FPR sets sail at the Island

Frosty/Richo finish 1st in Practice

Ford Performance Racing was fastest in the L&H 500 practice session today after overcoming Phillip Island's famous gale-force winds.

The Castrol Orrcon Steel FPR Falcon stayed in the top ten throughout the three-part practice run, leaping to the top of the times with five minutes to go in the hands of Mark Winterbottom.

"At the L&H 500 last year we were fighting for a championship but this time we're coming here with one goal: to win this race," said Frosty. "The speed is coming at the right time in terms of winning the enduros but we've got to make sure we're in this spot come tomorrow afternoon.

He and team-mate Steve Richards had been struggling with high-speed wind imbalance until that point. "This track is one of the few that are really affected by the wind's direction," said Richo. "Tomorrow we'll need to set the sail in a different direction if it changes because a 45 degree shift can make a big different. We got it right today and the car's performing really well."

The solution came too late for Luke Youlden and Dean Canto, in the Orrcon Steel Castrol FPR Falcon, but Team Principal Tim Edwards was confident that bad tyres prevented them showing their true speed. They finished the afternoon 25th fastest.

"It didn't run as planned today so we've got a bit of work to do," said Canto. "There was just no grip in the tyres which makes everything ugly!"

The cars will be back on track tomorrow at 09:10.

L&H 500 - 2009 V8 Supercar Championship - Race 17
PHILLIP ISLAND GRAND PRIX CIRCUIT
PRACTICE SESSION
1. Mark Winterbottom / Steve Richards, Castrol Orrcon Steel FPR Falcon, 1:33.7901*
2. Craig Lowndes/ Jamie Whincup, 888, +0.0227
3. Jason Richards / Cameron McConville, BJR, +0.1555
4. Jason Bright / Karl Reindler, Fujitsu Racing, +0.2601
5. Craig Baird / Paul Dumbrell, HRT, +0.2846
6. Fabian Coulthard / Michael Patrizi, PCR, +0.2948

25. Dean Canto / Luke Youlden, Orrcon Steel FPR Falcon, +1.9835