Solid start for BJR duo
13/6/2004 22:35 (Press Release) -
Both OzEmail Falcon drivers have finished inside the top 12 after the completion of V8 Supercar’s race one at Perth’s Barbagallo Raceway this afternoon.
John Bowe has once again maintained the consistency he has shown throughout the 2004 season, coming home in 8th position. With Brad Jones recording his best finish this year, driving vigorously to take 12th place.
“I’m happy to be able to maintain the consistency, getting championship points is so important at this stage of the season but we really didn’t have a race car that is as good as it could be,” said John Bowe.
“Race one was a lot of fun though. I was dicing with a number of drivers and it was all pretty clean but it would have been nice to have more confidence in my OzEmail Falcon, I think it would have helped me towards the end,” Bowe added.
Bowe’s frustration with his car has stemmed right from yesterday’s opening practice session and continued into qualifying and the top ten shootout today. Qualifying in 7th position, he was unable to make any improvement in the shootout, starting race one from the 4th row.
“We had too much ‘push’ in the shootout and I lost most of my time on my lap in the early corners. We’ll be trying to get things right with the car for tomorrow’s two races,” Bowe concluded.
It was a relieved Brad Jones who has finally managed to stay clear of incident to claim a well earned season-best finish of 12th.
“We made up a few spots when we pitted at the same time as the safety car but I had a car today that was genuinely capable of running inside the top ten,” said Jones.
“Coming out of my pit stop in 12th position and being able to run with the leading groups made a huge difference. It’s such much easier to keep your nose clean when you driving with people that have a little bit more respect,” Jones added.
Jones did have one scare when diving deep under brakes to pass a back-marker, his brake pedal virtually going straight to the floor -
“It was bloody lucky that there was only one lap to go when it happened. It [the brake failure] happened at one of the fastest parts of the track and I can tell you it was a little hairy for a while. We’ll have a look at it tonight and you can bet it will be fixed by the morning,” Jones concluded.
The final two races on the Barbagallo schedule get underway tomorrow, both are 42 laps and 100km’s long and as with today’s race, include a compulsory pit stop for tyres.
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