Hamilton 400
Hamilton
New Zealand
17-19 April 2009Bring Back Tyre Bundle Say FPR
17 April 2009
Mark Winterbottom #5 Orrcon Steel FPR Falcon
“I had a couple of brake problems; the pedal was going all the way to the floor so we had to fix that, which kept me in the pits. When you’re sitting in the garage for so long and then they take the chicane away it’s difficult to get on the pace straight away. I didn’t take the piss on the chicane but other drivers obviously did. I’ll wait until qualifying to push the limits; there’s no reason to risk it in practice.
Frosty is happy with his race car
Ford Performance Racing drivers, Mark Winterbottom and Steve Richards, have questioned Hamilton 400 officials’ decision to remove a tyre bundle that regulated the street track’s chicane.
In today’s third practice session drivers were able to power straight over the double turn, gaining up to 0.8s. The change resulted in an unusual finishing order with Frosty and Richo ninth and 12th respectively in the Orrcon Steel and Castrol FPR Falcons.
Will Davison secured the fastest time by straight-lining the chicane, resulting in all four tyres leaving the track and a potential loss of all control. Both FPR drivers are now hopeful the decision will be reversed for tomorrow’s qualifying session at 11am.
Steve Richards #6 Castrol FPR Falcon
“Take the tyres away and you find seven or eight tenths-of-a-second but they’ve got to put them back. At the moment there’s no restriction; people are going through there in fourth gear instead of third and we’re going to damage the cars or ourselves.
“It was all about who wants to be the bravest, or the silliest. Will Davison did his time and jumped over the entire chicane; it’s just about who wants to take the biggest risks. They might as well remove the chicane; it would be safer.”
Mark Winterbottom #5 Orrcon Steel FPR Falcon
“I had a couple of brake problems; the pedal was going all the way to the floor so we had to fix that, which kept me in the pits. When you’re sitting in the garage for so long and then they take the chicane away it’s difficult to get on the pace straight away. I didn’t take the piss on the chicane but other drivers obviously did. I’ll wait until qualifying to push the limits; there’s no reason to risk it in practice.
“Other than the pedal issue the car handling was really good; it was doing everything that you wanted it to do and I’m fairly confident I could have done a 23.6, which would have put me second.”
Hamilton400 HAMILTON STREET CIRCUIT PRACTICE
01. Will Davison, HRT, 1:23.5620
02. Jason Richards, BJR, +0:00.2091
03. Alex Davison, SBR, +0:00.3077
04. Craig Lowndes, 888, +0:00.3115
05. Russell Ingall, PMM, +0:00.3151
06. Greg Murphy, Tasman Motorsport, +0:00.3667
07. Shane Van Gisbergen, SBR, +0:00.4223
08. Marcus Marshall, Inta Racing, +0:00.4278
09. M. Winterbottom, #5 Orrcon Steel FPR Falcon, +0.5091
10. Paul Dumbrell, TWR, +0:00.5335
11. Fabian Coulthard, PCR, +0:00.5767
12. Steve Richards, #6 Castrol FPR Falcon, +0:00.6372
Hamilton400 HAMILTON STREET CIRCUIT PRACTICE
01. Will Davison, HRT, 1:23.5620
02. Jason Richards, BJR, +0:00.2091
03. Alex Davison, SBR, +0:00.3077
04. Craig Lowndes, 888, +0:00.3115
05. Russell Ingall, PMM, +0:00.3151
06. Greg Murphy, Tasman Motorsport, +0:00.3667
07. Shane Van Gisbergen, SBR, +0:00.4223
08. Marcus Marshall, Inta Racing, +0:00.4278
09. M. Winterbottom, #5 Orrcon Steel FPR Falcon, +0.5091
10. Paul Dumbrell, TWR, +0:00.5335
11. Fabian Coulthard, PCR, +0:00.5767
12. Steve Richards, #6 Castrol FPR Falcon, +0:00.6372
