King of Pukekohe dethroned

Author: Philip Northeast
Published on: Jun 30, 2004

Jason Bright dethroned the 'King of Pukekohe', Greg Murphy, by winning the rain affected New Zealand round of the 2004 V8 Supercar Championship Series at Pukekohe Park Raceway,

Race one of the PlaceMakers V8 International scheduled for Saturday was postponed in controversial circumstances at Pukekohe Raceway, 40km south of Auckland, because of worsening weather conditions which flooded the track in places. The round was decided over three 36-lap (100km) races on Sunday. The original two Sunday heats were reduced from 54-lap (150km) events.

It was not only the track that flooded, officials also considering moving the 32-car field to higher ground overnight because of the threat of the pits being flooded with the continual rain. Ironically one of the new sponsors of the series is Telstra's Big Pond and the fear was that the race track would turn into a big pond.

The last race in the V8 Supercar Championship Series to be called off because of weather was at Calder Park in Melbourne in 1998.

"Most of all I feel sorry for the fans who have sat out in the wet all day wanting to see a race. It is definitely a shame for them. "Hopefully things will settle a bit and we can put on a decent show tomorrow," said Stone Brother Racing's Russell Ingall

Not all the Saturday action was washed out. The shoot out for the top ten grid positions went ahead and this year the results counted because it was wet for all the runners. Last year there were wet and dry track conditions for the shoot out at Pukekohe and the results considered unfair so the grid was based on normal qualifying times. In the slippery conditions fastest qualifier Jason Bright slipped back to fourth position as the masters of the one lap shoot out, Skaife and Ambrose, put their cars on the front row of the grid, with local hero Greg Murphy joining Bright on the second row.

TOP 10 SHOOTOUT
1: Mark Skaife (Holden) 1:04.7477
2:Marcos Ambrose (Ford) 1:04.7514
3: Greg Murphy (Holden) 1:05.2608
4: Jason Bright (Holden) 1:05.7407
5: Steve Richards (Holden) 1:06.5466
6: Paul Radisich (Ford) 1:06.5501
7: John Bowe (Ford) 1:06.5503
8: Max Wilson (Ford) 1:06.5796
9: Todd Kelly (Holden) 1:06.7599
10: Jason Bargwanna (Ford) 1:07.6230

When racing finally got underway on Sunday Holden Racing Team's Mark Skaife wasn't able to make use of the front row spot. He made disastrous start from pole position and his day got worse when later he spun after contact with Steven Richards. Skaife's poor start allowed Ambrose to take the lead and to go on and win the opening race from Jason Bright. This was Ford's first race win in the V8 Supercar Championship Series in New Zealand.

Behind them the battle for third also carried the honour of the first New Zealand Driver home as Paul Radisich resisted pressure from Greg Murphy. Radisich's effort finally fulfilled some of the promise that the new 888 team. Race One 1 Pirtek Racing Marcos Ambrose Ford Falcon BA
2 PWR Performance Products Jason Bright Holden Commodore VY
3 Team Betta Electrical Paul Radisich Ford Falcon BA
4 Kmart Racing Team Greg Murphy Holden Commodore VY
5 Team Betta Electrical Max Wilson Ford Falcon BA
6 Castrol Perkins Motorsport Steven Richards Holden Commodore VY
7 Kmart Racing Team Rick Kelly Holden Commodore VY
8 Ford Performance Racing Craig Lowndes Ford Falcon BA
9 Team Kiwi Racing Craig Baird Holden Commodore VY
10 OzEmail Racing Team John Bowe Ford Falcon BA
11 PWR Performance Products Paul Weel Holden Commodore VY
12 Caltex Havoline Race Team Russell Ingall Ford Falcon BA
13 Shell Helix Racing Steven Johnson Ford Falcon BA
14 Tasman Motorsport Jason Richards Holden Commodore VX
15 Holy Grail Wine/Alphawest Simon Wills Holden Commodore VY
16 Holden Racing Team Mark Skaife Holden Commodore VY
17 Holden Racing Team Todd Kelly Holden Commodore VY
18 Super Cheap Auto Racing Steve Ellery Ford Falcon BA
19 Repco Valvoline Cummins Team Cameron McConville Holden Commodore VY
20 OzEmail Racing Team Brad Jones Ford Falcon BA
21 Sirromet Life Style Wine Paul Morris Holden Commodore VY
22 Toll Racing Anthony Tratt Holden Commodore VY
23 WPS David Besnard Ford Falcon BA
24 Shell Helix Racing Warren Luff Ford Falcon BA
25 Larkham Orrcon Racing Mark Winterbottom Ford Falcon BA
26 Castrol Perkins Motorsport Tony Longhurst Holden Commodore VX
27 Larkham Orrcon Racing Jason Bargwanna Ford Falcon BA
28 Repco Valvoline Cummins Team Garth Tander Holden Commodore VY
29 Ford Performance Racing Glenn Seton Ford Falcon BA
30 Castrol Perkins Motorsport Paul Dumbrell Holden Commodore VY
31 Holy Grail Wine/Alphawest Dale Brede Holden Commodore VY
32 Hydralink Mark Porter Holden Commodore VX

In race two pole position once again proved to be an apparent disadvantage as Bright made the better start from the outside of the front row. With clear track in front of him Bright showed he had the fastest car on the day and led to the chequered flag.

Ominously Greg Murphy had moved into second place and a loomed as a threat for the final race.

Race Two Results
1 PWR Performance Products Jason Bright Holden Commodore VY
2 Kmart Racing Team Greg Murphy Holden Commodore VY
3 Pirtek Racing Marcos Ambrose Ford Falcon BA
4 Kmart Racing Team Rick Kelly Holden Commodore VY
5 Castrol Perkins Motorsport Steven Richards Holden Commodore VY
6 PWR Performance Products Paul Weel Holden Commodore VY
7 Caltex Havoline Race Team Russell Ingall Ford Falcon BA
8 Shell Helix Racing Steven Johnson Ford Falcon BA
9 Tasman Motorsport Jason Richards Holden Commodore VX
10 Holden Racing Team Todd Kelly Holden Commodore VY
11 Repco Valvoline Cummins Team Garth Tander Holden Commodore VY
12 Holy Grail Wine/Alphawest Simon Wills Holden Commodore VY
13 Castrol Perkins Motorsport Tony Longhurst Holden Commodore VX
14 Larkham Orrcon Racing Mark Winterbottom Ford Falcon BA
15 Sirromet Life Style Wine Paul Morris Holden Commodore VY
16 Team Betta Electrical Paul Radisich Ford Falcon BA
17 Team Kiwi Racing Craig Baird Holden Commodore VY
18 Repco Valvoline Cummins Team Cameron McConville Holden Commodore VY
19 Toll Racing Anthony Tratt Holden Commodore VY
20 OzEmail Racing Team Brad Jones Ford Falcon BA
21 Ford Performance Racing Glenn Seton Ford Falcon BA
22 OzEmail Racing Team John Bowe Ford Falcon BA
23 WPS David Besnard Ford Falcon BA
24 Castrol Perkins Motorsport Paul Dumbrell Holden Commodore VY
25 Hydralink Mark Porter Holden Commodore VX
26 Super Cheap Auto Racing Steve Ellery Ford Falcon BA
27 Shell Helix Racing Warren Luff Ford Falcon BA
28 Team Betta Electrical Max Wilson Ford Falcon BA
29 Ford Performance Racing Craig Lowndes Ford Falcon BA
30 DNF Holy Grail Wine/Alphawest Dale Brede Holden Commodore VY
31 DNF Larkham Orrcon Racing Jason Bargwanna Ford Falcon BA
32 DNF 2 Holden Racing Team Mark Skaife Holden Commodore VY

This time the pole man, Bright, made good use of the inside run to the first turn and once again lead to the finish of the race. This gave him overall victory for the round, the first person other than Greg Murphy to win the round..

Mark Skaife's bad year continued as contact with Craig Baird in race two forced Skaife's retirement with damaged steering and he came back from 32 on the grid in race #3 to finish 19th.

Murphy's dice with Ambrose featrured two great overtaking moves, the first bringing the Ford fans to their feet in the opening laps and the second raising a huge cheer from the 30,000 strong Kiwi crowd as he moved back into second.

"I'm passionate about these races and they are special being at home, but [the winning streak] had to come to an end sooner or later and I'm glad it was to another Holden driver in Jason," Murphy said.

"I really want to win this race for Ross and Jimmy Stone, who only grew up 15km from the track. Maybe this year." Said Marcos Ambrose before the race.

Stephen Richards consistent performances were not enough to prevent him surrendering his Championship lead to reigning champ Marcos Ambrose.

Race Three
1 PWR Performance Products Jason Bright Holden Commodore VY
2 Kmart Racing Team Greg Murphy Holden Commodore VY
3 Pirtek Racing Marcos Ambrose Ford Falcon BA
4 Castrol Perkins Motorsport Steven Richards Holden Commodore VY
5 Kmart Racing Team Rick Kelly Holden Commodore VY
6 PWR Performance Products Paul Weel Holden Commodore VY
7 Caltex Havoline Race Team Russell Ingall Ford Falcon BA
8 Shell Helix Racing Steven Johnson Ford Falcon BA
9 Tasman Motorsport Jason Richards Holden Commodore VX
10 Repco Valvoline Cummins Team Garth Tander Holden Commodore VY
11 Team Betta Electrical Paul Radisich Ford Falcon BA
12 OzEmail Racing Team John Bowe Ford Falcon BA
13 Castrol Perkins Motorsport Tony Longhurst Holden Commodore VX
14 Holden Racing Team Todd Kelly Holden Commodore VY
15 Holy Grail Wine/Alphawest Simon Wills Holden Commodore VY
16 Toll Racing Anthony Tratt Holden Commodore VY
17 Team Betta Electrical Max Wilson Ford Falcon BA
18 OzEmail Racing Team Brad Jones Ford Falcon BA
19 Holden Racing Team Mark Skaife Holden Commodore VY
20 Team Kiwi Racing Craig Baird Holden Commodore VY
21 Larkham Orrcon Racing Jason Bargwanna Ford Falcon BA
22 Ford Performance Racing Glenn Seton Ford Falcon BA
23 Shell Helix Racing Warren Luff Ford Falcon BA
24 Super Cheap Auto Racing Steve Ellery Ford Falcon BA
25 WPS David Besnard Ford Falcon BA
26 Repco Valvoline Cummins Team Cameron McConville Holden Commodore VY
27 Castrol Perkins Motorsport Paul Dumbrell Holden Commodore VY
28 Hydralink Mark Porter Holden Commodore VX
29 Holy Grail Wine/Alphawest Dale Brede Holden Commodore VY
30 DNF Sirromet Life Style Wine Paul Morris Holden Commodore VY
31 DNF Ford Performance Racing Craig Lowndes Ford Falcon BA
32 DNF Larkham Orrcon Racing Mark Winterbottom Ford Falcon BA

Overall Results, Round 3:
1. Jason Bright - PWR Racing Commodore
2. Marcos Ambrose - Pirtek SBR Falcon
3. Greg Murphy - Kmart Commodore
4. Steven Richards - Castrol Perkins Commodore
5. Rick Kelly - Kmart Commodore
6. Paul Weel - PWR Racing Commodore
7. Russell Ingall - Caltex Havoline SBR Falcon
8. Steven Johnson - Shell Helix Falcon
9. Paul Radisich - Betta Electrical Triple 8 Falcon
10. Jason Richards - Tasman Motorsport Commodore

2004 V8 Supercar Championship Series Standings (After Round 3):
1. Marcos Ambrose - 532
2. Steven Richards - 528
3. Greg Murphy - 509
4. Rick Kelly - 502
5. Jason Bright - 457
6. Craig Baird - 258
7. Russell Ingall - 350
8. Paul Weel - 347
9. Steven Johnson - 341
10. John Bowe - 326