Ambrose Third Fastest in Montreal Practice

NAPA Auto Parts 200, Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, Montreal, Canada

03 August 2007

Marcos Ambrose has asserted his speed on the NASCAR Busch Series field with a strong start in practice for the NAPA Auto Parts 200 at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Montreal, Canada today.

Ambrose was third fastest in the second practice session around the 2.709-mile (4.361-kilometre) road course, following up from sixth fastest in opening practice.

Ambrose was pleased with the performance of the #59 Kingsford Charcoal Ford Fusion, with this weekend seeing Ambrose debut a new road course car.

The Australian will get a further two practice sessions tomorrow at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve before qualifying and the NAPA Auto Parts 200 are held on Saturday, Canadian time (Sunday morning Australian time).

Ambrose and his Wood Brothers/JTG Racing crew have already sighted brakes as a crucial element to success in this weekend’s race, with the Montreal circuit set to prove a tough test over the course of the 74-lap race.

Ron Fellows finished today’s practice with the fastest time ahead of Robby Gordon and Ambrose.

Marcos Ambrose – #59 Kingsford Charcoal Ford Fusion

“We’re not too worried about times but we are pleasantly surprised with our time today and how far up the leader board that we are,” said Ambrose.

“I’m looking forward to this weekend. I think we have a pretty good shot at a top performance.

“The track is good; it’s a lot of fun. It’s got some high speed parts but really technical as well and all the change of directions. We’re really pumped to be here. It’s a great track. You don’t often get a chance to run a track like this too often. It’s only open once or twice a year, so this is pretty special.

“We’ve got as good a shot as the rest of the guys out there. We just need to find a couple of tenths and well be happy.”

“Ernie Cope has been with this team for a long time and has been my crew chief for the last couple of races, and Greg (Connor) is here this weekend as well. So, we haven’t shaken things up too much. We just have a few extra hands helping us.”

Ernie Cope – Crew Chief, #59 Kingsford Charcoal Ford Fusion

“I like the track,” said Cope.

“It’s fast with a lot of high braking and it’s a good road course. It’s a little narrower than we’re used to, but there’s about three high speed places where you can out brake somebody for position.

”The biggest thing here this weekend is taking care of brakes. That’s the problems we see on the crew side. Marcos says the car is good; he just has concerns about the brakes making it the whole race.

“We’re trying different compounds brakes here in practice. That’s what we’ll be working on before the race.”

Press Conference Transcript – Marcos Ambrose

MODERATOR: MARCOS AMBROSE CAME IN THIRD TODAY. TAKE US THROUGH THIS SESSION AS WELL AS IMPROVEMENT OR CHANGES FROM THE FIRST SESSION TODAY.

MA: “Well, I guess it’s all about the brakes. You’ve just got to keep the brakes underneath you. It’s a great track. It’s real exciting with the walls nice and close. It gets your attention pretty much every stop. The car is not stopping that well and the brakes are fading. You keep thinking that you’ll turn it into this corner and make it stick, then there is a concrete wall looking at you. It’s really tricky out there today. The track is slick but in good condition.

“I’m really excited. We had a terrible package at Mexico and we got a brand new car. The first time we hit the race track was this morning. We’re really happy with it and excited for tomorrow. I’ve got to think that I squealed like a stuffed pig after Mexico trying to get them to build a car straight for me. They did that and now I’m comfortable behind the wheel and I’m ready to push it.”

QUESTION: THE TEAMS ARE POINTING TO BRAKES AS A MAJOR ISSUE FOR THE RACE.

MA: “It’s going to be really tough here to pull a string of laps together; it’s going to be about conserving the brakes, there’s no doubt about that.

“The cars stop fantastic, they really do, for the amount of weight they have in the car. They just don’t stop that good for very long.

“It will take a lap or two before they really start to get hot, so it’s going to be about managing brakes and keeping it smooth.

“The track does drive like a street track and you’ve got to keep the fenders underneath you and the tyres in good condition. It’s going to be a race of mistakes, I think. People are going to make errors, slip up and give you an opportunity to pass them. That’s the way I see it.”

QUESTION: HOW DOES THIS COMPARE TO SUPERCAR TRACKS?

MA: “Yeah, we’ve run a lot of street courses on the V8 Supercar, I’ve come from Europe, too and raced quite a few. The track is great, it really is. It’s demanding; it’s exciting. The surface is smooth; it’s got a lot of grip. It’s a great race track to drive on. It’s a lot of fun without a doubt.

“Robby’s (Robby Gordon) just squealin’ in my ear, ‘Surfer’s Paradise ...’, which is all chicanes and concrete around you. It’s bang on to this place.

“We’ve got the high speeds in the straights, brake well and carry the momentum. We raced V8 Supercars on street tracks, so I don’t see any issues this weekend.

“The V8 Supercars that I’ve come from are 3500 pounds and 640 horsepower, not enough tyre, not enough down force, I mean it’s identical to what we are doing here. There’s nothing wrong with these cars on this track.”

All media requests for interviews, press releases, information, or images to be directed to:

Melissa Arbuthnot
melissa.arbuthnot@communecom.com.au

Janina Czado
janina@communecom.com.au

CommunEcom Strategic Communications
P.O. Box 689
Balgowlah NSW 2093

Ph: +61 2 9949 9788
Fax: +61 2 9949 9688

Ambrose Third Fastest in Montreal Practice

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