Getting To Grips With Indy

Mark qualifies 4th and Richo 11th

Mark Winterbottom continued his tradition of saving the best 'til last in V8 Supercar Championship Series qualifying, posting his best time in today's Nikon Indy 300 as the chequered flag fell.

The Ford Performance Racing driver will start fourth in tomorrow's race and says he and the team will be working overnight to find more grip to regain the advantage over his championship rivals.

Team-mate Steve Richards was denied a place in the final ten qualifiers after a red flag prematurely halted the second session as he was on a flying lap. He will start tomorrow's first race, at 15:50, from 11th.

Mark Winterbottom Orrcon Steel Ford Credit FPR Falcon
'We're just not slowing the car up as well as we did last year. In '07 we could brake deep and the car just turned. Now the wheels are locking and unlocking and you can't touch the throttle or you'll be in the wall. It's hard to drive with absolute confidence when that's what's happening.

'We're still fourth so we're somewhere around the money. I'll make a good start tomorrow and make a race of it.'

Steve Richards Castrol FPR Falcon
'Every lap was a flyer but the car was just going faster and faster every lap as the front grip came on. Before that you're limited on braking and you can't turn into the corner quick enough. Doing your quick time on lap five is all very well until a red flag comes out on lap four!

'The sessions today bode well for the race tomorrow; the car that should be good in the race but it's frustrating that you have to start from 11th.'

Tim Edwards Team Principal
'We were optimistic today because we had a quick car here last year but it's certainly not all doom and gloom; we still think we've got a very competitive car.

'We'll be tweaking things over night to try and improve it but we don't think we're too far away so we won't be changing too much; that could do more harm than good.'

SURFERS PARADISE STREET CIRCUIT
Nikon Indy 300 - 2008 V8 Supercar Championship Series -Rd 11 QUALIFYING
1. Jamie Whincup, 888, 1:49.1828
2. Garth Tander, HRT, +0.6494
3. Paul Dumbrell, TWR, +0.7058
4. Mark Winterbottom, Orrcon Steel Ford Credit FPR Falcon, +1.0195
5. Craig Lowndes, 888, +1.1040
6. Russell Ingall, PMM, +1.2362
7. Will Davison, DJR, +1.2402
8. Todd Kelly, Perkins Motorsport, +1.3076
9. Rick Kelly, HSV, +1.3716
10. James Courtney, SBR, +1.4032
11. Steve Richards, Castrol FPR Falcon,+ 0.9911