Pacesetter Ambrose to Start from the Rear Due to Engine Change

21 June 2009

Marcos Ambrose will be forced to start tomorrow's Toyota/SaveMart 350 from the rear of the 43-car Sprint Cup pack after an engine failure in practice at Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, California today.

After setting the fastest time in the first practice session of the day, the engine expired in Ambrose’s #47 Little Debbie-backed entry after only four laps. Ambrose's fastest time stood as the best of the session, ahead of Juan Pablo Montoya and Clint Bowyer.

Ambrose’s JTG Daugherty Racing team effected an engine change just in time for the Australian to complete two laps in the dying moments of final practice later in the day. AJ Allmendinger topped final practice ahead of Ron Fellows and Robby Gordon.

NASCAR rules state that entries making an engine change during an event must drop to the rear of the starting line-up prior to the green flag.

Yesterday, Ambrose earned his best Sprint Cup qualifying position with third place behind Brian Vickers and defending race winner Kyle Busch.

He will now strive to repeat the effort he performed in the Watkins Glen Sprint Cup event last year, where Ambrose started from the rear when qualifying was rained out, bringing his Little Debbie machine all the way through the field to eventually finish in third.

What Marcos Had to Say

“Obviously, it’s extremely disappointing,” said Ambrose.

“I don’t know what to say really, it’s just tough on our whole team.

“What we have to remember is that we still have a long race ahead of us tomorrow.

“I guess that if you look back to the Cup race at Watkins Glen last year, we were able to come from the back to get third.

“Pit strategy will still have a big part to play so we have some options there. We will be charging hard, that’s for sure.

“The double file restarts and the way this race usually plays out means that the should be a fair bit going on out there.

“Hopefully things fall our way and with 20 laps to go we are in the top bunch and in with a shot at it.”

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
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Pacesetter Ambrose to Start from the Rear Due to Engine Change

What Marcos Had to Say

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