Frosty makes a solid start

14th in practice without new tyres

Mark Winterbottom and Steve Richards made a solid start to their campaign for this weekend’s Clipsal 500 in Adelaide during practice today.

While many of his opposition fitted a second set of new tyres Winterbottom opted to test more of a ‘race’ set up on the #5 Orrcon Steel FPR Falcon with older tyres and as a consequence finished the day 14th fastest.

Today’s result, which was just over a second behind the quickest time of the day set by Jamie Whincup around the 3.22km street circuit, bodes well for the pair of 78-lap encounters over the weekend.

Richards also ran strongly during today’s practice sessions before ending with the eighth fastest time aboard the Orrcon Steel-backed #6 Dunlop Super Dealer FPR Falcon. The dual Bathurst champion has got his sights set on securing a berth in his third consecutive top ten shootout in tomorrow’s 20-minute qualifying session.

The action on track tomorrow will consist of qualifying at 10:30am followed by the top ten shootout at 11:30am and race one at 2:35pm. Sunday will be highlighted by a 20-minute qualifying session and the final 78-lap encounter.

Entering this weekend’s third event of the championship Jamie Whincup leads the way, 57 points clear of Winterbottom with Richards 21st.

QUOTES FROM THE DRIVERS

Mark Winterbottom – #5 Orrcon Steel FPR Falcon
“I was pretty happy with the actual set-up on the Orrcon Steel FPR Falcon. Other drivers put new tyres on at the end, which makes you look a worse than what your time really is,” said Winterbottom.

“My best lap time was set on my final flying lap on 30 lap old tyres, we made some good progress with the set-up of the car and it feels like it is going to be very strong over the longer runs.

“I’m really looking forward to the race, this car is certainly the easiest car that I’ve driven around here, it is very stable and I’m very confident for the weekend ahead.”

Steve Richards – Orrcon Steel-backed #6 Dunlop Super Dealer FPR Falcon
“Everything went to plan throughout today’s session, we had a schedule of changes that we wanted to make and worked to that schedule,” said Richards.

“All of the changes to the set-up that we made were positive and overall I’m pretty pleased with the outcome of the day.

“We our second set of new tyres on late in the session, we wanted to make sure that the car will be well balanced for when we put new tyres on for qualifying.”

V8 Supercar Championship Series Points Standings
After Race 4 of 26
1. Jamie Whincup 600
2. Mark Winterbottom 543
3. Shane Van Gisbergen 471
4. Craig Lowndes 447
5. James Courtney 420
6. Rick Kelly 392
7. Lee Holdsworth 372
8. Steven Johnson 296
9. Michael Caruso 294
10. Russell Ingall 270
21. Steve Richards 171

CLIPSAL 500
Event 3 of the 2010 V8 Supercar Championship Series

RESULTS: Combined Practice
1. #1 Jamie Whincup 1:21.3729
2. #9 Shane Van Gisbergen1:21.5271
3. #55 Paul Dumbrell 1:21.7511
4. #8 Jason Richards 1:21.8410
5. #888 Craig Lowndes 1:21.8708
6. #2 Garth Tander 1:21.9576
7. #24 Fabian Coulthard 1:21.9641
8. #6 Steve Richards 1:22.1188
9. #3 Tony D'Alberto 1:22.1237
10. #47 Tim Slade 1:22.1515
14. #5 Mark Winterbottom 1:22.3916

ORRCON STEEL STATS - ADELAIDE
Circuit: Adelaide Parklands Street Circuit II
Location: Adelaide, South Australia
Circuit Length: 3.22 kilometres
Format: 250km race Saturday and Sunday
2009 Attendance: 272,800 (four days)
2009 Pole Winner: Jamie Whincup
2009 Race 1 Winner: Jamie Whincup
2009 Race 2 Winner: Jamie Whincup

Mark Winterbottom
Debut: Event 1 - 2004
Races: 10
Best Qualifying: 3rd (2009)
Avg. Qualifying: 15.0
Best Races Result: 2nd (R2 - 2009)
Avg. Race Result: 19.5

Steve Richards
Debut: Event 2 - 1999
Races: 22
Best Qualifying: 5th (2003)
Avg. Qualifying: 12.1
Best Race Result: 2nd (R2 - 2003, R1,R2 - 2004)
Avg. Race Result: 9.2

WEEKEND SCHEDULE
Times below are Australian Central Daylight Savings Times (SA - GMT + 10.5 hours)

Saturday 13 March 2010
10:30am – 10:50am: Qualifying
11:30am: Top 10 Shootout
2:35pm: Race 1 (Series Race 5) – 78 laps

Sunday 14 March 2010
11:00am –11:20am: Qualifying
2:35pm –Race 2 (Series Race 6) – 78 laps

TELEVISION SCHEDULE – SEVEN NETWORK
Times subject to amendment – please check local guides

Saturday 13 March 2010
2:00pm – 5:30pm (V8 Supercars Race 1)

Sunday 14 March 2010
2:00pm – 5:30pm (V8 Supercars Race 2)

NB: Telecast 30 minutes earlier each day in South Australia