VAN GISBERGEN SECOND QUICKEST AND FASTEST FORD DRIVER ON FRIDAY
SP Tools Racing’s Shane van Gisbergen continued his fine early season form on the opening day of the Clipsal 500 in Adelaide yesterday (Friday), ending up second only to championship points leader Jamie Whincup at the conclusion of the three practice sessions.
Coming off podium performances at both 'away' rounds of the 2010 series in the Middle East, it was just the start the 20-year-old Kiwi needed at the first of the home rounds, his performance made all the more impressive by the fact that his SP Tools Falcon was the quickest Ford in a veritable sea of Holdens.
Shane van Gisbergen – Driver, SP Tools Racing Car #9
"We actually were struggling with the car a little bit to start with today, but we made a spring change and it got a lot better. Thanks to the tyres at the end there we made a good gain and we set a good lap time.
"For the short twenty minute qualifying session tomorrow it will be pretty hectic out there but you just have to find your own clear track, switch your headlights on so everyone knows you’re on a fast lap and go for it.
"This is a great circuit that you can really get into, from the first run you scrape your mirror on the walls , it’s a cool feeling you can just push the car hard and bounce around a bit.
"The car feels great and it’s good to be consistently quick, I think the difference is this year that I am just making better choices on the track. I’m not as desperate to make passes and I know the car is capable of winning so I am more comfortable to just hang in there for a few laps before making a move on someone."
Ross Stone – SBR Team Principal
"Shane is obviously doing well, he has grown up a lot and is driving much smarter, I felt for him today as he has been feeling a bit crook but it didn’t seem to cause him any dramas as far as driving fast goes!"
The V8 Supercars will take to the track for qualifying today (Saturday) at 10:30 am (local time) before the first of the 250km races at 2:35 pm.
Ends
RESULTS
Clipsal 500 Practice 3
1 1 TeamVodafone/Jamie Whincup 1:21.3729
2 9 SP Tools Racing/Shane van Gisbergen 1:21.5271
3 55 The Bottle-O Racing Team/Paul Dumbrell 1:21.7511
4 8 Team BOC/Jason Richards 1:21.8410
5 888 TeamVodafone/Craig Lowndes 1:21.8708
6 2 Toll Holden Racing Team/Garth Tander 1:21.9576
7 24 Bundaberg Red Racing Team/Fabian Coulthard 1:21.9641
8 6 Dunlop Super Dealer/FPR Falcon/Steven Richards 1:22.1188
9 3 Centaur Racing/Tony D'Alberto 1:22.1237
10 47 Wilson Security Racing/Tim Slade 1:22.1515
Practice 2
1 2 Toll Holden Racing Team/Garth Tander 1:22.2698*
2 17 Jim Beam Racing/Steven Johnson 1:22.3627
3 1 TeamVodafone/Jamie Whincup 1:22.4068
4 7 Jack Daniel's Racing/Todd Kelly 1:22.4551
5 3 Centaur Racing/Tony D'Alberto 1:22.4714
6 888 TeamVodafone/Craig Lowndes 1:22.5022
7 8 Team BOC/Jason Richards 1:22.6044
8 5 Orrcon Steel FPR Falcon/Mark Winterbottom 1:22.6075
9 33 Fujitsu Racing/GRM/Lee Holdsworth 1:22.6133
10 9 SP Tools Racing/Shane van Gisbergen 1:22.7596
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