PRESS ROOM

SBR primed for resurgence at Indy

Round 10, Gillette V8 Supercar Challenge, Surfers Paradise

19-22 October, 2006

Stone Brothers Racing is primed for a resurgence in the Gillette V8 Supercar Challenge this weekend following a fantastic team performance at Bathurst two weeks ago.

SBR was the top performing team in the 1000 kilometre race with the JELD-WEN Motorsport and Caltex Racing Falcons crossing the line in third and fourth position. Drivers James Courtney and Russell Ingall put on a thrilling finish with only .005 of a second between the two at the chequered flag.

In addition to the solid team results, both SBR Falcons finished Bathurst without a scratch on them, putting SBR in a perfect position to capitalise at the Lexmark Indy 300 this weekend.

With no major damage to repair, the SBR crew have been able to invest all their energy into fine tuning the cars for the upcoming Indy round.

In recent times, SBR has had good pace at the Surfers Paradise Street Circuit. Caltex Racing’s Russell Ingall set the lap record last year and makes no secret of the fact that the circuit is one of his favourites.

With the 2006 V8 Supercar Championship standings now adjusted to drop the worst round, Ingall has bounced back to fourth in the championship standings. While he has a gap to close on front runners Craig Lowndes and Rick Kelly, Ingall knows that anything is possible with four rounds remaining.

After a difficult start to the year, James Courtney is knocking on the door of the top ten following a string of consistent performances and podium finishes at Oran Park and Bathurst. Courtney currently sits in equal 11th position in the Championship with only 100 points separating positions eight to 12.

Points of interest…

SBR set the lap record at Indy last year with Russell Ingall punching in a 1:51.6246 in the Caltex Racing Falcon. The previous lap record was also held by an SBR Falcon, set by Marcos Ambrose who did a 1:51.6490 in 2002.

Russell Ingall won the V8 Supercar Challenge for SBR on the Surfers Paradise Street Circuit in 2003, winning both races.

This round will see James Courtney debut on the Surfers Paradise Street Circuit – this will be the final circuit for Courtney to learn, aside from the Bahrain International Circuit which will be new to most V8 Supercar drivers.

SBR has tasted success at Indy in recent times, equal first in 2004, when Marcos Ambrose tied with Greg Murphy, and first in 2003 with Russell Ingall.

Russell Ingall, Caltex Racing

“Bathurst really sorted a few of the drivers out which it usually does so Indy is going to be a really important race with the Championship, as it was last year as well.

“We had a few brake dramas at Indy last year, but saying that we also set the lap record. More throttle, less brake tends to help with that! The SBR team are looking forward to getting back there.

“The SBR cars have been a little slower than we would like until this stage but we went to Bathurst with a new outlook and set up. To bring the cars home third and fourth at Bathurst indicates that they will be quick at Indy.

“Indy is one of my favourite events; it’s a home race for us so not jumping on a plane is great.

“But really it’s the atmosphere of the place, inside and outside the race circuit. It’s a festival rather than a race meeting and that’s why they get 300,000 people coming to visit the Gold Coast for the race.

“Overall it’s just a whole package, the track is good, exciting racing, you don’t get anything better and that’s why the drivers really enjoy coming here.”

James Courtney, JELD-WEN Motorsport

“I’ve been to the Gold Coast for Indy many times as a spectator so it’s going to be a bit different this time to be out there racing in the JELD-WEN Falcon.

“All the guys rave about the circuit. They all talk about how you can grab the car around the neck and really push it around the circuit so I’m looking forward to doing that.

“I haven’t raced on the circuit before so I will walk around the circuit with the JELD-WEN crew; drive it in a road car. I’ll ask Russell for hints but I need to work out if he is telling me the truth or not!

“You can’t really get a good feel for a track until you get in the race car and drive around so it will be a bit of a tough weekend to learn everything so quickly. But I’ve been on that same learning curve all year and we’ve coped pretty well so it shouldn’t be too much different this weekend.”

Ross Stone, Team Manager, Stone Brothers Racing

“Indy is a race that’s hard on brakes. The whole race is about brakes and good power down.

“I expect Russell to be on the pace as usual. Indy is a circuit that really suits him.

“Despite appearances, it’s a difficult circuit. You have to follow people so closely over kerbs and through chicanes that it’s hard to see the racing line. It takes a lot of laps to learn the place so it will take a while for James to get used to.

“SBR’s preparation for Indy has been assisted by coming away from Bathurst with a solid result and no damage. The team is feeling pretty good.”

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