final race, ultimately finishing 22nd for the round.
Ford's Jamie Whincup won the round ahead of fellow Falcon drivers Mark Winterbottom and James Courtney, Winterbottom assuming the championship lead courtesy of previous leader, the Toll Holden Racing Team's Tander's seventh place result.
The next round of the 2008 V8 Supercar Championship Series takes place at Hidden Valley Raceway in Darwin on 4-6 July.
Russell Ingall, #39 Supercheap Auto Racing Holden Commodore VE:
"First Holden home, our best result of the year and we're rapt! Too bad we had the wet race this morning otherwise we might have even been on the podium. Our Supercheap Auto Racing Commodore was good in the dry, we had good speed all weekend and it's showing that we're definitely moving in the right direction - we proved we can run with the front runners.
"Qualifying up the pointy end of the grid makes all the difference, you don't have to bash and crash your way through the field like we've had to so far this season. We qualified well and put ourselves in a position to do well.
"The incident with Rick got a bit scary, he grabbed two much kerb and got himself into a huge tank 'slapper'. I actually thought he'd saved it for a moment - then when he went around I wasn't sure which way to go, inside or out. I went to the inside and got through, while he was still sideways when I went past - it could have been a huge one!
"Next we head north to Darwin and that's one of my favourite circuits - I've won there in Holdens in the past and the plan is to do it again!"
Paul Morris, #67 Supercheap Auto Racing Holden Commodore VE:
"Russell's result was great for the team and our sponsors and really is where we should have been in Perth. For me, today was disappointing and we struggled in the wet in Race 2. Sunday turned out to be good, passing 10 cars. We obviously had really good car speed, but paid the price of qualifying poorly. We had plenty of dramas coming through but that's what happens when you qualify down the back, there's always drama trying to get through. Darwin's next and I'm looking forward to that. I'm a local, spend half my time there and love the place - can't wait to get back."
2008 V8 Supercar Championship, Rd 5 - Midas 400 Race 1 (Results)
1. Jamie Whincup, Team Vodafone Ford Falcon BF
2. Mark Winterbottom, Orrcon Ford Falcon BF
3. Craig Lowndes, Team Vodafone Ford Falcon BF
4. Russell Ingall, Supercheap Auto Racing Holden Commodore VE
5. Garth Tander, Toll Holden Racing Team Holden Commodore VE
6. James Courtney, Jeld-Wen Ford Falcon B
7. Rick Kelly, HSV Dealer Team Holden Commodore VE
8. Fabian Coulthard, Glenfords Tools Ford Falcon BF
9. Shane Van Gisbergen, SP Air Ford Falcon BF
10. Mark Skaife, Toll Holden Racing Team Holden Commodore VE
15. Paul Morris, Supercheap Auto Racing Holden Commodore VE
2008 V8 Supercar Championship, Rd 5 - Midas 400 Race 2 (Results)
1. Craig Lowndes, Team Vodafone Ford Falcon BF
2. Shane Van Gisbergen, SP Tools Racing Ford Falcon BF
3. Jamie Whincup, Team Vodafone Ford Falcon BF
4. James Courtney, Jeld-Wen Motorsport Ford Falcon BF
5. Steven Johnson, Jim Beam Racing Ford Falcon BF
6. Mark Winterbottom, Ford Performance Racing Ford Falcon BF
7. Russell Ingall, Supercheap Auto Racing Holden Commodore VE
8. Todd Kelly, Jack Daniel's Racing Holden Commodore VE
9. Garth Tander, Toll Holden Racing Team Holden Commodore VE
10. Cameron McConville, Team WOW Holden Commodore VE
21. Paul Morris, Supercheap Auto Racing Holden Commodore VE
2008 V8 Supercar Championship, Rd 5 - Midas 400 Race 3 (Results)
1. Jamie Whincup, Team Vodafone Ford Falcon BF
2. Mark Winterbottom, Ford Performance Racing Ford Falcon
3. James Courtney, Jeld-Wen Motorsport Ford Falcon BF
4. Shane Van Gisbergen, SP Tools Racing Ford Falcon BF
5. Todd Kelly, Jack Daniel's Racing Holden Commodore VE
6. Russell Ingall, Supercheap Auto Racing Holden Commodore VE
7. Will Davison, Jim Beam Racing Ford Falcon BF
8. Lee Holdsworth, Valvoline Cummins Race Team Holden Commodore VE
9. Steven Richards Ford Performance Racing Ford Falcon
10. Steven Johnson, Jim Beam Racing Ford Falcon BF
24. Paul Morris, Supercheap Auto Racing Holden Commodore VE
2008 V8 Supercar Championship, Rd 5 - Midas 400 (Overall Results)
1. Jamie Whincup, Team Vodafone Ford Falcon BF- 286
2. Mark Winterbottom, Ford Performance Racing Ford Falcon- 252
3. James Courtney, Jeld-Wen Motorsport Ford Falcon BF - 232
4. Shane Van Gisbergen, SP Tools Racing Ford Falcon BF - 228
5. Russell Ingall, Supercheap Auto Racing Holden Commodore VE - 212
6. Craig Lowndes, Team Vodafone Ford Falcon BF - 186
7. Garth Tander, Toll Holden Racing Team Holden Commodore VE - 176
8. Todd Kelly, Jack Daniel's Racing Holden Commodore VE - 170
9. Steven Johnson, Jim Beam Racing Ford Falcon BF - 170
10. Rick Kelly, HSV Dealer Team Holden Commodore VE - 146
22. Paul Morris, Supercheap Auto Racing Holden Commodore VE - 90
2008 V8 Supercar Championship Series Points (after five of 14 rounds): 1. Winterbottom - 1124; 2. Tander - 1072; 3. Whincup - 1062; 4. R.Kelly - 1028; 5. Lowndes - 897; 6. S.Richards - 839; 7. Courtney - 811; 8. Holdsworth - 760; 9. Davison - 752; 10. T.Kelly - 726; 16. Ingall - 585; 22. Morris - 431.
