News: Ingall Has Hamilton Podium In His Sights, Says New Street Circuit Could Produce A Crash Fest
V8 Supercar champion Russell Ingall believes a podium finish with his Supercheap Auto Racing Commodore is a very real possibility in Hamilton, New Zealand in two weeks.
At the same time, Ingall has also predicted the new tight new street circuit may turn into a crash fest.
Ingall jumped to Paul Morris' re-born Holden team at the end of last season and has silenced critics of the move with his race pace.
After a difficult debut in Adelaide, Ingall finished seventh overall at Eastern Creek last month, then backed it up with a fifth finish at the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne a week later.
"At the start of the year, some of the experts questioned my move to Paul's team, but after the last couple races they're beginning to change their tune," Ingall said.
"The talk's gone from 'a top 10 finish for Ingall would be good' to 'it's only a matter of time before the Enforcer's back on the podium'.
"Our race pace has been strong and we haven't been too far away, so a Hamilton podium is a very real possibility - especially since it's a new street circuit and we're all going in equal."
Ingall said the nature of the new circuit meant accidents were likely to happen.
"Hamilton's going to be risky; it's got long straights and tight, 90 degree corners so there'll be a lot of drivers making big lunges under brakes," Ingall said.
"Qualifying is more important than most races, and the pit stops will come into play as usual, but there's lots of concrete and not a lot of run off so there's going to be some carnage - lots of crashes.
"The young guys charging with a head full of steam are going to be a worry, especially with they way they've been driving the last couple rounds.
"Everyone's going to make mistakes, but to be successful you're going to have to be smart. It'll be the person who makes the least mistakes that wins."
Before Hamilton, Ingall will downsize from his usual Commodore, trading it for a Supercheap Auto Racing Aussie Racing Car that he will run alongside his V8 team-mate Morris at this weekend's round at Wakefield Park, near Goulburn.
"Paul and I are racers and when he asked if I'd be interested in having a tear around in the Aussie Racing Car I thought 'why not'?" Ingall said.
"That's what I admire about Paul; he'll jump in and race anything as long as it's fun. It says a lot about not having an ego ... something you can't say that about a lot of other drivers."
FROM LITTLE THINGS: Russell Ingall, above, waters the 'baby' Supercheap Auto Holden Aussie Racing Car with the hope it will grow to the size of its big brother. Ingall and Paul Morris will drive a pair of Supercheap Auto Aussie Racers at Wakefield Park this weekend.
