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SPECIAL

Ford Territory

SPECIAL

Ford Territory

Ingall Takes First Championship Win Aboard a Ford at Queensland V8 Supercars

Staff, Tuesday July 22, 2003.

Page 1 of 1

On a great day for Stone Brothers Racing, teammate Marcos Ambrose (Pirtek Racing) claimed runner-up to improve his championship position to second overall. It was the first time in four rounds that Ambrose has not taken victory.

It was Stone Brothers Racing?s first one-two finish and has once again underlined them as the team to beat in 2003.

The 300 kilometre was an all-green event, with no accidents and no safety cars.

Ambrose began from pole position after setting the quickest time in the morning?s top-10 shootout. However, he was passed by Mark Skaife at the first turn, while Ingall slotted into third.

From that point it was all about pit strategy, with Ambrose going into the lead when he changed tyres while Ingall and Skaife both took on fuel.

Ingall and Skaife both made tyres stops five laps later, with the Stone Brothers Racing crew getting the Caltex Havoline Racing car out in front of Skaife.

Running away from his rivals, Ambrose made his fuel stop some 15 laps later and was set to have a huge advantage on the run to the flag.

However, he stalled the car and after re-starting he collided with fellow Ford driver Steve Ellery (Super Cheap Auto Racing) on the pit lane. There was next to no damage, but Ambrose was given a drive-through penalty to put him in third position some 20 seconds down.

The final forty laps was a matter of Ingall protecting his lead while Ambrose attacked to catch Skaife.

Then with just five laps remaining and Ambrose on his tail, Skaife?s engine failed and he coasted back to the pits to be classified 27th.

In front of over 33,000 people Ingall took his first chequered flag since Winton in 2001.

?This is just awesome, the car was great and the team once again were the class of the field in the pit stops,? said Ingall.

?I?ve finally got the monkey off the back. I?ve bent some cars lately and the guys have not given up on me, so it?s great to bring a straight car home and take a one-two.

?We say it all the time, but this really is a hard competition and you only win with hard work. This team has a great work ethic, and the rewards really go to them today.

?Marcos has done a great job this year, but this result proves that we are a great two-car combination. I know that this won?t be the only one-two result for our team this year.?

Ambrose was pleased for his teammate, but was disappointed in missing out on five-straight wins.

?I didn?t have the best race today,? said Ambrose.

?Losing the start to Skaife and then the incident in the pitlane were both mistakes made by myself and I paid the price.

?The team told me to go but I stalled the car. I restarted and just went and didn?t event look to see if there was another car in the pitlane. It wasn?t Steve Ellery?s fault and I apologise for that and accept the penalty.

?In saying that I couldn?t think of anyone better to finish behind. Russell has worked so hard to get this win and now people will legitimately see us a great combination.

?The chase for Skaife over those laps was pretty intense, I was fired up and I really wanted to pass him. His engine blew, but I really would have given him a run for his money otherwise.

?Like Russell I can?t fault our team. To have a drive-through penalty and still finish second is a credit to a great car and pit stop strategy.

?We had a great chance for five wins straight today and came up short. However, the championship is starting to look better and with our team getting stronger and stronger, I?m very confident of a strong second half of the year.?

The Tasmanian is now just 36 points behind Jason Bright in the championship chase, while Steven Richards dropped from second to sixth after engine problems today. Ingall?s result has elevated him from seventh to fourth.

In his best event since finishing second at round three at Eastern Creek, Craig Lowndes (CAT Ford Performance Racing) took sixth place just ahead of OzEmail Racing?s John Bowe.

The 2003 V8 Supercar Championship Series head?s to Sydney?s Oran Park for round eight and another 300km race on the 17th August.

Top-10 Big Pond 300 at Queensland Raceway

1. Russell Ingall ? Caltex Havoline Racing ? Ford Falcon BA
2. Marcos Ambrose ? Pirtek Racing ? Ford Falcon BA
3. Todd Kelly ? Holden Race Team ? Holden Commodore
4. Paul Morris ? Sirromet Racing ? Holden Commodore
5. Jason Bright ? Team Brock ? Holden Commodore
6. Craig Lowndes ? CAT Ford Performance Racing ? Ford Falcon BA
7. John Bowe ? OzEmail Racing ? Ford Falcon BA
8. Greg Murphy ? KMart Racing ? Holden Commodore
9. Rick Kelly ? KMart Racing ? Holden Commodore
10. Paul Weel ? Team Brock ? Holden Commodore

Top-10 Championship after 7 of 13 Rounds

1. Jason Bright ? Team Brock ? Holden Commodore
2. Marcos Ambrose ? Pirtek Racing ? Ford Falcon BA
3. Greg Murphy ? KMart Racing ? Holden Commodore
4. Russell Ingall ? Caltex Havoline Racing ? Ford Falcon BA
5. Paul Weel ? Team Brock ? Holden Commodore
6. Steven Richards ? Team Castrol Perkins ? Holden Commodore
7. Mark Skaife ? Holden Race Team ? Holden Commodore
8. Craig Lowndes ? CAT Ford Performance Racing ? Ford Falcon BA
9. Rick Kelly ? KMart Racing ? Holden Commodore
10. Paul Radisich ? Team Betta Electrical ? Ford Falcon BA

For further information contact:
Ben Beazley
Media Coordinator
Ford Racing Australia
Mobile: 0417 262 753
Email: benb@global-marketing.com

Further information and high-resolution images relating to Ford Racing Australia can also be found at: media.ford.com

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