News: Supercheap Auto's Ingall and Morris ninth in dramatic L&H 500 at Phillip Island, internationals Neal and Said 19th
Russell Ingall and Paul Morris are confidently looking towards next month's Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000 following a top 10 finish in today's inaugural L&H 500 enduro at Phillip Island.
Ingall and Morris ran strongly all weekend and finished the dramatic 113 lap race ninth, a potential podium finish slipping from their grasp just 17 laps from home when Ingall slipped off the damp circuit while sitting comfortably in fourth.
Starting the new Bathurst warm-up from sixth, Ingall was up to fourth before pitting on lap 35 to hand over to Morris.
After running the first 67 laps as a sprint, the race turned into a typical volatile enduro with torrential downpours, accidents, Safety Cars and strategies all playing their part in the race outcome.
Morris kept his end of the bargain, pitting twice for a top up and wet tyres before handing the car back to his team-mate in fifth position on lap 83.
Ingall moved to third, but lost two spots on a restart four laps later when having to pass a slower, lapped car on the wet line.
Despite later losing eight spots, Ingall fought back in the #39 Supercheap Auto Commodore to claw his way up to ninth by race's end.
Supercheap Auto Racing's international guests, two-time British Touring Car Champion Matt Neal and Daytona and Nurburgring 24 Hour winner Boris Said approached the race with a strategy to gain V8 Supercar racing experience ahead of their Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000 campaign next month, with a goal to completing the Phillip Island race.
The pair impressed on their first ever visit to Phillip Island - also Said's first ever V8 Supercar drive and his first ever drive in a right hand drive race car - finishing 19th.
The Toll Holden Racing Team's Garth Tander and Mark Skaife won the race from Ford's Jamie Whincup and Craig Lowndes, Will Davison and Steve Johnson third.
The next round of the 2008 V8 Supercar Championship Series is Australia great race, the Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000 at Mount Panorama on 9-12 October.
DRIVER COMMENTS
Russell Ingall: "Our speed this weekend has been great and the car's good so we're really excited about Bathurst. Phillip Island is the hardest circuit to get the setup right, so if we can get it almost right here we can be positive about Bathurst. I'm disappointed with falling off the track; the rear slipped out on the wet just through the hayshed and I went for a ride. It could have been a lot worse, it could've easily ended our day, but thankfully we got some spots back, so ninth's okay. We've always said Bathurst is our focus this year and we'll be ready. "
Paul Morris: "It was an awesome race today. I'm really happy with today's performance and the Supercheap Auto Commodore today was the best car I've ever driven. We were as quick as just about anyone out there and now I can't wait to get to Bathurst. Russell and the entire team did an excellent job, so like Big Kev said 'I'm excited' about Bathurst."
Matt Neal: "Boris and I are over the moon that we got to the finish - we had a couple little dramas, but it was a great day for us. We learnt an awful lot and it was great preparation for Bathurst next month. The series is so competitive and these cars so difficult that I was wondering how some of these guys could do what they were doing, but when I got behind some I'd see and learn! The conditions were very tricky for Boris out there in the rain and he did a fantastic job. I feel for Russell and Paul, they did a tremendous job all weekend and deserved better than ninth. We can't wait to come back next month."
Boris Said: "Under normal circumstances I'd be pretty disappointed with finishing 19th, but I think Matt and I came into this weekend as a learning exercise and we learnt a lot. Our aim was just to do as many laps as we could and we did, we were only one lap down at the end. We had a few problems with the car, but sorted those out and I think we were competitive in our stints. The conditions were tough, but I was cautious and respectful of the guys out there racing for a championship. If we go to Bathurst where we ended up here we'll be more competitive. This weekend was a lot of fun - I'm really thankful to Paul for asking me to drive the Supercheap Auto Commodore - but I hate losing so now I've got a taste I need to figure out how to do better and get onto the podium at Bathurst!"
2008 V8 Supercar Championship Series, Rd 9 - L&H 500, Phillip Island (Final)
1. Garth Tander/Mark Skaife, Toll Holden Racing Team Holden Commodore VE
2. Craig Lowndes/Jamie Whincup, Team Vodafone Ford Falcon BF
3. Will Davison/Steven Johnson, Jim Beam Racing Ford Falcon BF
4. Steven Richards/Mark Winterbottom, Castrol Edge Racing Ford Falcon BF
5. Lee Holdsworth/Michael Caruso, Valvoline/Cummins Holden Commodore VE
6. James Courtney/David Besnard, Jeld-Wen Ford Falcon BF
7. Rick Kelly/Paul Radisich, HSV Dealer Team Holden Commodore VE
8. Jack Perkins/Nathan Pretty, Jack Daniel's Racing Holden Commodore VE
9. Russell Ingall/Paul Morris, Supercheap Auto Racing Holden Commodore VE
10. Shane Van Gisbergen/Jonathon Webb, SP Air Tools Ford Falcon BF
19. Matt Neal/Boris Said, Supercheap Auto Racing Holden Commodore VE
Championship Points (After 9 of 14 rounds): 1. Tander 2096; 2. Winterbottom 2043; 3. Whincup 2016; 4. R Kelly 1702; 5. Davison 1661; 6. Lowndes 1623; 7. S Richards 1594; 8. Courtney 1544; 9. Holdsworth 1399; 10. Ingall 1362; 20. Morris 882.
