Ambrose stays on track at Oran Park
Stone Brothers Racing's Marcos Ambrose won the eighth round of the V8 Supercar Championship Series in his Pirtek Falcon at Oran Park Raceway in Sydney on 15 August.
It means Ambrose has climbed up the championship ladder from fourth to second behind Bright. Steven Richards, who finished 11th overall toda,y shifts from second to third with Rick Kelly, 17th today, moving from third to fourth.
Holden's Mark Skaife claimed the 34th pole position of his career from Todd Kelly and Simon Wills. Skaife is third on the all-time list of drivers starting on the front of the grid to Allan Moffat (39) and Peter Brock (57)
Ambrose and Ingall were the only two Fords in the top 10.
"I got loose coming off the bridge and that was the end of my lap," said Ambrose.
"I had a pretty big moment and that cost me a couple of tenths. I guess I then lost another couple of tenths after my confidence was dented a little on the bridge.
"I don't think the amount of wind out there helped at all.
"The good thing about all this is the three other guys challenging for the championship are all behind me.
TOP 10 SHOOTOUT
1: Mark Skaife (Holden) 1:09.1107
2: Todd Kelly (Holden) 1:09.3785
3: Simon Wills (Holden) 1:09.4379
4: Jason Richards (Holden) 1:09.4885
5: Marcos Ambrose (Ford) 1:09.5286
6: Jason Bright (Holden) 1:09.5902
7: Paul Morris (Holden) 1:09.7262
8: Rick Kelly (Holden) 1:09.8503
9: Russell Ingall (Ford) 1:09.8594
10: Greg Murphy (Holden) 1:10.0693
Ambrose maintained the advantage in the title chase when he finished second to Skaife in the opening 54-lap race after starting from position five and then won race two after leading from start to finish.
The pair finished the event dead level on 189 points. Ambrose claimed the round by finishing ahead of Skaife in the last race as per V8 Supercar Championship Series rules.
Today's win was the 11th in 47 V8 Supercar starts for Ambrose and places him second in the championship – 13 points behind Bright.
"I can't say enough for our crew. They made the right call on when to stop for tyres and they gave me two superb stops.
It nearly all ended in tears in race two as Skaife was trying to get an edge by coming into pit lane hard on brakes but pulled back into the straight when he though he was going to hit Ambrose.
Latest Articles