US fans embrace V8s on tough day for FPR

20 May 2013

Frosty finishes 6th

Fords Pepsi Max Crew has endured a tough end to its initial American sojourn despite the fans of Austin, Texas embracing the first ever V8 Supercars event in North America.

In Race 15 Mark looked set to capitalise on a flying start and race-leading pace only for a slow pit stop to drop him down the order to an eventual seventh place.

The issue was unrelated to other similar wheel fitment problems early in the season and the team believe they have a fix for todays problem.

Will suffered the effects of a low qualifying slot and contact with Scott McLaughlin hampered his progress and after starting 11th he finished 14th.

Mark made another rapid start in the final race and was up to sixth by lap four which was unfortunately the same lap where Will retired.

He was much happier with his race pace and made a number of passing attempts on Craig Lowndes only to get squeezed on his fourth attempt.

Locked rear brakes led to contact with McLaughlin with the resultant impact ending his race.

Mark pitted after the long safety car to remove his team-mates stricken car and while he was happy enough with his pace he was unable to make up any ground as the lead remained unchanged for the latter part of the race.

Mark Winterbottom - #5 Pepsi Max FPR Ford:
Race 13
Qualifying: 4th 
Race: 7th 
Race 14
Qualifying: 10th 
Race: 5th 
We started to make progress today and that is a good sign but the day has been frustrating as while we havent had the best weekend, to get to the lead and then have things go wrong is not ideal. In the final race we had a pretty good car but once you are in the pack it is hard to pass. We know what we need to do to address the pit stop issue and Im sure we will so it is not all doom and gloom.

Will Davison - #6 Pepsi Max FPR Ford:
Race 13
Qualifying: 11th 
Race: 12th 
Race 14
Qualifying: 14th 
Race: DNF 
It was a really tough day and after qualifying poorly we tried some things with the car but just got caught up in the mid-pack madness. Everyone acts pretty crazy back there so it makes it tough. I was probably a bit conservative in the first race and got shuffled back so it felt great early and I was easily able to attempt passes on Craig (Lowndes). I got a run on him and as I was passing him into Turn 12 it got quite close between us and I locked the rear wheels and unfortunately hit the car in front of him. The car felt good and I had to get through the pack but I slightly miscalculated the move.

Tim Edwards FPR Team Principal: 
Weve thoroughly enjoyed racing here in Texas but clearly weve not recorded the results we expect. Mark had a genuine chance to win the first race and obviously a pit stop error cost us dearly which is unacceptable and while it was a different issue than earlier in the year we believe weve identified what it is. Overall we have learnt a lot about our cars this weekend so while the frustration is still raw we know it will help us move forward overall.

AUSTIN 400
RACE 15 RESULTS:
1) Fabian Coulthard Brad Jones Racing 
2) Craig Lowndes Triple Eight  
3) Jamie Whincup Triple Eight
4) Jonathan Webb Tekno 
5) Shane van Gisbergen - Tekno 
7) Mark Winterbottom Pepsi Max Crew FPR 
12) Will Davison Pepsi Max Crew FPR

RACE 16 RESULTS:
1) Jamie Whincup Triple Eight 
2) Fabian Coulthard Brad Jones Racing Craig Lowndes Triple Eight
3) Shane van Gisbergen - Tekno
4) Garth Tander HRT 
5) Craig Lowndes Triple Eight  
6) Mark Winterbottom Pepsi Max Crew FPR
DNF) Will Davison Pepsi Max Crew FPR

DRIVER CHAMPIONSHIP POINTS AFTER RACE 16
1) Jamie Whincup Triple Eight: 1247 points
2) Craig Lowndes Triple Eight: 1105
3) Will Davison Pepsi Max Crew FPR: 1029
8) Mark Winterbottom Pepsi Max Crew FPR: 861

TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP POINTS AFTER RACE 16
1) Triple Eight: 2292 points
2) Brad Jones Racing: 1944
3) Fords Pepsi Max Crew: 1890