Motorsport News Issue 203 - April 13-26, 2001

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Brazilicm GP DC Wins, Montoya stars

Steven Johnson AIIready growntoupwinand

CART, IRL, MOtOCP

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We have fghition

motorspoit news

Issue 203 13-26 April 2001

INSIDE

News and Opinion

4 6 8

10 12 28 82

Ford's SCS challenge They're closing in Manufacturer FI series?

Not if Bernie can help it Manslaughter charges laid Four charged over Creek death Darwin, Adelaide sign up Long-term deals for SCS races CART-IRL peace deal?

Looks like the war may end Box Seat Saward, and a great Senna pic Talk Converter You write it, we read it, we like it

Features 28 30

Montoya and Verstappen Who said what after the Big Bang Life in Number 17 Steven Johnson loves Adelaide

Race Coverage

32

44 46

54 HAKKINEN: WILL HE QUIT?

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Photos: Cover: John Morris/Mpix and Sutton-lmages. Contents: Bob Potts, Bothvrell, Jon Thomson, Dirk Klynsmith and Marshall Cass.

58

Ford 1, Holden 1 Lowndes wins Saturday, Bright on Sunday,from the back...

Formula 3000/Formula 3 Mark, oh no! James, oh yeah!

DC wins in Brazil Coulthard perfect- but it was Juan who stole the Show Clipsal 500 Supports FHs, Nations Cup and GTP All tied up in Perth Bates and Possum 1-all

Regular Departments 24 68 58 62 66 72 74 76

Motorcycles Drag Racing Rallying Speedway NASCAR Histories National Scene Marketplace 3

Here com \h

BOSS

by CHRIS LAMBDEN

tl3 Passing the baton: Sources say that Hakkinen is very close to passing the helm at McLaren to Brazilian GP winner, David Coulthard. iPimohyMarMBoUmdi)

Will Mika quit?

Finn might want quiet iife in 2002

HAS Mika Hakkinen driven his final Grand Prix in Australia?

Speculation has been rife that the double world champion may retire at the end of the 2001 season, and Motorsport News sources have suggested that the Finn may have already made up his mind to quit this year.

MN has been told that either Hakkinen or his wife Erja told acquaintances in Melbourne that they would return to Australia next season but that Mika would not be racing when they

did.

"Mika already has more money than he can spend in his lifetime," said the source. "He and Erja and their son are as happy as they have ever been and he is saying he may have had enough."

Should such a thing happen, it would cause a severe disruption at McLaren, which has given the Finn rock-solid support as number one driver since 1994.

Undoubtedly both Hakkinen and David Coulthard have been given parity of equipment, but it is Hakkinen who has received the full-scale backing of his team on the race weekend in matters of strategy.

This was first evident in the season-closing 1997 European Grand Prix at Jerez, when Coulthard was ordered to let Hakkinen through after it was agreed with Williams that their then-leader Jacques Villeneuve would not put up a fight in his 4

V8 Supercar ppograin

wounded car after Michael Schumacher had attempted to ram him out of the world championship.

This was followed in the Australian Grand Prix of 1998 when Coulthard was forced to hand over certain victory to his team-mate in the opening round of the year. In 2000 Coulthard rose from McLaren's poor early form to lead the challenge against Michael Schumacher and Ferrari as Hakkinen apparently struggled for motivation.

But, with Coulthard taking the challenge to Ferrari's Michael Schumacher this season and Hakkinen languishing on one . point from three races, the team may be forced to have Hakkinen play a supporting role to the Scot's championship challenge.

The obvious question is 'who would replace Hakkinen at McLaren?'. Alex Wurz currently fills the role of the team's test driver, the former Benetton man hoping to follow Olivier Panis, whose 2000 'sabbatical' in the McLaren job springboarded into a full-time drive with BAR-Honda for this season.

The other likely candidate is Nick Heidfeld. The German is a protege of Haug and has impressed this season in his Sauber, the 23-year-old currently fourth in the championship after scoring his first podium result at Interlagos.

- PHIL BRANAGAN

THE battle that will decide the winner of the 2001 Shell Championship may be headed

by Holden at the moment, but the signs are there that Ford is about to mount a serious challenge to its arch-rival manufacturer.

While Ford’s championship chances took a battering with Craig Lowndes’Sunday DNF, round wins look ominously close, which, according to team boss Fred Gibson is the priority this year.

“To win on Saturday was terrific for Ford and (Ford Australia President) Geoff Polites,” Gibson said on Tuesday.

“There’s no pressure on us to win the championship this year,”

he continued.

“From the start we said we’d work at getting onto the podium this year and maybe pick up the odd win later in the year, then really go for the championship nejd; year.

“We’re clearly ahead of schedule, but the championship really isn’t our goal this year.

“Winning individual races is what matters. So Saturday was fabulous and we’re less concerned about Sunday's result than most.

Even though we'd had a problem, which needed that extra stop, we were still aiming to win the race...”

Lowndes was a runaway winner on Saturday and looked the same on Sunday until a less than ideal pit call dropped him down the order. That set up a chain of events that resulted in a damaged wheel,

The Star of 60 Minutes: Craig Lowndes put Holden on notice with a brilliant win motorsport news

NEWS

les Henry

I may have turned the corner "We're clearly ahead of schedule, hut the championship really isn't our goal this year If

-Fred Gibson

an extra stop, and ultimately the clash with rival Mark Skaife.

A lap record set during the Skaife chase reinforces the pace of the Lowndes Falcon and suggests that more wins are a clear possibility.

In championship terms. Ford's main man at this early stage is Steven Johnson, while the nearest Holden challenger is Russell Ingall, the Enforcer staying out of the on-track fisticuffs and grabbing

a pair of well-earned podiums again with good pit strategy.

Johnson’s heady drives marked his arrival as a true factor in the championship chase (see page 30), the Shell team youngster accounting for a number of cars late in both races as he, too, grabbed a pair of rostrum finishes.

Two of the cars Johnson passed late on Suday afternoon were the AUs of Glenn Seton, the Ford Tickford Racing team leader who put a Saturday DNF behind him, and Marcos Ambrose, who continues to be the most impressive of the debutant drivers in the championship.

While an HRT 1-2 at the top of the table may suggest status quo, there is clearly some hot racing to come...

Bright's close fuel call

Larko doubles up for Creek

SPOT-ON pit calls allowed HRT to manufacture its third backto-front CUpsal 500 win in three years- with three different drivers- last Sunday.

Perfect timing ofthe two compulsoiy stops set up victory for Jason Bright- who looked dead in the water after becoming an innocent victim of a first lap bingle in Sunday’s vital second race.

Instead, Bright now leads the championship with Skaife - who, apart fi'om a missed gear, could have made up an HRT 1-2-just a few points behind.

One of Bright’s IN calls came so close to the pit lane entry that the HRT new boy had to chmb the pit entry kerbs to get in,just as a Safety Car call was being made.

“I was already committed to the right-hander before the hairpin when the call came,” he told us.

“It involved a big drift and some kerb-hopping, but we made it and it probably won us the race.

“It's kind offunny- because it wasjust missing a stop like that in ’99 which probably cost me the race

Look for a new Falcon at Eastern Creek. Car #19 has appeared, with Mark Larkham set to move into the ranks of two-car team owners. Still no word on who will be driving.

then.

“I seem to specialise in this sort of thing. Richo and I won Bathurst from a fair way back and with so many stops we lost count, and here I am again with two extra stops at the start to fix the car, then we win it...’

HRT drops the magic word

.L.'

in the first 250km leg in Adelaide. What will happen next?

13 April 2001

(Photo by Noel Paplera)

THE perils oflive-to-air scanning of pit radios were graphically Ulustrated during the Clipsal 500, when an HRT crew member dropped a choice word or two at the wrong moment.

As the dust settled following the Skaife/Lowndes clash, with Lowndes against the wall, an excited voice could be heard updating Skaife that Craig was “out of the race and the **** championship...”

While Gibson Motorsport went to the trouble of a press statement to clarify that it wasn't one ofits team which dropped the ‘F’ word, HRT spokesman Paul Weissel owned up.

“It was one of our guys,” he confessed.

‘We've actually warned Ten that if they want five access to the radios, they're going to get something like this sometimes.

“The guys minds are on the job and not necessarily with the constant thought that they might be being listened to!”

■ When is an HRT car not an HRT car? At the next round at Eastern Creek, that's when. With Jason Bright stepping into a brand new car for the third round of the SCS, the car which he raced at Adelaide will gain a new paint scheme and be handballed to Greg Murphy to run in KRT trim. Good to see such co-operation between two competing - and completely different - teams...

■ HRT had its new sponsor, Siemens, on board for the first time.

The German electronics and mobile phone company appeared on the Reds and the team's personnel were packing new cell phones. Siemens is already involved in the sport through its association with the McLarenMercedes FI team.

■ We hear that former Grand Prix Chief Executive Mai Hemmerling has a new role, Hemmerling, who was also former head of Olympic organisers SOCOG, is to join Bob Jane T-Marts as CEO. Jane will continue in his role of Chairman of the tyre retail giant.

■ Ron Walker's role as Chairman of the Australian Grand Prix Corporation will remain as it is, despite relinquishing his job with Melbourne Major Events. Former TV star and media enterpreneur Steve Vizard is Walker's successor at MME. ■ Stone Brothers Racing had arranged to handle the refuelling for the Peter Fitzgerald Porsche in the Nations Cup race but, with all hands needed to fix the Pirtek car after its Saturday bingle, Ross Stone and his wife Diane donned to fireproofs to handle the duties.

■ Craig Lowndes's hands are gaining fame of their own. The Kid put The Mitts in The Goo on Saturday morning for a cast of his race-winning paws to be made. It was ail in the cause of The Variety Club, which will auction the finished product to benefits its children's charities.

■ Mark Skaife, Steven Richards, Brad Jones and Cameron McConviile have become the official ambassadors for the GMC 400 in Canberra. We reckon Cam's got the best gig though - he gets to promote the Canberra nightlife and that includes the Miss GMC 400 pageant...

■ Lucky old Michael Guthrie of Endeavour Hills is the winner of our subscription competition. Michael won a signed Michael Schumacher photograph, courtesy of The El Shop.

Guthrie, we are all jealous...

5

by NICK CARTON

Rubensi cops a serve GERHARD Berger and Niki Lauda, who both raced for Scuderia Ferrari under the auspices of Enzo Ferrari himself, have each separately condemned the team's number two driver Rubens Barrichello.

BMW Motorsport director Gerhard Berger, who won five Grands Prix for Ferrari in his two stints at the Scuderia, was infuriated after Barrichello knocked his driver Ralf Schumacher out of contention for the second race in succession.

In Malaysia the Ferrari man lunged inside the BMWpowered Williams and tapped Schumacher into a spin, while in Brazil, Barrichello crashed out spectacularly and Schumacher lost his rear wing after a big impact.

"It shouldn't happen;" said Berger. "It is clear Rubens made a mistake. Whatever he did, it is the third time he has lost the car in a similar accident like this and it is hurting."

Meanwhile Ford Racing supremo Lauda, who won two of his three championships with Ferrari, has called for Barrichello to be banned following his conduct in the opening rounds of the 2001 world championship.

Bad Boy? Barrichello. (Boihwdi) "Such accidents can be bad luck," Lauda said. "But when such things happen so regularly, he should be told: 'You are suspended.for two races. Think it over'."

The stewards in Brazil gave both Barrichello and Schumacher an official warning following the crash, but declared it a racing accident.

Ferrari's technical director Ross Brawn has nevertheless fired a return volley at Barrichello's detractors. Brawn, no stranger to strong-arm driving from his number one Michael Schumacher, said; "Two people go for a corner, and it takes two people to have an incident. Ralf has been involved in an incident at every race this year - you can be in the wrong place at the wrong time. I gather it was just a racing incident."

- JOE SAWARD

THE m^or motor manufacturers behind Formula 1 have decided not to sit back and watch developments and have announced their intention to go it alone if the wrangling between the factions of Formula I’s commercial rights holders drags the sport further into the mire.

Fiat CEO Paolo Cantarella, spokesman for the European Car Manufacturers Association of which he is head, believes it is essential to keep the profile ofthe group’s activities high in the pubhc eye. The potential move to subscriptionbased television of which major PI promotions shareholder EirchGruppe is uncrowned king is hkely to slash the viewing figures of the sport.

“It’s quite simple really,” declared Cantarella during a meeting ofthe Confederation ofItahan Industriahsts.“The constructors are the protagonists in Formula 1, they provide the raw material for the sporting event and the spectacle.

And so they would hke to be able to run everything more directly, with greater overall guarantees.”

The announcement is widely beheved to be the last, most dramatic bargaining chip Formula 1 has to divert Elirch’s influence away from the sport. The five European manufacturers- Fiat, Ford, BMW, DaimlerChrysler and Renault-see Formula 1 as the most important (and costly), part of their marketing mix,spending bilHons on racing and promotional programs around the sport. They ^1 not tolerate any individual making a profit on the back of their combined efforts.

‘We want Formula One,together with its entire heritage, to continue with order, technological development, clarity of rules and maximum visibility,” said Cantarella.

“As you can see, the guaranties

also involve the general public.”

The five manufacturers involved have long been wooed towards buying a stake in SLEC,Bemie Ecclestone’s Formula One holdings company. It is believed that this would secure their commitment to FoiTnula 1, thereby safeguarding the technology and funding that the sport requires and also offering buUet-proof credentials at the stock market if, as is expected, a renewed effort is made to float Formula 1 on the international markets.

Yet through the injudicious sale of 50 percent of SLEC to German media group EM.TV in 2000, that future is now in the balance. EM.TV paid for much ofits stake in shares, the value of which subsequently plummeted. This permitted the rival KirchGruppe to aggressively force EM.TVs hand, and not only did it buy the 50 percent stake in Formula 1 for a bargain US$550

What, why, how and don The Formula 1 media is in a frenzy about the idea that the automobile manufacturers are going to set up their own World Championship.

This is never going to happen.

The statements made in Rome last week by Fiat's Paolo Cantarella after a meeting of the European Automobile Manufacturers Association are really not much more than the

statement of a negotiating position.

The Formula 1 teams - many of which are supported by manufacturers- want more money out of the sport. At the moment they receive under 50 percent of the money generated from the sale of TV rights. They receive none of the rhillions generated from the fees paid by race organisers to SLEC,the company which exploits the commercial rights of Grand Prix racing. Their argument is that they

provide the show and should be rewarded properly for that. They argue that SLEC should get only 15 percent of all the income generated and not 60 or 70 percent as it currently the case.

SLEC is owned by Leo Kirch, Thomas Haffa and the Ecclestone Family. It is run by Bernie Ecclestone. They do not want to cut their percentages and do not have to do so until the Concorde Agreement runs out in 2006.

After that, renegotiation is necessary.

The automobile manufacturers (and the teams which represent them) are contracted to race in the FIA Formula 1 World Championship until 2006. If there is to be a rival series the current teams will not be able to compete until then unless they wish to face legal action. So anything in the short-term is impossible.

In the longer-term Kirch, Haffa and Ecclestone have to accept that their cash cow is not going to be as generous. However, as an incentive to accept smaller annual

moiorsDort news

NEWS n As if Craig Lowndes getting almost 20 of the '60 Minutes' last Sunday night wasn't enough, racing fans might want to look at the latest copy of Cleo. Apart from the 50 hunkiest blokes in the nation in shirtoff action (no, our Editor didn't make it again] V8 Supercar stars Mark Skaife, Russell Ingall, Garth Tander and Paul Radisich get a gig in a fashion layout, as does Ten's Bill Woods - who is, at least, tastefully dressed... n Network 10 had three wide screen digital TVs installed In the media centre in Adelaide to demonstrate its muiti-channel coverage of the Clipsal race - on Saturday. Overnight rain was too much for the roof and the leaks meant that, come Sunday, the expensive units were on show as furniture only when analogue TVs filled in. n Cameron McConville will be having a little bit of an easier year with Tom Warwick withdrawing his Ferrari 360 Modena Challenge from the Nations Cup series. million ($1.15bn)but it then provided the US$1 bilhon asking price to pay Bemie Ecclestone’s option for a further 25 percent stake from his children’s Bambino Trust.

By bringing the manufacturers in Kirch’s stranglehold on the sport would be halved, but the cost ofthe shares is thought to have deterred the manufacturers from committing and even points to a more costeffective route through going it alone and starting their own rival series.

‘Ecclestone has done a greatjob and everybody,including the constructors, has obtained benefits from this,” stated Cantarella.

“I don’t want to go into details, but if automobile industries such as Fiat, Mercedes, Ford, Renault, BMW,Toyota and Honda intervene directly, then their action has more sense. It’s going to take a long time, but we are starting to work now for

"It has taken me 30 years to build up Formula 1 into what it is today and it could take just six months to destroy it" - Bernie Ecclestone our own Formula 1 series, one that will be increasingly avant-garde on both a sporting and technological level.”

The FIA has accepted that, provided the rival champion.ship meets its safety criteria, it would sanction the new series. “There would be no reason to stop it,” said FIA president Max Mosley, adding pressure on Ecclestone and Kirch to resolve the situation amongst themselves. No new championship could be inaugurated before the current Concorde Agreement

expires at the end of2007.

In response Bemie Ecclestone voiced anger and frustration at the stalemate and the manufacturers’ new proposal.

“It has taken me 30 years to build up Formula 1 into what it is today and it could take just six months to destroy it,” he said. “The bottom line is that the manufacturers had the opportunity to come in, through EM.TV,long before Kirch came on the scene. It was a good proposal that they didn’t take up.”

Reigning Champion Michael Schumacher, who has spoken out against going to pay-per-view, displayed an “I’m all right Jack” attitude towards the new proposal.

“When would it start, in six year’s time?” the German asked reporters after a test session at the Piorano circuit in central Italy.

“I don’t think I’ll be on the circuit by then.”

5

t hold your breath revenues, the FIA is offering a 100-year deal for the comnnercial rights to FI for a one-off payment of US$350m. It is (quite literally) the deal of the century.

Kirch has invested a large amount to buy control of SLEC. He has to pay off the company's debt(around US$1 bn) and he needs to pay the FIA. All in all he will need to invest something like US$2.8bn. He will get about US$1 bn back before the end of the current deal and can raise more if he decides to sell shares

13 April 2001

in the business. From then on it will pure profit for 100 years.

The car manufacturers may talk of taking a share of the business but it is hard to see how they will do it in one united body. It is better for all concerned if they buy their own shares (on the understanding that there is a limit that one company can hold). This can easily be achieved.

SLEC can be merged into Haffa's struggling EM.TV company. This is a listed company. It can sell off its media

assets (such as The Muppet Show)or swap its programming for sports rights.

The result will be a revived EM.TV (probably with a different name) which will be dealing in sports rights and will be traded on the stock exchange. If they wish to increase their income from FI car manufacturers can buy a share in the business and they will then receive that share of the profits. If they no longer wish to compete in FI they can sell their shares.

n Greg Murphy's pole position was the Kiwi's first for some time.

Scoreless In his two seasons at Gibson Motorsport, you had to flip the pages of the history books back to the 1998 Sandown 500 to see the Murf at the top of the timesheets. n Timing is Everything Dept: The day after the Adelaide 500, Jason Bargwanna kept an important appointment in the delivery room.

Bargs's wife Deb gave birth to a healthy boy, Benjamin Charles, a brother to Jake. Bargs Jr passed scrutineering at 3.4kg and probably already is under option to Garry Rogers Motorsport. Congrats to all. n OK, so this may be clutching at straws, but: With Paul Morris having to start from the back of the pack in the Big Kev car, that created something of a co-incidence. The Morris car is the original HRT VT, the car that Craig Lowndes won the 1999 Adelaide 500 with. From the back of the grid as well ... n Pretty unlucky: Nathan Pretty had a pretty good excuse for not running in the V8 Brutes Friday practice sessions. The ute, on the back of a trailer, was belted into on the way to the track by an errant Mercedes driver and the day was spent grafting a new rear end onto it. n Channel Ten's coverage of the FAI 1000 at Bathurst has scored them another nomination for a Logie. The Ten team will be up against the Melbourne Cup, Nine's Summer of Cricket and the Sydney Olympics. Should have got Cathy Freeman to wave the green flag, guys ...

7

Manslaughter charges laid over Creek death

by PHIL BRANAGAN MANSLAUGHTER charges relating to the death of Todd Wilkes at Eastern Creek Raceway on February 25 have been laid against four officials from the Australian Racing Drivers’ Club and CAMS. Wilkes, from the Brisbane suburb of Windsor, was killed when his turbocharged Holden V8-powered Giocattolo hit the concrete wall at the track and burst into flames. The 29-yearold was trapped in the car for some time before being extracted by officials. Paramedics revived the computer technician, but he was pronounced dead on arrival at nearby Blacktown Hospital.

The names of the four officials charged by summons over the incident will not be made public until they appear at a hearing at Blacktown court on May 17 but Motorsport News has been told that two of the officials are from the ARDC and two are CAMS representatives.

Eyewitnesses say that the car went straight on into the drag racing staging area at about 270kmh during a ‘Terminal Velocity’ event, part of the 2001 Auto Salon at the track. The event is basically a chance for owners to run their cars one at a time at top speed on the main straight, rather than race them around the track.

Video footage indicated that Wilkes hit the Christmas tree, which was not part of the event but which had been positioned for a drag race meeting later in the day.

There are enormous implications over the charges.

Because they are criminal rather than civil charges, the matter falls outside the umbrella of the normal infrastructure to deal with injuries sustained by either competitors, officials or spectators in an event.

It is expected that defence costs associated with the matter will be borne by CAMS and the ARDC.

Looking forward: The Shell Series round at Eastern Creek will not be affected by the charges, (pnoio by Marsha# cass)

No threat to SCS round

THE charges laid as the outcome of the Wilkes death at Eastern Creek will have no effect on running the next round of the Shell Championship Series.

Australian Racing Drivers’ Club spokesman Chris Hones quashed rumours that there was a potential problem with Eastern Creek’s track licence and said that the April 28/29 race meeting would go ahead as planned.

“We have had seven days a week activity since February,” said Hones this week.

“I have heard nothing about the track licence being compromised..

The police are looking only at the event concerned, in which the track was notin the configuration for the Shell round.”

Hones said that the Terminal Velocity event, in which Wilkes crashed, is unlikely to be held again.

“We don’t intend to run another Terminal Velocity event, but that is unrelated to the Shell round.

Once the coroner has delivered his findings, we will go ahead from there.”

-PHIL BRANAGAN

Adelaide access

SEVERAL drivers have questioned a decision to reduce the number of access holes in the crash fencing in Adelaide.

During the course of the ’ weekend, several drivers who had been involved in accidents found that the lack of access holes, which allow drivers to get behind the first line of barriers, made it

difficult and, in the words of some, potentially more dangerous.

CAMS's Safety Committee inspected the track and, in light of the recent accident at Albert Park which claimed the life of marshal Graham Beveridge, decided to reduce the number of access holes by 50 percent. CAMS officials then made further

Now what? Dean Canto went in at the same spot as Murphy and had to crawl ou motorsport news

NEWS JIM Richards will again join his son Steven in a V8 team for this year's endurance races, with the news that he will drive with Ford Tickford Racing in the Queensland 500 and Bathurst 1000 this year.

"Combined Jim, Steven and myself have 48 starts at the Mountain - Jim himself hasn't missed the race since his debut in 1974" said team owner Glenn Seton.

"Jim is one of the most sort after drivers for Bathurst each year, so to get him on-board early is a great bonus as our preparations for these two key events continues to move ahead.

"Winning Bathurst is something I'm yet to experience, but with two proven winners already in our team, it's a great position to be in going to Mount Panorama.

Richards Sr decided to sign for FTR after testing with the team at Phillip Island prior to the beginning of the 2001 championship and ends a two-year spell as co driver to John Bowe at CAT Racing.

"It was great to have that opportunity to test the car first before being asked to join the team," said Jim. "I go to Bathurst to win, if I can do that with my son that will be very special. However, if it's better for the team that I run with Seton - I would be just as delighted to be part of Glenn's first victory and my seventh."

Richards last won Bathurst in 1998 with Rickard Rydell in a Volvo in the Super Touring version of the event. Prior to that, he won with Mark Skaife in 1992.

The team said an announcement on the fourth driver and car pairings for the endurance races will be made after evaluating the combinations during further testing.

But MN hears that Seton and Richards Jr are almost certain to share the lead and and that Wayne Gardner, Fielding offers: If you want a Richo for the who qualified on pole in an FTR Falcon at Bathurst last enduros, sign one-year-old Clayton Richards. year, is already looking elsewhere for a ride ...

Dad Steven and grandpa Jim are with FTR. - AARON NOONAN (Photo by AFI-lmai’cs)

Jim gets FTR drive

> angers drivers changes to holes during individual inspections.

Greg Murphy was one driver who was most affected, crashing at Turn 7 and taking a long walk to safety after briefly considering climbing the safety barrier.

"I think it's stupid," Murphy said. "If that is what they have done, it's silly. It (the Albert Park

It before help arrived.

13 April 2001

(Photo by Chris Carter)

accident) was a freak thing.

"If they want to do something, they should take a while and then do it, after considering the options. That's different."

Jason Bargwanna says that there could be a compromise solution for the future.

"I think they need, and should have, the same number of access holes but, perhaps, with a steel bar that will stil l allow drivers and marshals through, but with more protection," he said.

"It was tragic and very sad for everyone to see what happened at Albert Park, but taking away access holes, in my opinion, is not a very smart idea."

Formula Holden Champion Simon Wills suggested that there may be a way of having access holes for the drivers and marshals and still keep a level of security.

"Maybe there is a way of having a hole like they have had, but with a flap which can be closed when the hole is not needed," the twotime Gold Star winner said.

"That way, the drivers can jump out and it still protects the marshals."

- PHIL BRANAGAN

Could Ricardo Zonta race = for Alain Prost?

JORDAN Honda test driver Ricardo Zonta is angling towards an early retxirn to racing duties as soon as the San Marino Grand Prix with the troubled Prost team.

Zonta, dropped by BAR Honda after two seasons in which the scale of his accidents was more impressive than his finishing record, is being tipped to replace Argentinian driver Gaston Mazzacane following his lacklustre showings with the French outfit which is desperate to meet its pre season potential. The presence of a South American driver is believed to be crucial for fulfilling sponsorship commitments to Latin America's Panamerican Sports Network TV station and the Brazilian Diniz family stakeholders, but Mazzacane has so far failed to get anywhere near the pace of his illustrious team mate JeanAlesi.

Throughout the Brazilian Grand Prix talks were afoot between Alain Prost and Eddie Jordan, and it is believed that Zonta was at the top of the agenda on each occasion.

-NICKGARTON

m n ARISE, MONTOYA The European leg of the Formula One season gets underway when the circus rolls up at Imola.

Can Williams finish a race with their stock of rear wings intact?

Can Mika finish at all?

n Superbikes at PI After good results at Kyalami, Corser and Bayliss get the home ground advantage on a real man’s racetrack. n British Formula 3 Courtney will be out to prove that Silverstone was no fluke. n NASCARS Next stop, Talladega.

YEEEEEEEEEEEE HAW!

9

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ten home of

[motorsport] Shell Championship Series V8 Supercars * Apr 29 ,. , .Eastern Creek

,Rd 3

May 13 .. .Hidden Valley Jun 10 Canberra ...

■Rd 4

Jun 24

,Rd 5

Perth

,Rd 6

Jul 15 . . . .Calder Park .

.Rd 7

Jul 29 . . . .Oran Park . . .

.Rd 8

Aug 26 . . .Ipswich

.Rd9

Sep 9 Oct 7

.RdIO

Winton .Bathurst

.Rd 11

Konica V8 Supercar Series * May 6

.Rd3

\Winton

.Rd4

M ay 27 . . .Philip Island .Lakeside Jul 8 Aug 12 Oct 6 .

Rd 5

.Mallala .

Rd 6

.Bathurst

.(non Championship)

3

FIA Formula One World

I

Championship

J Apr 15 . . .San Marino* Apr 29 . . . .Spain

Rd 4 Rd5

M ay 13 . . .A1-Ring*

.Rd6

May 27 . . .Monaco* Jun 10 . . .Montreal

■ Rd8

Jun 24 . . . .Nurburgring* . . . . * - denotes F3000 round also

Rd 10

,Rd9

SOOcc World Grand Prix Motorcycle Championship * ,Rd 2 Apr 22 South Africa May 6

Spain

,Rd 3

May 20 . . .France . . .

June 3: ■Italy

,Rd 4

Jun 17

,Rd 6

Catalunya

,Rd 5

FedEx CART Championship Series * Texas . .

.Rd3

May 6 . . . .Nazareth

.Rd4

May 19 . . .Motegi .

Jun 3 .Milwauke e

.Rd5

Jun 17

. . .Detroit.

.Rd7

Jun 24 . . . .Portland

.Rd8

Apr 29

.Rd6

World Rally Championship* .Rd 5

May 3-6 . . .Argentina Jun 3 .Cyprus

,Rd 6

Jun 17

.Rd 7

Acropolis

SBK World Super Bike Championship Apr 22 . . . .Philip Island

,Rd3

Apr 29 . . . .Sugo

.Rd4

May 13 . . .Monza

.Rd5

ten home of

[motorsport All event dales In this calendar were correct at the time of printing. Please consult any individual tracks and/or associations for dale changes.

— B

Series or events telecast on Network Ten are marked with an asterisk. Check your local guides for screening details.

SHELL will continue its marquee sponsorship of Dick Johnson Racing for another three years.

The company, whose title sponsorship of the Queensland team started in 1987, has extended its deal until the end of the 2004 season.

That will mean that the relationship between DJR and the fuel and oil giant will nm for at least 18 years, an unprecedented length of time in circuit racing, and second only to Jim Read’s 24 years with Rothmans in drag racing.

“Our partnership with Dick has been tremendously successM and effective throughout the 15 years to date, and in renewing the association it was just a question of reaching an agreement,” said Shell’s sponsorship manager, Ross Brodie.

Johnson said that the three-year deal would enable him to make long-term plans for his team, which debuted its new car for Paul Radisich last weekend and which is now building another new AU for Steven Johnson.

“Shell’s support is critical to our future, and the sport’s future, so we’re certainly looking forward to working with them for many years to come,” said Dick.

Shell’s attention is now sure to turn to its long time backing of the Championship Series, which it has also backed since 1987.

AVESCO’s Tony Cochrane said at the weekend that discussions are likely to start soon, with a view of securing a three-year deal to continue on from the current arrangement that expires at the end of the season.

Also up for discussion is AVESCO’s broadcast deal with Network 10. Cochrane was glowing in his praise of the network’s commitment to the category and the network would appear to be the favourite to keep the deal, though Cochrane did say that he would “not give one inch” in coverage, a reference to lO’s upcoming commitments to AFL football, which starts in 2002.

Adelaide to open ’02

THE Clipsal 500 could kick-start the 2002 Shell Championship Series.

AVESCO is considering moving the two race blockbuster to the first slot in its schedule, which is expected to be finalised mid-year.

That would mean that the traditional season opening race at Phillip Island, which has suffered from relatively small crowds in recent years, would have to be rescheduled.

Tony Cochrane said in Adelaide that there were a number of options under discussion for the 2002 program.

“We have not discussed it with Phillip Island," he said on Sunday, "but we are looking at it.

"I think that Phillip Island

suffers a little by being so close to the date for the Grand Prix."

Cochrane is also aware of the fact that Adelaide would give the series a 'bigger bang’ to start the season.

"This crowd this weekend proves that, if you give the people what they want, they will come."

In Adelaide, crowd numbers were up 4000 on the same event in 2000 and several merchandisers, including Kmart Racing and the Clipsal 500 sellers, reported to be out of stock by mid-Sunday afternoon.

Cochrane and AVESCO representatives also held discussions during the race weekend with a delegation from

Western Australia, regarding the future location of a WA round of the SCS. It is well-known that this season the circus will visit Barbagallo Raceway for the last time, and that only after additional support came from Shell (which celebrates its 100th anniversary this year and does considerable business with WA's mining community) and the state government, AVESCO's record with new street race-based events obviously points in that direction for the west, but recently resistance appears to have come from that concept from the City of Perth. That may indicate that, if a street event were to happen, it

motorsport news

NEWS n Cameron McLean's Clipsal 500 lasted just two laps. The Queenslander's engine failed on lap two of the first leg and the team, without a spare engine, elected to pack up and head home rather than borrow an engine and spend Saturday night changing the powerplant. n Simon Wills' appearance in the Formula Holden field is more of a twice-off than a once-off. The 1999/2000 Gold Star Champ will also drive in the next round of the series at Hidden Valley in Darwin. n Jason Plato and Vauxhall team mate Yvan Muller have topped British Touring Car testing at Oulton Park. The duo lapped half a second faster than Vauxhall satellite driver James Thompson, while Matt Neal and the Peugeot team were over a second off the pace. n Michael Bartels has joined Opel for this year's DTM. Perhaps better known for being Steffi Graf's former boyfriend, Bartels will team up with Joachim Winkelhock and Timo Scheider.

.lit

HI The racing dentist. Dr. Jack Miller, is returning to the Indianapolis 500.^ Miller will drive for Cahill Racing In an attempt to make his fourth Indy 500 start and plans to debut at the Atlanta IRL race, the last prior to the '500 in May.

Rat chat: “Hey, Paul, we’re on TV” “Yes, Junior'’ “Can you let me past?”

“No way, youngster” “But my Dad’sjust signed a threeyear deal with Shell” ‘Turn four all right for you, Mr Johnson, sir?”

(Phoio by Marshall Cass)

Darwin 7

Tracks sign long-term SCS deals

may be in another location, with Fremantle the obvious candidate.

There continues to be talk that a new purpose-built racetrack, on a parcel of land near Perth's international airport, could be built, with limited WA government funding to bolster that from a consortium of corporate investors, among which the name Don Panoz continues to be rumoured.

There had been rumours in Adelaide that a future race in North America was under consideration, but that talk was squelched by Cochrane.

“News to me," he said."We have 20 proposals for 13 races in 2002, but that is not one of them.''

13 April 2001

THE long-term future of two rounds of the Shell Championship Series has been secured.

Last weekend, AVESCO announced that the Darwin round will continue for another seven years after the Northern Territory government pledged its support for the race in a deal worth almost $5 million.

And AVESCO's Tony Cochrane and South Australian Premier John Olsen jointly confirmed that the Adelaide Clipsal 500 will continue for another five years. This announcement comes just weeks after Olsen withdrew his support of Adelaide's round of the American Le Mans Series for sportscars.

Cochrane said at the weekend that he was delighted with the deals.

"Having this sort of long term commitment for these events is great for V8 Supercar racing," he said.

Both events are expected to continue in their current formats, but a change will be made for the Hidden Valley race this season, with a 20minute sprint race scheduled for Saturday, as well as the two 100km events on Sunday.

Cochrane also confirmed that plans for an upgrade of Bathurst were continuing to make progress.

"Two million dollars has already been spent resurfacing the whole track," he said, "and we are talking to the Federal government.

We are looking forward to going back in October."

An announcement concerning an upgrade for the facility is expected in June.

- PHIL BRANAGAIM

B Brit Guy Smith will team with Stefan Johansson in the Gulf Audi for the entire European Le Mans Series, which begins this weekend at Donington, B '01 DW, Darrell Waltrip, is heading to the Goodwood Festival of Speed In July. The former Winston Cup ace, who these days drives a microphone for Fox, will take his 1985 Bud Chevy from Its current home at the International Motorsports Hall of Fame to the UK. B Britons Johnny Mowlem and Ian McKellar Jr will race Ray Mallock Limited Saleen S7-R in the Le Mans 24 Hours. They will be joined by Americanbased Belgian Bruno Lambert, who gives the car its debut in the Donington Park ELMS race with McKellar.

B MG'S Le Mans 24 Hours contender ran in anger for the first time in Monday. Tn-top and Sportscar star Anthony Reid drove the car at Jerez in Spain following a brief shakedown at the MIRA proving ground the previous week.

B Frenchman Jean-Marc Gounon will contest four rounds of the FIA Sportscar Championship in the Scuderia Italia Ferrari 333SP that won the opening round of the series at Barcelona last weekend, He replaces Christian Pescatori, who will be on FIA GT Championship duty with JMB, alongside Marco Zadra.

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TONY George, head of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, could weU have secured the future of the hlue riband Indy 500 race with the announcement of equal engine specifications for the CART Champ Car series and the Indy Racing League.

The two rival series, born of a split in the administrative bodies in America's premier single-seater formula, will both adopt 3.5-litre V8 powerplants for 2003 which will enable manufacturers from CART to contest the Indy 500 for the first time since the split.

This consolidation in the technical rules would mean that CART engine manufacturers Ford, Toyota and Honda might be tempted to stay with the series to take on IRL regulars Nissan and General Motors.

Toyota, whose European arm is busily preparing for its debut Formula 1 season in 2002, reacted to the news by committing to supplying the IRL when the new regulations are brought into action.

Honda and Ford meanwhile are

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by JOE SAWARD

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Just wait for 2003: With Toyota entering the IRL, the Indy 500 looks set to once again assume the mantle as (Photo by Matthew Stockman/ALLSPORT) the number one American sporting ticket.

Toyota goes

TOYOTA has announced

somewhat of a surprise in

that it will enter Indy Racing League competition from the 2003 season.

The Japanese giant, along with current League suppliers General Motors and Nissan, have committed through to 2005 with the general engine formula of normally aspirated 3.5-litre V8 engines remaining unchanged.

Two changes of note to the

sa

2003 specifications include allowing a second fuel injection nozzle per cylinder and allowing camshafts to be chain or gear driven.

"Adding the second fuel injection nozzle per cylinder will allow for a broader midrange

doubtless going to be disappointed by the technical limitations imposed by the new non-turbo formula but both Ford Racing America and Honda are keen to

power band, which will facilitate the use of this engine as a dual-

participate in the Indy 500 and are likely to accept the change.

reference to sharing a common

12

10: 11 12 S 13 Ifl 5 15=3 1B3 I 17 18 3^

purpose powerplant," said IRL Vice President of operations Brian Barnhardt, in an obvious

®t s Indytime; Toyota wilil be on the liKL grid in 2003. tThwo hv S

engine stance as CART's Champ Car series.

That would allow manufacturers committed to CART still be able to run at Indy without having to build a new engine.

Other manufacturers will be allowed to build engines for IRL competition if proposals are submitted and approved before

iwHlmage'i

April 1, 2002.

"Toyota Motor Sales has stated its desire to win the Indianapolis 500 since it first began plans to enter openwheel racing in 1993," said Jim Aust, Toyota Motor Sales, USA, Vice President of motorsports.

"We are thrilled to be able to compete in the greatest motorspon news

NEWS

Herbert CART test and gets Le Mans deal

HERBERT will also return to the Le Mans 24 Hours for the first time since he won the French endurance classic in 1991.

The 36-year-old has been signed up to drive a semi-works Audi for the Champion Racing team. Herbert replaces Dorsey Schroeder, one of the team’s American Le Mans Series

No, it’s not a Mitsubishi: Sigma has had a decent sort of debut in Champ Cars and Herbert wants some of the action.

JOHNNY Herbert’s mooted move to Champ Car racing has taken a step forward with the Brit doing a deal for a test with the new Sigma Autosport team.

In Long Beach over the weekend, Herbert, who will run Le Mans in a privateer Audi as well as test in his role as test diiver for Arrows (see other story), did the

spectacle in motorsports at the Indianapolis 500.

"We will continue with our plans to be part of the CART series for the next couple of budget periods or until CART makes a decision.

"We've had ongoing discussions with the CART team owners and there's a great deal of interest as to what this might provide to them as far as participation," Aust said.

"We're hopeful that we can convert some of our teams to run in the IRL." "I think the other manufacturers will take a good look at this," said 1999 IRL champ Greg Ray. "They wanted to see where the cards were coming from and where they were going.

Now, they are beginning to stack up and it's becoming a lot more obvious.

- PHIL MORRIS/STAFF 13 April 2001

deal for a test due in May. “So far, actually, it’s been very positive. I’ve also been able to get in early enough to get things going,” said the three-time Grand Prix winner, who retired from Formula 1 last season.

The Sigma team is owned by former Toyota Atlantics racer Tom Wieringa and run by Paul Cherry, formerly in FI with AGS and Shadow.

Spaniard Oriol Servia currently drives the team’s Lola-Ford and has been impressive in the new team,finishing 14th in both races so far.

Herbert is also busy trying to put together a deal to race in the IRL’s Indy 500.

-PHIL MORRIS

regulars, alongside Ralf Kelleners and DidierTheys.

Herbert’s inclusion in the team follows the appointment of former Grand Prix and sportscar star Thierry Boutsen as project manager for Champion’s Le Mans programme.

Boutsen, who sustained serious back injuries at Le Mans in 1999, said:"We wanted to start the race with three experienced drivers, rather than one(Schroeder) who would spend the first half of the race learning the circuit. Johnny was the obvious choice for that role.

Champion will use a 2001-spec R8 at Le Mans rather than the year-old car it is running in the ALMS. Stefan Johansson’s Gulfbacked squad will run an older car. Jean-Marc Gounon, a runnerup at the 24 Hours in 1997, is in the frame for a ride.

- GARY WATKINS

Ford holds off WHILE its CART rival Toyota has announced its IRL plans, two of its rivals - Chevy and Ford are at different ends of the spectrum.

With the phasing out of the Oldsmobile name by General Motors, it’s all but certain that Chevrolet will be the name on the engine covers of GMpowered cars in the IRL and in the Indy 500 next year.

Meanwhile, Ford says it’s in CART to stay - at least for the foreseeable future.

"We've had the opportunity to be In the IRL since Day One, and we've chosen not to," said Dan Davis, director of Ford Racing Technology, "We've chosen to be here (CART), and I don't see any reason to do

anything differently.

"People ask,'Are you in, or are you out?''Do you evaluate your programs?' Yes, I evaluate my programs every single year.

Right now we're here (CART), and we're gonna stay here.

"Indianapolis is a great deal.

It's a great race, and we'd love to be there. If we had an engine that could go in both series, we'd be there. Point blank.

"At this point in time, when you look at all the issues combined, the loyalty that we can gain from paying customers from the IRL plus the Indianapolis 500 versus the Champ Car series... right now, the Champ Car series is a better value for us."

- PHIL MORRIS

n Michael Schumacher's manager Willi Weber has revealed that the Ferrari driver's court case with Dutch look-a-iike Frank Saasen has ended satisfactorily for the triple Champion.

"Fie cannot turn up with overalls on and say, 'I am Michael Schumacher',’ explained Weber. "Fie must say 'I am the double of Michael Schumacher'."

If Saasen is found to have broken the terms of the deal he stands to lose US$1 million ($2m). n Brabham will be the featured marque for this year's Goodwood Festival of Speed on 6-8 July. The highlight of the annual event is scheduled to be an appearance by Niki Lauda on the hillclimb course at the wheel of the BT46-B 'fan car' with which he won the 1978 Swedish GP. n The all-new school car 'Formula Zip' designed to appeal to kart racers as their first car racing formula has hit trouble with its abandonment by Octagon-run Silverstone for its schools. It is believed that schools had reservations over several aspects of the revised Formula Vauxhall chassis, leaving Zip boss Martin Flines with 20 of the Fordengined cars to dispose of. n Former Minardi owner.'Gabriele Rumi is currently recuperating in hospital after surgery to relieve stomach cancer. n Ralf Schumacher was at pains to stress that he will not be changing nationality when he moves house to Salzburg. The German currently resides in Monaco but, like his brother before him, is aiming for a less crowded environment. Ralf chose Austria over becoming neighbours with Michael in ; Switzerland, but has no intention to declare himself Austrian. n Donington Park, which last staged a Grand Prix in 1993, is ready to develop the 4km circuit, upgrading it to current Formula 1 standard, despite missing out on staging the British Grand Prix. New grandstands, a relocated pit and race organisers' complex and state-of-the-art medical center are all part of the US$45 million plan which is due for approval this summer. n Former Minardi driver Christian Fittipaldi returned to Europe in preparation for CART's invasion this September. The Newman-Flaas driver teamed up with Germany's Champ Car star Michael Krumm to inspect the Lausitzring oval near Berlin and professed himself eager to race there on September 15. n At a recent sponsor party, Craig ' Pollock was amazed to find out about the new wind tunnel that his partner Adrian Reynard is building over the road their BAR headquarters... but even more amazed to know that it's for Jaguar, - JOE SAWARD 13

Crime and chaos ii Brazi THE organisers of the Brazilian Grand Prix face an uncomfortable time in the aftermath of a week of crime and chaos for the Formula 1 community in Sao Paulo.

There were calls from many quarters for the event to be scratched from the calendar following a litany of disasters, beginning with the mugging at gunpoint of European Minardi team manager Tony Lees as he attempted to leave the circuit, being ordered from his car and forced to hand over several personal items.

This was then followed by drama for four members of the Williams team, who stopped at a set of traffic lights when leaving the circuit and were also confronted with armed attackers but escaped unmolested and, thankfully, without injury.

The problems continued within the confines of the circuit as Jaguar and Minardi were plundered overnight. Jaguar losing eight computers from its pit garages on the Wednesday before the race, thieves taking not only the hardware but also the telemetry data stored within.

Minardi suffered the loss of seven wheels the following night, and it was revealed that they were the only two teams not to have brought over their own security firms from Europe.

This was compounded with the destruction of the FOA’s pit lane camera on Friday, which collapsed above the Jaguar pit, and the falling camera nearly hit several team members. It is thought that the camera might have been loosened in an attempted theft.

“Any nearer and it might have taken my head off,” said team boss Bobby Rahal after the camera scare. “It was a nasty moment.”

The local security also summarily failed in the press room, where there was some minor theft, and added to the general dissatisfaction.

Logistically, the Interlagos circuit also left much to be desired

14

n r

3

Oranc

The safest place seemed to be on the track in Brazil: Nothing like a week of crime and chaos at a Grand Prix, eh?

(Photo by Sutton-lmages)

for many, with Williams having a hard time trying to send its data back to its Grove base for analysis as one of the more extreme examples of the general lack of facilities for all involved.

Seemingly the growing intolerance for the event has also gripped the local population, who were notable by their absence for much of the event. Without a particularly inspirational Brazilian performer in the field the lack of colour and passion evoked by the

race in the past was a feature of Eddie Jordan's comments on the state of the sport in general.

“We're missing that sparkle, that life,” Jordan lamented,‘Tm not talking about the drivers but the image of Formula 1. It was probably the biggest thing here in Brazil.”

The mayor of Sao Paulo, Marta Suphcy, visited the circuit on raceday and was left in httle doubt ofthe shortcomings ofthe event by a disgruntled Formula 1 community.

-JOESAWARD

ORANGE Arrows has capitulated over its defence of its driver Jos Verstappen, who eliminated Juan Pablo Montoya from near-certain victory in Brazil.

Montoya had muscled past reigning World Champion Michael Schumacher at the beginning of the third lap and, was pulling away until the 39th lap when Verstappen crashed into the back of the Williams, eliminating them both.

The under-funded team lodged an appeal against the US$15,000 ($31,000) fine levied by the race stewards following their investigation of the incident, stating that: "Prior to the collision with Montoya, Jos was traveling at reduced speed and braking a great deal earlier than on his previous lap. This explains why Jos, an experienced driver, was surprised by the incident."

The Arrows and Williams teams met again in testing at Magny Cours, where Verstappen went to clear the air with his victim in private.

"I did apologise to Montoya moiorspon news

NEWS

Flaming hell: So who gets the boot at Jag for 2002? Burti is doing all he can to make sure it ain’t him.

by NICK CARTON

(I’holo by Suiton-linages) |

!

]e Apology

as none of us want these things to happen," said the Dutchman.

"I hope we can both put it behind us now and get on with racing."

- NICK GARTON 13 April 2001

What do you mean you don’t think I was genuine?

Verstappen might not be on Montoya’s Christmas card list for 2001 ...

(I’hoto by Suuon-lmagcs)

JAGUAR Racing's beseiged driver Luciano Burti has said that he will take the fight to team-mate Eddie Irvine as his team has demanded if he is to avoid substitution from Pedro de la Rosa.

Burti said that he had no problem with his team's decision to sign Spaniard De la Rosa, who raced impressively with Arrows in 2000, despite the fact that one of them will lose their seat at the end of the year.

Speaking prior to the Brazilian Grand Prix, Burti said; "It is not normal to contract a driver so soon but Jaguar had to do it. In Formula One at the moment, you need a good test programme and, although the team had Tomas Scheckter, he is not very experienced."

Scheckter is readying himself for a season in Formula Nissan, while de la Rosa has impressed his new team in testing and, given his slow start to the season, Burti's position was made clear before the Brazilian Grand Prix.

Before the race, the team told him that he had to overcome disappointing performances in the opening two rounds to challenge Irvine or be dropped before FI's return to Europe.

Burti says he has no problem with the signing however, and qualified much closer to Irvine in Brazil than in the previous events, although both suffered disappointing races, with Irvine spinning out and Burti suffering a water leak.

"De la Rosa had an offer from Frost and the only way Jaguar could persuade him to join them was to offer him a race seat in 2002," he said.

"It may seem rash, but from the team point of view it is a good structure. Both Eddie and myself agreed. If I don't do a good job then I don't deserve to be in Formula One. “Pedro has a contract for 2002 and the other driver is not decided yet. It could be Eddie or it could be me. Eddie is the number one driver in the team, so his chances (of being retained) are greater than mine.

“I know my future in FI is guaranteed because, where there were rumours about me being dropped, there seemed to be a conflict, but now there is no conflict.”

n There was some confusion in the opening round of the FIA Formula 3000 championship at Interlagos, supporting the Brazilian Grand Prix, when no less than four Benetton junior cars appeared. The Super Nova team is affiliated to Renault and the Durango team to Benetton, with neither party willing to concede the patronage of the FI team, the argument likely to continue at Imola this weekend. n Ford and the British Racing Drivers' Club, owner of Silverstone Circuit, are at loggerheads over the price of the proposed 11-building 'Motorsport Campus' facility at the circuit. Jaguar put out a statement in Brazil that the $300 million deal to build on 54 acres of Silverstone's now-infamous car parks is off, but negotiations are continuing as Jaguar takes short-term steps to meet its most pressing need from the Campus, a wind tunnel... n The FIA 'oops' department was in action in Brazil when some confusion was aroused in an official bulletin describing the teams' activities between races. In English it was stated that Ferrari had flown the Malaysian GP-winning chassis back to Catalunya to test traction control software prior to being stripped down and shipped to Sao Paulo. In French, however, this translated as the team was focused on traction control and aerodynamics in preparation for the Brazilian GP. Shurely shome mishtake.

1 Williams technical director Patrick Head, is spearheading a project to solve the question of wheel tethers once and for all. It is believed that the tethers are all breaking at the ends due to tears caused by the suspension. Once Head has solved the riddle of how to sufficiently reinforce the tethers he is expected to immediately make his findings available to the FIA. n Lap times at Brazil did not generate alarm for the FIA, despite the 12 months of development to the cars and tyres since the last race at Interlagos. This was cited as the main reason for the dramatic increases in speed at in Australia despite cuts in aerodynamic grip imposed over the winter, twice the gap between Malaysian Grands Prix where there was little difference over 2000. In Brazil, however, Michael Schumacher's pole position was the only one beneath last year's benchmark and Jos Verstappen, who matched his 2000 time to the thousandth of a second, only dropped from 14th to 17th. n Jacques Villeneuve's restaurant in Montreal is to open in June. To be called Newton - a rough translation of Villeneuve's name - it will be launched in the week of the Canadian Grand Prix.

-JOE SAWARD 15

Notion motion WITH the top 25 cars on notional points automatically through to qualifying for the next round of the Shell Series at Eastern Creek, there are a number of well-credentiailed teams that will have to pre-qualify.

Notional points are awarded per round to each car and are cumulative, which means that drivers who have terrible weekends at Adelaide and prior at Phillip Island will have to pre-qualify to make the 32-car grid.

They include David Besnard, Paul Weel, Cameron McConville, Dean Canto, Anthony Tratt, Dugal McDougall, Rodney Forbes, both Team Kiwi cars and the Imrie Motorsport car, so, with only seven grid spots available, the session at the Creek will be worth watching.

- AARON NOONAN

by AARON NOONAN THE Ford Mustang is returning to Australian racetracks after an absence of some 15 years.

With backing from Budweiser, Prancing Horse Racing will run one of the new Ford Mustang Cobra RAs in Class A of the Australian GTP series with John Bowe behind the wheel.

The 4.6-lltre V8 produces 285kW and will make its debut at the Wakefield Park round of the series in early May, which will also be the first of the PROCAR Australia-run race meetings for the year.

Whenever the GTP series clashes with his CAT V8 Supercar commitments, Bowe won’t drive the Mustang, PHR’s Mark Noske instead taking over the car, which will battle HSV GTS, Mitsubishi Lancer and Subaru Imprezas in the outright class.

Noske will continue to drive the 16

team’s lead Ferrari 360 in Nations Cup. Dick Johnson was the last to race a Mustang In top-llne Aussie racing, the Greens-Tuf Group A car having its last run In 1986.

MEANWHILE,sources suggest that the Prancing Horse Racing outfit, which ran six Ferrari 360s at the opening round of the Nations Cup championship at Adelaide on the weekend, are investigating the possibility of extablishing their own race track/test track in much the same mould as Ferrari FI’s Fiorano.

The story would seem to fit in with the recent enquiries the team has made to Sandown in a bid to hire out the facilties now that the circuit has an increased number of corporate days available.

Investigating their own track may have something to do with the, reportedly, just over $10,000 per day fee for hiring the track ...

Miedecke f( FOR3IER Targa Tasmania winner Andrew Miedecke is a late addition to the entries for this month’s 2001 tarmac rally.

Miedecke will race a Dodge Viper in this year's 10th anniversary rally from April 18-24.

He said his decision to enter was prompted by a television interview on Network Ten's RPM program during March with Mick Doohan, who will make his car racing debut in Targa in a Mercedes-Benz CLK55AMG. “I was sitting at home a few

weeks ago waiting for the TV coverage ofthe V8 Supercar race at Philhp Island to start, when EPM ran an interview with Doohan who is tackling the event for the first time," said Miedecke.

“I’ve done it(Targa)three times before, including 1994 when I won, but I had absolutely no plans to do it this year.

“I suddenly decided I couldn’t miss out. I’m probably the last entry they’re taking.”

Miedecke's decision meant some quick thinking was required because his Targawinning Porsche had been sold and his co-driver had motorsport news

NEWS (Photo by Peter McKay)

Le Mans challengers test CADILLAC and Chrysler’s definitive Le Mans 24 Hours contenders have begun testing in earnest.

Cadillac’s heavily-revised Northstar LMP tested for the first time at the end of last month. The car, reworked by the British-based Team Cadillac operation, was given a shakedown at the Kershaw proving ground in South Carolina before moving on to Georgia's Road Atlanta at the beginning of last week, with Wayne Taylor and Max Angelelli driving.

The latest Northstar looks

Well on the way

The construction ofthe new pit complex at Oran Park continues, with the Sydney track's new pit buildings and pit lane extensions well on the way The new buildings, which will be a vast improvement on the current hotch-potch arrangement, will reportedly cost $2 million and be ready in time for the Shell Series round on June 29.

externally similar to the original, bar revised coohng ducts and a new rear wing, but little has been carried over from last year’s Riley & Scott-built original.

The Chrysler began its test campaign in earnest at Jerez at the end of March. A new version of its troublesome Mopar V8 went back in the car after two months testing with a stop-gap Judd engine.

Chrysler’s factory team, ORECA,has announced three more drivers for its Le Mans campaign. Ex-Formula 3000 race winner Stephane Sarrazin, Franck Montagny and Norman Simon have been added to the roster for its three-car attack.

-GARY WATKINS

>r Targa entered the event with another competitor.

He bought a 1997 Dodge Viper that had been campaigned in the GTP Nations Cup by Mike Conway, and secured Tasmanian Ron Coenan as navigator.

“Ron Coenan will be calling the notes for me and I think I’d be hard pushed to find someone better," said Miedecke.

“Not only is he a Tasmanian champion co-driver, but he writes the official Targa pace notes that other competitors buy and use.

There's probably no-one else who would know the course as well.

“I have always had a thing for Vipers, and it’s the right brand for me because I am a DaimlerChrysler dealer!” he said.

13 April 2001

Better late than never: Former Targa winner Andrew Miedecke is heading back to the place of his 1994 success for the 10th Targa Tasmania.

II

I News

Blitzing Briscoe

AUSSIE youngster Ryan Briscoe is in blistering form in Italy, having led his first race in the Formula Renault Eurocup at Monza, and then topped a test session in the Czech Republic, even after having to sit around the Australian consulate while waiting for a visa to get into the country!

Briscoe was fastest in the first practice session and second in the second session at Monza, and led until an oil pump problem dropped him back to fourth and ultimately retirement.

From there it was to Bmo for testing and Briscoe, who has been picked up by Toyota with an eye on FI,topped the timesheets by a tenth with the next round of the Eurocup to be held there this weekend before a race at MagnyCours in France at the end ofthe month.

There are eight other rounds in

In form already: Ryan Briscoe is showing the Euros how to do it. that championship that he is not scheduled to do as things stand, but he will drive the whole 11round Italian Formula Renault Championship, which starts at Vallelunga on April 22.

-AARON NOONAN

signs Rice

The door for 2002? Could Rahal be grabbing Rice to replace Max Papis?

(Pholo by Sution-Imagcs)

LAST year’s Toyota Atlantics Champion, Buddy Rice, has signed an option with three-time CART champ Bobby Rahai for the 2002 season.

It’s potentially good news for the CART series, which has struggled in terms of the amount of American drivers in the series.

The option allows Rice to race for another team this season, but gives Team Rahal first rights on his services for 2002 season.

“We have taken an option on Buddy Rice in the hope that we can run him for Team Rahal in 2002,” Rahal said. “We are searching for sponsorship and taking the necessary steps to make that happen.

“Buddy had a brilliant season in 2000 in winning the Atlantic championship and he has a bright future ahead of him in racing. Fie will be around the track this season as an obsen/er, shadowing our engineers and learning the inner workings of a Champ Car team.

“If the opportunity arises for Buddy to drive for another team this season, we will support him in those efforts.”

-PHIL MORRIS 18

JAMES Courtney created history by notching up the first-ever win for Jaguar Racing when he took the flag in the first round of the British Formula 3 Championship at Silverstone After qualifying second, some eight positions clear of teammate Andre Lotterer, Courtney survived an incident-packed first few laps which saw him drop back as far as fourth.

From that point on though, a combination of good luck and a succession of fastest laps - including a new lap record of 1 ml 5.937s - conspired to see him cross the line 4.6s clear of second-placed Andy Priauix. Fellow rookie Derek Hayes claimed third after a great drive from ninth on the grid.

A delighted Courtney said afterwards, "That wasn't too bad! I think everyone was getting a little bit excited with it being the first round of the season. The first couple of laps were a blur. I caught (Paul) Edwards and then passed him on the exit. The car was working really well so I pushed hard to get a gap and then backed off for the rest of the race."

The next British Formula 3 round is at Donington this weekend in support to the European Le Mans Series race.

Full Formula 3 report on page 45.

Mladin breaks ankle DEFENDING American Superbike Champion Mat Mladin has broken his left ankle while training though with four weeks before the next round,he will have plenty of time to recover.

The Yoshimura Suzuki star was having a last minute ride before packing up and heading to the airport where he was to fly out to America for a three-day test at Road Atlanta.

'T can't believe it," Mladin said. "I thought I'd just go out and do a few minutes riding before heading to the airport, and then this happens. It's never the right time for something for this to happen, but with about four weeks before the next round of the AMA Championship, it will give me plenty of time to recover." moiorsport news

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Lons Beach

hc:ie rec and white cars are quick, and l■those Brazilians are too: .Gaatrcneves finished second at Long Beach last ye: but went one belter in 2001.

llo to Helio fPhoto by Boliiwot! PhotOQraphic)

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IF there’s a race that is the one to win on the CART calendar in terms of prestige and the like, then it has to be Long Beach.

Helio Castroneves did just that on the weekend, the Marlboro Penske driver turning pole position into a victory in what was largely a processional race.

While it may have all seemed a bit too easy, Castroneves did have to contend with a few minor dramas. One of his mirrors fell off and he had a broken fuel meter, which failed on the warm-up lap, but he simply was too good. And while Alex Zanardi used to launch into donuts when he won, Castroneves continued his tradition of climbing the fence to share his victory wth the fans.

Castroneves took his fourth CART career win in the process, despite coming under attack from first Kenny Brack, and then Mexico winner Cristiano da Matta.

“Most of the race was pretty intense,” said Castroneves.

20

“I couldn't sleep at all.

Sometimes it's good when you have someone behind you because you always focus, you always concentrate. All the race I was pretty much in control, but I couldn't relax at all.

“I didn't make any mistakes. I did perfect! I'm so happy.

Sometimes you do better when you're under pressure, and I just made sure I made no mistakes, and did a good job.”

Da Matta kept his title lead with a strong second, while Castroneves’ team-mate Gil de Feiran made it a Brazilian 1-2-3 by taking third ahead of Paul Thacy. Tracy again made one of his customary charges through the field, having started the KOOL Green car 12th on the grid.

He didn’t have a friend though in countrjrman Alex Tagliani, after the Player’s driver copped a punctured rear tyre as a result of contact between the two during Tracy’s charge in early laps.

“After the race he came to see me to say he was sorry, and that he lost his brakes, but I don't buy

No, you’re not getting my race suit: Paul Tracy did another of his ‘bad grid, good race’ results, and found time to fend off former CART rival (Photo by Sutton-lmages) Robby Gordon as well! that,” said Tag. At least he wasn’t nursing an injury like team-mate Patrick Carpentier, who re-injured his wrist when he slammed into the back of Max Papis. Carpentier chipped a bone on the same injured wrist that caused him to miss three of the first four races of last year’s title. (See breakout).

Not even strategy could outrun

the Penske cars at the front of the field when it came to deciding the race overall. Luiz Garcia Jr caused the first caution period on lap 10, the bottom half of the field peeling into the pits to top up on fuel.

The leaders stayed out, with Castroneves, Brack, da Matta and Tony Kanaan at the head of the pack, though de Ferran worked his way past Kanaan thanks to a motorsport news

CHAMP CARS

Unlucky break

FOR the second time in two seasons, Patrick Carpentier faces further surgery on his wrist after riding over Max Papis' car at Long Beach when the Italian exited the pits.

"I tried to avoid him but hit the speed bump, which launched me into the air and into the back of Max's car.

V' caught my hand in the steering wheel on contact and, when the car landed, the I wheel spun around,"'said Carpentier.

'I He chipped a bone: in'the same wrist he Injured last year, though hopes to b.eifto.aeh.': at the next round at TexasviDt

Steve Olvey, CART's medical-

m director, said the injury didni'j- .-J:"involve the.same bone'-he.’.' broke last year and^th'e,injury was less serious. don't want races like I,did-last yeah'^ '^aii^J, r- the Canadian.

Papis wen-toTj'tb SI after losing a'lap due-to. n

Big brother is watching; Shinji Nakano leads Dario Franchitti and Tora Takagi on the streets of Long Beach. Christian Fittipaldi didn’t figure in the results, but a new ‘Blue Light Special’ paint scheme was different...

repairs from the incidejit^'^jj^

{Photos by Sutton-lmages and Bothwell Photographic]

.0'

minor slip on lap 16.

Another caution, when Mauricio Gugelmin and Tora Takagi collided, made Castroneves’s mind up as to when to make his first stop, though Brack didn’t even leave the pits. The gearbox was dead and it caused him to stall.

While he did rejoin, it was a matter of time before it died.

From there on it was all-Brazil.

Jimmy "Vasser had another strong run for Pat Patrick in fifth (still running a virgin white car), while Dario Franchitti grabbed sixth ahead of Tony Kanaan, who was running blind on set-up after an oil leak meant he missed the Sunday warm-up.

13 April 2001

The Ganassi duo of Nicolas Minassian and Bruno Junqueira ended up scoring points in eighth and ninth, while Scott Dixon was a delayed 19th, having earlier spun off into the tyres and ending up a lap down.

“At the beginning of the race the car was very good but my seatbelt came loose,” admitted Minassian.

“I was driving for 25 laps without my seatbelt on. The pit crew did an awesome job today and I think that this team will continue to get better and better.”

Points; da Malta 37, de Ferran 30, Castroneves 27, Tracy 26, Vasser 18, Kanaan/Franchitti/Andretti 12, Brack 11, Minassian 7.

>-rraUflAHMCHMffGUIDE TO AU THE

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AT YOUR LOCAL NEWSACENT 21

Homestead

The kids are the way

by PHIL MORRIS

THE new stars of Indycar racing have been discovered.

Having lost its first star in Tony Stewart to NASCAR,the Indy Racing League has found not one, but two, young stars upon which to build the series’ ever growing credentials.

Sam Hornish and Sarah Fisher filled the two top spots of the podium in the second round of the IRL at Homestead-Miami Speedway, the former taking a commanding series lead with his second win of the season.

Hornish, 21, and Fisher, 20, who used to race karts against one another in Ohio as kids, outran the veterans and fellow young guns of the League in the Infiniti Grand Prix, though Hornish had to fight back from a stall in the pits to pass Buddy Lazier, Fisher and Eliseo Salazar to claim the race win.

In fact, third-placed Salazar is older (aged 45)than Hornish and Fisher combined!

“The car was great throughout the weekend,” Hornish said.

“It felt good, and for the most part we had very few problems. We did make a rookie mistake (stalling on pit road), even though I am not - a rookie.”

For Fisher, it was her best IRL result, improving on the third she scored at Kentucky last year, though she admitted her weakness at re-starts when Hornish blasted past on the final re-start.

“Restarts are my weakness,” Fisher said. “Ninety-nine percent of my restarts today were awesome. That one just made the difference.”

Lazier ended up in the wall on the second last restart on lap 172 of 200 when he lost the rear of the Hemelgam Racing machine, setting up an 18 lap sprint to the

Hollywood performance: Felipe Giaffone continues to rack up the (Photo by indyracing.com/Ron McQueeney) points for the Treadway/Hubbard team.

22

U -..M

flag for the rest of the

field.

Meanwhile, Salazar and team owner AJ Foyt were ruing one that they felt had got away.

I thought I was going to be able to hold it,” said Salazar.

“We adjusted the car for traffic, but we adjusted it too much. I was very pumped up for this race. It relieved a lot of pressure to get to this podium. The goal is the championship.”

Brazilian rookie Felipe Giaffone again scored well in fourth and takes the rookie points lead, while polesitter Jeff Ward ran fifth for Heritage Motorsports, a team formed as late as November last year.

Definitely not your token female racer!

A1 Unser Jr did hit Sarah Fisher has proved herself to be quick. the lead but an early All that remains is an Indycar win. stop-go penalty dropped him to sixth, while seventh and eighth, with Eddie front-row starter Greg Ray Cheever and Didier Andre dropped out with fuel pick-up rounding out the top 10. problems.

Kelley team-mates Mark Points: Hornish 104, Salazar 75, Giaffone 60,Sharp/Ward 56, Fisher 53.

Dismore and Scott Sharp ran moiorsDon news

IRL

HaKday heads over the Aflanlic

Atlantic adventure: Halliday had a decent debut, but couldn’t get near race {Pholo by Siinoii-liiiasf-^) winner David Rutledge, above.

FORMER Formula Holden ace Matthew Halliday has signed a deal to run the Toyota Atlantic season in the United States.

The Kiwi has signed to run with the Dusenberg Brothers team, who ran in the US F3 series last year, and have plans to head to the Indy 500 as soon as next year, having run Adam Andretti in the F3 series last season.

He made his debut at Long Beach on the weekend, just missing out on a top 10 finish in 11th out of 22 starters, having only clinched the deal the weekend before the opening round of the series.

“The series has produced some good drivers like Alex Tagliani, Sam Hornish and Buddy Rice and it’s getting a big push by CART and Toyota,

so it’s looking good,” said Halliday.

The cars use four-cylinder Toyota powerplants which are good for 240 horsepower and Halliday will be based in Indianapolis.

The team has full backing from Western Union as well as some support from Halliday’s supporters in New Zealand. ‘‘We’ve been persevering (with getting a deal) and it’s paid dividends. Money’s one thing but contacts are another and Kenny Smith, whose been there and done it with Scott Dixon, has been fantastic,” said Halliday.

Another of the perks of the series is the fact that the class gets to race on the support bill at the Canadian Grand Prix in Montreal.

-AARON NOONAN

And another Kiwi in lights

S

S

“He’s on pit lane AJ” Eliseo Salazar continues to put in strong results in the all-oval series.

(Photo by indyracing.com/non McQueeney)

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ANDY Booth,fresh from victory in the New Zealand Grand Prix and Tasman Cup iast season, has made a strong debut in Indy Lights at Long Beach.

Driving for Brian Stewart Racing, the Kiwi recovered from a laterace trip down an escape road to take sixth place, while Aussie Steve Owen, who was scheduled to run the race for the BSR team, had his deal fall over at the last moment.

Dorricott Racing driver Townsend Bell won the race, the second round of the series.

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Yanks rule Kyalami TROY Corser left Kyalami with his championship lead intact following a pair of third place finishes at Round 2 of the World Superbike Championship in South Africa.

Corser managed to claim the final spot on the front row when he qualified his Aprilia in fourth. Fellow Aussie Troy Bayliss did better, placing his Ducati in second alongside polesitter and team-mate Ben Bostrom, while Honda's Colin Edwards completed the front row.

Bayliss launched away strongly to claim the lead into the first corner of race 1, while Bostrom made a slightly shaky start and fell to fourth, albeit close behind the leading trio.

Bayliss was under pressure from reigning Champion Edwards almost immediately, and the race had a new leader shortly afterwards. With a clear track ahead, the American held off a quick counterattack from Bayliss and set about creating some space between his Honda VTR and the pursuing pack.

Bayliss did his best to keep Edwards within sight, but behind him the rest of the group began to fall away.

Corser trailed by a few seconds, and saw off a challenge from Bostrom to pull out a comfortable cushion that ensured his place on the podium.

Bayliss went on to cross the finish line 1.8s behind Edwards, with Corser 4s further back in third.

Bostrom made better use of his pole position in race 2, making a clean start and leading the field through the first lap. Corser was right on the American's tail, with Bayliss, Edwards, Neil Hodgson, and Akira Yanagawa forming pack close behind.

It didn't take long for things to start thinning out. Yanagawa

24

Any means neccessary: Bayliss celebrated his birthday with a double podium finish at Kyalami (left) Corser(above) recovered from illness during the week to score two thirds.

was the first to disappear when he crashed on lap 2, thankfully without sustaining any serious injury.

Having already passed Bayliss, Edwards found a way past Corser, and got on with the task of chasing down a gradually disappearing Bostrom. By this point the Aprilia's rear tyre was causing problems, and Corser, who earlier in the week had been struck down by food poisoning.

dropped of contention for the lead.

Edwards caught Bostrom at half-distance, but the Californian was persistent and reclaimed the lead shortly afterwards. Hopes of a close duel between the Americans were dashed almost immediately though, when Edwards' Honda developed problems and retired, leaving Bontron to cruise to an easy win.

The retirement of Edwards moved Bayliss into second, and boosted Corser into a distant third.

Championship Standings: Corser,82; Bayliss, 80; Bostrom, 54; Edwards, 48; Lavilla, 45; Chili, 36; Laconi, 31; Yanagawa,29; Xaus,26; Hodgson, 24.

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T

HE 500cc Championship got off to a scintillating start at Suzuka when Valentino Rossi scored a brilliant Japanese Grand Prix win to clock up Honda’s 500th victory.

Loris Capirossi capitalised on his pole position to lead the field away from the start line, but it wasn’t to last long. Garry McCoy, (who was alone in the field in having chosen a soft compound for his rear tyre, everybody else having opted for mediums), captured the top spot at the end ofthe third lap.

The top eight were continually swapping positions, and the next few laps saw both Max Biaggi and Sliinya Nakano taking their turns at the front of the pack.

Rossi, meanwhile, made a bad start and found himselffaced with the task of battling his way up from ninth place. The Italian had nudged his way through most of the field when, on lap 5, he began closing in on arch-rival Biaggi for what would be the defining moment of the race.

Approaching the final chicane, Rossi pulled to the outside and appeared to have the measure of his countryman. Biaggi had other ideas though, and forced Rossi to the outside of the track, before leaning across his bike and pushing his left elbow into Rossi.

The strongarm tactics worked in the short-term. Biaggi held his position, while Rossi, who had been forced to take to the dirt to avoid disaster, was relegated to sixth. Recovering quickly, he was back into fourth just two comers later.

It took just one more lap for Rossi to claim the lead from Biaggi on the chicane exit, the Honda rider making clear his feelings about Biaggi’s heavyhanded move by ‘flipping him the bird’ on the approach to Turn One. Rossi stretched his advantage to as much as 3.4s before backing 13 April 2001

off and crossing the line 0.7s clear of a hard charging McCoy. “I really think I could have won that race but, in reality, I guess that I just left it too late,” said McCoy. “At the start a few guys went past and that really left me with too much work to do. When my tyre went off I was just happy to land a safe second.”

Rossi, meanwhile, was jubilant.

“For sure, this race is a great start to my year and I am happy to have won the 500th Grand Prix for Honda. It was a very hard race out there today and I had to push hard to make my way past some slower riders.”

Biaggi came in third to complete the podium, while defending Champion Kenny Roberts Jr finished seventh after suffering rear t}Te problems.

Championship points after one round: Rossi 25, McCoy 20, Biaggi 16,Abe 13, Nakano 11, Barros 10, Roberts, Jr. 9, Capirossi 8, CriviUe 7, Checa 6.

ypEANWHILE,Daijiro Katoh J-Vl-tookjust one lap to turn the 250cc event into a one-man race.

After passing early leader Tfetsuya Harada,Katoh set about building a lead ofaround a second per lap to eventually take the flag more than 18 seconds ahead ofthe rest ofthe field.

A gaggle ofAprilias squabbled amongst themselves for the remaining places, with Roberto Locatelli, Harada,Marco Melandii, and Franco Battaini aU fighting for an advantage.Petronas Yamaha rider Naoki Matsudo soonjoined the fray, which eventauUy ended with Harada crossing the line to take second place ahead ofLocatelli by a mere 0.07s.

‘T thought that maybe I had second place secure but Tbtsuya made it very difficult for me to pass him in the end! He protected his line well though-it was a good race,” Locatelli said afterward.

For Katoh,things were a little more simple.‘T tried to keep my

concentration up for the race and rode what was for me a perfect race.’

Championship points after one round: Katoh 25, Harada 20, Locatelli 16, Matsudo 13, Rolfo 11, Melandri 10, Battaini 9, McWilliams 8,Porto 7, Sekiguchi 6.

WHEN the dust settled after an incident-packed 125cc race, it was the tiny Masao Azuma who came up trumps in front of a home crowd.

Several competitors spent time in the lead, but the fierce tenacity of the pack prevented any one rider from establishing a clear advantage.

Nobby Ueda appeared to be staking his claim to the win at the race midpoint, but he disappeared following a massive crash on lap 14.

A sensational final lap charge

by Youchi Ui hauled him toward the front, and he managed to finish second ahead of Simone Sanna, who narrowly squeezed Gino Borsoi and Manuel Poggiali for the last spot on the podium.

NthDIM UxiW Si-vtims

OCTANEkODSTER Haclngfomuis

Championship points after one round: Azuma 25, Ui 20, Sanna 16, Borsoi 13, Poggiali 11, Cecchinello 10, Jenkner 9, Giansanti 8, Vincent, Nieto 6.

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JAPANESE 500CC GRAND PRIX 25

lying over the Amazon jungle, I found myself whiling away time by doing sums. I was working out times and distances travelled by the Formula 1 circus in the course of the last month. It was rather alarming.

If one went back to Europe between each Grand Prix - as many people did - and you had some testing or some other business to do, you could easily rack up 100,000 km in a month My total was 115,000. At the speed that the jets of today travel,

I emulated that |: had spent about

' i:20‘hours in.the air. Five complete days and nights. Three working weeks.

It hasPeen very interesting to see the effect of such things on life. I have come to quite like the safe c.p.epgn! that aergplanes

provide and sometimes, when spinach for iron, milk for calcium, do go home, I find myself lying bananas for potassium and so on awake, missing the gentle lullaby I am still trying to work out why of the Rolls Royce RB211 or the have an insatiable desire to eat smoked salmon and drink General Electric GE90-90B high bypass ratio turbofan engine.

Chardonnay but I guess it is One day I expect some somethingto do with 'comfort' eminent medical type will do a food. Normally one reverts to Study of the effects of such childhood at such moments but. things on the human body. There thankfully, I: have not been struck ceases to be anything like jet-lag by a need for stodgy puddings and baked:beans. because the body cannot adapt fast enough to the changes and. so> one develops an ability to has become my social a nd: I have met some sleep when,it is necessary, but. only for four hours at a time. This ^ interesting folk..f have read every is supplemented by what magazine that was ever printed p:(alLtieians. like to call “power napsH and have seen. Meet the P'areets, now and then when an Charlie's Angels and that stupid opportunity presents itself. film with Kevin Spacey and Helen The diet goes crazy as well and: Hunt more times than. I care to remember. one lives from one craving to the next as the body demands Sleep deprivation has long been,.used;as a. method of tedtire IgjjjiMhingdhat is missing?.|

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to create confusion in a prisoner.

It is obviously working with some of the team bosses because, on Friday in Brazil, Eddie Jordan and Flavio iriatore started gibbering about how Formula 1 is losing its interest. Here is an extract of what was said.(Answers on a postcard please).

"The people looking Formula 1 r |)ecause is everything together," iaid: iriatore. "Is the driver. Is the team. Is the performance. Is the private jet if you want. Is the helicopter. Is the girl. Is the star.

This is Formula 1. Is the one big box with all these ingredient inside and; we are keeping the keys."

The one word missing from all this Is "ear” which is what Formula 1i is really all about. It is about cars. They are those things

between the team owners getting back to Europe and the each corner. They are those because one or two of.them have traditional summer time paddocks things one trips over while walking out to be photographed where one can meet people who proved to often that they have on the pitwall. The suntans, the have spent their whole time on the morals of reptiles, supermodels, the boats and the the flyaways hidden away in the Eddie Jordan was GQtiffipletely garages behind screens and buried when a journalist asked planes are the flimsy wrapping guarded by charmless security whether he had ever beught pm hat surrounds the sport.

Mrt is about competition photographs of other people's goons. cars. omtn! ^e tracks, not about how This is a problem because the “I personally have never done feeling of community in FI is ma'lf^5 lies one has managed to being broken up by these it, but I arfT sure my team get m^^ello! or People magazine.

It is not about the shoes you barriers. Flavio and Eddie became probably has," he said;.."lf they wear. increasingly incoherent when did not we would be ora'zy. We And this year Ft has been they counter-attacked that this would be the only oneriaot to have done it, so I cann'ot answer great. We have a tyre war and was impossible because of the that is adding a lot of interest. espionage that would result. directly that question %ut\|i am sure we have acquired Ferrari has dominated so far, that ;^i3^hey blamed the photographers much is true, but it will not last for ' ' for this and then tried not to and photographs of other-.gats... blah, flail, blah, flail, blah..

-n long. Just as (hopefully) Benetton found themselves abusing will not be struggling to beat themselves. Photographs are At the end of it all, evefyorie. . -■ Minardis for long. taken because teams want them was wondbring what .Ogi..earth . ' Eddie and FIbyio were!Oh.ab0ut.' to see what the others are up to.

I have been having: a good time And, of course, there can be no Sleep depriyatioh wab .th#6rfjy-. .fowyardto . agreej|||gt^^||gg^|^^^.al: expla^^|i^^^||||j^|j&

Thoughts of Brazil: You only have to think of one man to encapsulate the passion Brazilians have for Formula One: Avrlon Senna. {Ph't't h\ SiiUun-IrKJBa)

: ^

J\ZJ sitting?

Motorsport News: So what's Juan IVIontoya was minding his own the overall verdict?

JPM: I got off the line really fast, had quite a good tow on him, and Pablo Montoya: I'm a bit lisiness and ieading the Brazilian Grand Juan when we got to the end of the disappointed, but still it was a straight I was still maybe a car or good race, and we could show ¥m until he got taken out whiie iapping some two behind him. He just braked performance, which was too early and I went for the Mb Herstappen. ADAM COOPER got both quite good. inside.

MN:Your pass on Michael was siiies of the story, speaking to Montoya quite impressive. What was it MN:You actually touched a couple of times on the way hifore he had seen Verstappen, and like from where you were the Big Bang: Montoya had Schumacher up his rear wing, while Verstappen was struggling with the Arrows.

Merstappen after the two had taiked Before (Photos by Mash/Boihwell ami Siition-lmat’es)

FORMULA ONE too late"

area, I piess he just brd(ed -Juan Montoya

round the corner...

JPM: Well, I braked and I couldn't give him too much room because then in the next one I was going to be screwed, so...

MN: You were on one stop,so you must have been pleased with the times you did with a full load of fuel...

JPM: Yeah, with a heavy load and everything. We were two or three tenths faster than David, and about half a second quicker than Michael, so it was pretty good. It was looking very strong, but you never know what could have happened.

MN: What happened with Verstappen?

JPM: I don't know. I saw he was racing with Fisichella, and they were racing each other quite hard. When we were going down the straight he moved to the left, but he never backed off. So when we got to the braking area, I guess he just braked too late.

MN: Did you speak to Jos? JPM: No I haven't yet. But it would be nice if he comes and apologises...

Motorsport News: Jos, what's your view of what happened?

Jos Verstappen: I got the blue flag, so I knew somebody was lapping me. And I saw a Williams car coming, and obviously it was Montoya.

On the back straight I went to the left to let him pass, and the moment he was past I went back to my race line. And before I knew it, I was on his rear wing.

I feel very sorry for Montoya.

But for sure, I didn't do it on purpose. Also we looked to our data, and our data tells us a lot. I was 40 metres earlier on the brakes, with about 60kph less speed than the laps before, so obviously he was braking very early - at least earlier than I expected. And that's why I hit him.

I nearly climbed over his car, took my left front corner off, I spun and that was it. When I touched him my speed was about 170kph.

MN: Did you talk to him about it?

JV: Yeah we did. I saw him and apologised to him. I think it was racing, and we don't want to take each other out, but it just happens. It's very bad of course.

But things happen.

MN: What did he say?

JV: He was still pissed off. I just had a chat with him, and he was OK. But as I said we checked our data. I don't have the paper with me, because our team manager has taken it up to the stewards to show them, but it really shows something strange.

Between the lap before and the lap where it happened, it shows a 35 or 40 metre difference. At that moment my speed was already 60kph down on the previous lap.

So it's difficult.

MN: So what do you think happened?

JV: I don't know. But thinking about it, what's happening with the Williams? It happened in Melbourne, it happened again to Ralf in this race, and now it happened to Montoya in the race.

Obviously they're really going very quick in a straight line.

Maybe they're running very little downforce, and maybe they have to brake early.

MN: What did the stewards say?

JV: They just wanted my view of what 1 had seen, and that's what I told them, and that was it really.

[Editor's note: Verstappen was later fined US$15,000 by the Stewards of the meeting over the incident!

Williams’s Technical Director Patrick Head almost broke a four-year drought in Brazil.

ADAM COOPER spoke to him MN;Any thoughts on the collision MN:This was your most with Verslappen? competitive performance since PH:I don’t know what that was Jerez 1997, although you didn't get all about. I don’t know what a result. What's the overall verdict?

Verstappen thought he was PH: Well, obWously it was doing. Ifsomebody comes up to encouraging from a performance lap you, you keep out of his way j point of \dew, but disappointing and give him due respect. fi’om the point of view ofthe way the two cars went out. It’s the MN:How do you think your. ' third time this year that we’ve been assaulted from behind. strategy would have playedmd?PH: We were obviously clparly Oh. You always get these comments from the driver who was behind a one-stop, and had'qjaith.hlOkhf; saying,‘He braked early.’I think fuel on board, and eould go q^te| it’s nonsense, really. At the end of a way beyond half y race. the day Ralf said that in the corner in front of him he had cars ●-●V. all over the place, and I don’t MN:Bearing that m mi’m.ydu, think he necessarily braked early, must be happy with Juan£q^ii!&^ he braked at the point he needed pace... .

-_ . to brake for the comer.

PH: You al ways'need tq .be ,.

It’s the responsibility of the guy quicker! ● ;■ /Y « ● behind not to cause an accident MN: We saw\signs like that. If you assault a car from behind or ri de up a car from races, out ao you mmK Bnis,remiy^ proves that you arc. b.ac/f? ';:’'.’ behind I don’t think you should be looking at the vehicle in front for - ● PH: I certainly think. fault. as serious competitor?: But-.f-,’ think equally some trabj^,)itqye^, MN: Were you pleased- with Juan different chkracteristi^ air^J I Pablo's performance? differeirt problem s tb^iofhqri PH: He did a very good job. I think and I. can’t sky w.e’ll he was well in control and was equally as competitiyq driring well within his ● Michelin has got to'diijqteaityrs-^if capabilities, and it was obviously that suits that track kritli ff'. j'.'l disappointing for him to be put whatever track tempefat'urelt’k. out in that way. He had no going to have on that day. There v- -: problems, and he was very calm are quite a lot of variable? in; on the radio. there, but yes, I think we’ll be y players this year.

MN: What did you think of his pass on Michael?

MN: So did you expect Brazil to PH: I didn’t see it properly, so I suityou? can’t comment. But I gather it was PH: I thought we would be in a very forceful! very good position in this race.

m A

MN: Does it bring back any memories of the crash in your first ever race in 1994?

JV: That was a completely different incident. At that moment I was trying to overtake Eddie Irvine, and at the start of it he came completely to the left and pushed me on the grass, and then 1 spun and had a big crash.

You can't compare those things.. .

"He was braking very early - at least earlier than I expected. And thaTs why I hit him" -Jos Verstappen 13 April 2001

The thoughts of the Head Man

Looking for more: Patrick Head and the BMW.Williams team will be looking for the top step on the podium at Imola. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Allsport) 29

Steven Johnson

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"l^r^ARLY last year, Steven i Johnson looked to be in the doldi-ums. At last, following Dick’s retirement, he had a full-time opportunity with the Shell team, but it wasn’t going well.

He was, by his own admission now, overweight and not fit enough.

He looked uncomfortable in the car and, well, it could have gone either way.

Nine months later the comparison is stark. He is 20kgs lighter (with more to go), fitter and with a fi-esh outlook. Johnson was the star of Clipsal 500 weekend. At the end of both races, the #17 Shell car was the one passing other cars forcefully and cleanly - and, with a slightly better pit stop outcome, could easily have pressed for the win.

It’s an almost classic case of someone taking stock and taking the “got to do something drastic” option, lb use the vernacular, Johnson took a good hard look at himself and made some decisions and some changes: “I guess where it all clicked was 30

Canberra, where I came third in the reverse grid race,” a relaxed Johnson confirmed this week.

‘That was the point where I thought, ‘let’s give ourselves a fair shot.’ I hadn’t been in the right frame of mind and ray physical fitness wasn’t anything special, so I thought ‘let’s do something about it; let’s get serious...’

“Around September/October I really got stuck into the fitness.

Bathurst was fine for me - I’d got Paul’s old car for Sandown and the testing was starting to go well. It just kicked on from there.

“We qualified second for Indy and, as I said, Bathurst was good, so it went on from there. I didn’t slacken off over Christmas on the fitness, did the long hours and the early ; mornings, and actually got to like it.

“Now I’m actually enjoying it on a regular basis - and I’m stepping it up. I’ve lost 20-odd kilos since Canberra and I want to lose another 10 by mid-year. I want to be mid-80s and fit and healthy...”

Somewhere along the way, Steve Johnson switched from the kid for whom opportunity was probably expected, and who was starting to

●srr

Son of a Gun: Johnson was off the air occasionally in Adelaide, but his (Photos by Marshall Cass] controlled agression saw him bag two podiums. get a bit impatient, to a young man who now knows what it takes, what is expected, and shows every sign of delivering.

It’s taken longer than he’d hoped.

“I have to perform to keep my job. I’m sure a lot of people out there would have thought that the only reason I was in there was because I was the boss’s son and that’s never been the case. In fact, he’s probably made it harder for me to get in there than he would with any other young guy.

“When I first tested for them in ’94 before Bathurst, he tested quite a few young guys and he told me that he would take the quickest and the best out of the group of young guys he was testing. It just happened that I was the quickest of the lot of them and consistent, so he took me.

“He certainly hasn’t handed anything to me on a silver platter.

“We’ve had our arguments in the past. I was obviously impatient. I wanted to get into the car and

drive, and he didn’t just want to give it to me. He wanted me to earn it and work for it. That’s what I’m doing now.”

“I’m also really enjoying driving the car now. At one point I had actually lost that enjo}mient.

Whether it’s working with the guys on the set-up, or the technical side of things. I’m a lot more involved now. I’m wanting to go into work, to find things, to work out how to go faster. My enthusiasm is back and I’m enjoying it. Mid-way through last year I certainly wasn’t enjoying it...”

Adelaide may well be looked back on as the race that Johnson made his first big statement. With team leader Radisich equipped with a brand new Falcon, Johnson took over a car with low mileage and a pretty good pedigree: “It’s a slightly better car than the one I did have. It’s the one Paul had new for Sandown, so this was its fifth race. I don’t think there are any huge differences - a few things are built differently and

inotorsport news

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INTERVIEW

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one to take anybody out, push them off. I believe you have to be aggi'essive, but not too much so.

“Last year I was a bit timid sometimes. Last year the old Steve Johnson, if he’d been sixth with 15 laps to go at Adelaide, would have stayed there. This year I passed Seton with two laps to go.

“I don’t want to be known as a crasher, but I’m a lot more positive and aggressive now. You have to be - calculative and smart. Craig is a classic example of a smart driver he pulls off some gi-eat moves by tricking people, fooling people. I had to resort to some of that to get past some of those people on Sunday...

“You have to earn the respect of your competitors. There’s going to be the occasional touch, not on purpose, but it’s important to know you can race with people. There are some out there who I’d feel nervous if they were behind me and there are others you can fully trust and know you can race with them and they’re not going to push you into a wall at over 200 kays...

“After the race, Russell Ingall told me he thought I’d done myself a lot of good this weekend in the eyes of the other drivers. That means a lot...”

Indeed, the acceptance of ones peers is what probably matters ^ above all.

To win at the moment, you have

reinforced that statement to myself. It was a confidence-builder.

Race two wasn’t so good but we got a reasonable result at Phillip Island, a track that we’ve never been so good at.

“I thought we’d have a good car at Adelaide and we did. We probably didn’t make the best pit stops in the second race, which possibly cost us the race, but we showed we have a lot of speed and consistent speed.”

The story looks like it’s going to have a happy ending. Rich and/or famous fathers can be a recipe for disaster. Look around the sport there’s a few. In Johnson’s case, there were moments when it didn’t look good. Those are gone.

“I grew up around the workshop at home - where Dad had the cars in the early days - pedalling around in my pedal car. It’s what I wanted to do. When the opportunity came to race a kart I jumped in, got my P-plates and won every race at the first race meeting. Ever since then it was all I wanted to do.

“Now, I know I can go a long way in motor sport. I always knew last year was going to be tough - not as tough as it turned out - and that this year would more likely be my year.

“With the start that we’ve got this year, with the team we have, the different attitude and mindset

My Mum can beat your wife: Craig Lowndes and Johnson get ready to rev up Natalie and Jilly respectively for the Laser Celebrity race in Adelaide. .

(Photos by Dirk Klynsmiih and AFl -Images)

i

"1 have to perfopm to keep my job. I'm sure a lot of people out there would have thought that the only reason I was in there was because I was the boss's son and thafs never been the case"

- Steve Johnson

it’s possibly a bit more tunable for the conditions,” he observed.

Regardless, Johnson had a pretty spot-on weekend and, as a result has the evidence to back up his fitness regime: “Saturday’s race was harder than Sunday. I got out of the car feeling pretty good - hot and sweaty, but really pretty good. The only muscle soreness I had was just at the top of my right leg and 13 April 2001

it wasn’t much at all. By Sunday morning it was fine. I got a massage, had a sauna and spa that night and I was brand new for Sunday.”

The Shell Falcon was strong late in both races and it was Johnson doing the late-race passing. Unlike some of his more seasoned colleagues, it didn’t involve a lot of panel damage: “Since I started, I’ve never been

to beat HRT. It almost happened at the weekend. Can it be done?

“Absolutely. Last year I wondered how on earth they could be beaten. This year, Bathurst was good, and I came into the year thinking ‘we’re on the pace, we can beat these guys. I’m going to beat these guys.’

“We got to the GP and in race one we were the first Ford home and split the HRT cars - which

that I’ve got, we’re a good shot this year. If we can get a couple of wins in the short races, we could get a top three finish in the championship.

“I passed Craig twice on Saturday - and he still beat me.

But I’m going to push pretty hard this year and put as many of these guys as I can under pressure.

“This is the year it’s going to happen for me.”

31

Clipsai 500 rV

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HIS can’t keep up,can it?

Two yeai’s ago, Craig Lowndes performed a last to first miracle in his Holden Racing Team Commodore.Last year, Mark Skaife did the same thing in what amounted to a monsoon.

In 2001, it was new boy Jason Bright’s turn to do The Miracle.

After being caught up in a first lap melee and being forced to pit twice - to have damage fixed, he drove brilliantly and rode a justright pit strategy to win the Sunday race(which makes him the winner of the Clipsai 500). To add to his great weekend, his Saturday seventh made him the overall points winner for the meeting.

The previous day, Craig Lowndes had performed a miracle of his own. He didn’t walk on water, but Gibson Motorsport’s main man used his head and a smart team to stay out of trouble, make his gains and send Ford fans(and some former Holden fans)into apoplexy.

Mark Skaife and Paul Radisich were the men many were talking about, the two hard men clashing in Race 1, while both were also caught up in different incidents come Sunday, Radisich registering two DNFs and Skaife struggling home to ninth after a car-bender which involved - headline writers ready - Lowndes.

32

The same, but different; Whenever Craig Lowndes has finished in Adelaide, he has won.

On Saturday he was brilliant and Jason Bright was frustrated, but Brighty turned all that around on Sunday to seize the lead and the champers.

(Photos by Dirk Klynsmith and Marshall Cass)

Shell Championship Series

6-8 April 2001 Your turn: Craig pours the pressure on after winning the Lowndes family’s first race for Ford. On Sunday, Natalie won the second. , (Photo w oi* Kiynsmitu) Russell Ingall scored a soldier like 3-2 result for the Castrol Perkins team, scoring a heap of points while never looking like winning, while those results were mirroreii by Steven Johnson who, despite having not the best strategy, drove superbly to finish on both podiums.

For other fancies, disasters. The Valvoline Commodores of Garth Tander and Jason Bargwanna lacked qualifying speed and played

catch-up all weekend, both drivers delayed by accidents, while Marcos Ambrose had his weekend shot to heck by an early Race 1 clash with Todd Kelly before a strong Sunday comeback.

The crowd was huge, the weather fine, the babes gorgeous and HRT won. Adelaide has had its future secm’ed for another five years, which means the Reds can continue do it well into the new decade.

Practice and Qualifying

A^'

delaide sure loves its V8 iupercar racing.

Some time ago, dear readers, there used to be a round of the Shell Australian Touring Car Championship (it was thus named) at the provincial town of Mallala, some hour’s drive north of the SA capital. When Peter Brock made his farewell appearance there in 1997, the placed was jammed with

motorsport news

^SHEU CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES

mical-induced incident, Paul ;ed that he “was trying too and lost control. The car miss qualifying and he be starting from the rear of id - in the same car in which des performed his last-to-first le in 1999. Spooky ... other car to feel the concrete Tes was Paul Weel’s which, 'ay through the qualifier, jff at the same spot at which Jones went rubber-up last 1. He would start 33rd after a d which went until 2am, A'hich the car looked brand

around 20,000 punters, and it was elbow to elbow.

More than 10 times that number appeared for the final run of Formula Ones in the city of churches and, when V8 Supercars made their debut appearance in the Big Smoke three years ago, the fans came en masse, and have continued to do so ever since.

Friday,April 6, 2001, and 43,800 came out to enjoy the sunshine and the thunder down under - for 13 April 2001

practice and qualifying. It may be hard on Mallala to say it, but the Clipsal 500 sure is an event.

New car and new track blues blighted the practice sessions.

Johnson reminded Radisich just how good the car he had just vacated was by besting him by 10 spots in the first session and the Kiwi struggled with his new mount. Radisich explained that the new car “likes different things at the moment” and that it was

unbalanced. Changes were ordered for qualifying.

Between the 40 cars present, there were an almost unprecedented number of spins, offs and otherwise unsavoury acts as the first attacked the ‘green’ track. Biggest of those to lose out in practice was Paul Morris, who had the car snap away from him at the final corner, crunching into the tyres.

Despite looking like a tyre or

lere was an award for ing, it would have gone to ;Fogg. The Team Kiwi car ibout eight times and Fogg ad a clout with Dugal ugall, which earned him a I the stewards’ office.

Running the TKR ex-Bathurst car solo for the first time, Angus looked all at sea in the unbalanced machine.

But his countryman. The Rat, did not. When it came time to Just Do It, Radisich came up with the goods, for the second time in two races taking provisional pole position before the Top 15 Run-Off. His lm25.11s effort was within a tenth of the all-time qualifying times set, interestingly enough, by Fords in the previous years (Seton, ’99 and Radisich,’00) and he was a

continued on page 34 33

Clipsal 500 CQualifying^

POSDRIUER GAR Pos No Driver Paul Radisich MarkLarkham Jason Bright Russell Ingall Todd Kelly Glenn Seton John Bowe Craig Lowndes Garth Tender Steven Johnson Larry Perkins Marcos Ambrose Greg Murphy MarkSkaife Steven Richards Steve Ellery Jason Bargwanna Cameron McLean David Besnard Dean Canto Dugal McDougall Rodney Forbes John Faulkner Cameron McConvIlle Brad Jones Matthew White Tony Longhurst Tomas Mezera Anthony Tratt Tyler Mecklem Jason Richards Paul Romano PaulWeel Trevor Ashby Allan Heath Garry Holt Greg Ritter Angus Fogg Ross Halliday Paul Morris

TIME Car Shell Helix Falcon AU ICS Smartcar Falcon AU HRT Commodore VX Castrol Perkins Commodore VX Kmart Commodore VX FR Falcon AU CAT Falcon AU Gibson Motorsport Falcon AU Valvollne/Cummins Commodore VX Shell Helix Falcon AU Castrol Perkins Commodore VX Pirtek/SBR Falcon AU Kmart Commodore VX HRT Commodore VX FR Falcon AU Supercheap Falcon AU Valvollne/Cummins Commodore VX Greenfield Mowers Falcon AU Caltex Havoline Falcon AU RPM International Falcon AU Pepsi Commodore VT ausmosport.com.au Falcon AU JFR Commodore VT Optus/Lansvale Commodore VX OzEmall Falcon AU Challenge Commodore VS Delphi Commodore VT Densiton Commodore VT Toll Ipec Falcon AU Ultra Tune Commodore VT Team Kiwi Commodore VT EA Sports Young Lion Commodore VT K&J/DuPont Falcon AU Lansvale Commodore VS Coopers Falcon AU Eastern Creek Karts Falcon EL Saabwreck/IMS Commodore VX Team Kiwi Commodore VT 3M Falcon EL Big Kev Commodore VT

Time 1:25.1107 1:25.4839 1:25.5169 1:25.5629 1:25.5657 1:25.5836 1:25.5961 1:25.6145 1:25.6629 1:25.6792 1:25.6948 1:25.7168 1:25.7348 1:25.7500 1:25.8611 1:25.9773 1:26.0018 1:26.1022 1:26.3862 1:26.7541 1:26.8853 1:26.9764 1:26.9780 1:27.2000 1:27.3983 1:27.4698 1:27.5359 1:27.7258 1:27.7565 1:27.8668 1:27.9479 1:27.9847 1:28.1315 1:28.2512 1:28.7735 1:29.0285 1:30.0436 1:30.2553 1:32.2979 No Time

In the heat of ti IN the short three-year history of the Adelaide 500,there are, already,images which are burned in the memory.

Lowndes's amazing charge from the rear in 1999. Skaife's similar effort - in appalling conditions - last season. And Paul Radisich being lifted from the #18 car, almost

unconscious, in the heat of the first race two years ago.

The combination of Adelaide's warm autumn weather and the walls around the track, which trap the heat and fumes, make the Parklands track a test not just for the cars, but the men who sit inside what soon can become a mobile sauna.

r

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continued on page 33 happier chappie as the Run-Off drew near.

There were varying storylines happening at TWR-land. The Kmart part of the equation looked fine, both Murphy and Todd Kelly making few changes to their VXs

while Skaife, in particular, was really dragging his red car down the road. He actually spun in one of the practice sessions but, with his ability to make ‘green’ sectors together in one-off laps, no-one was really going to discount him from

14th.

The #1 car was running way different set-ups for qualifying and race, neither looking particularly pretty on Friday.

Ironically, that would be fi'om only one spot behind Murphy, who

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Ending the drought: Greg Murphy scored his first poie position in three years on Friday, taking the Kmart VX through the top 15 run-off cieaniy in his finai run in this car before he gets ... Bright’s!

(Photoby oirkKiynsmah) 34

SHEU CHniVIPIOHSHIP SEBIiS

he Fight

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With track temperatures in the high-30s, the heat inside the cars was in danger of hitting 60 degrees and, this year, Radisich made plans to combat it. The new DJR Helix Falcon was fitted with a kind of esky-cumradiator, which combined to provide The Rat with cool air piped straight into his helmet through a filter - which fell out early on Saturday. The best-laid plans of rats and men ...

Team-mate Steven Johnson tried a different route. He was wearing a cool suit, topped up with crushed ice (for early cooling) and ice blocks (long term). It must have helped; even after Sunday's charge, he looked as fresh as a daisy. " I wish we could go another 78 laps," he said.

Mission Control: Johnson's car was fated with a simple system, which worked as he charged onto two podmms. tl*bii/ohy Pirk Klvi

iiillii

aborted his fast mn on green t3mes when an exiting-from-the-pits Jason Bargwanna. Both would do better in the run-off.

But some of the drivers who would struggle would be those who battled to get into the top 15.

Perkins was out of the elite gi’oup until the final laps of the second session, bumping Bargwanna back to 16th, while Ambrose was also languishing outside the group until he vaulted to 12th. That left Richards and Skaife ‘on the bubble’

but, despite the efforts of Cameron McLean(who lost practice track ●time with a broken steering link after nudging a wall) and the impressive Dean Canto (see breakout), Skaife stayed there.

And Perkins’s big effort bumped Jason Bargwanna out. He was 16th, while Garth Tander was ninth.

The Valvoline VXs looked a little better than they had at PI but there was still a lot of cars between them and the front of the giid.

S

0, to the Top 15. There was a change; to stop the cars launching over the Senna Chicane, a single stack of tyres were placed there and, according to the drivers’ telemetry, it cost around 0.5s a lap.

They would be gone for the race; “they wouldn’t last two laps, anyway,” affirmed Murphy.

"The pole battle would come down to not so much who would gain the most time, but who would lose the least. In that regard, Murphy and Skaife were in a class of their own.

Both drivers minimized the loss to their best qualifying laps to 0.2s; that vaulted them to pole and second from 13th and 14th respectively, the gap between them on cold and warmed tyres staying remarkably static.

The next smallest loss was Ambrose’s, who dropped 0.4s but gained six spots, while Kelly was right “behind’, a 0.4s drop qualifying him third (from fifth).

The KRTs were, almost to a man, delighted to be first and third, the exception being Kelly himself, reporting that some small mistakes on the back end of the lap costing him second or, maybe, pole.

The biggest drop of time went to

Perkins, a whopping 1.5s taking him from 11th to 15th, while Bright dropped a second (finding the car had lots of grip, but he clouted a tyre barrier when it didn’t slide like he was expecting).

There’s been 25 cars go around in the two run-offs so far, with relatively little drama. No-one has even gone onto the dirt. Maybe 15 cars is a little much; 10 seems plenty...

Race 1 (78 laps) rjThere are a limited number of ‘Go-To Guys’ in sport.

The gartie is on the line. The clock is running. You want the ball to go to Michael Jordan. You want Steve Waugh to come in a three down for not much. James Hird should wander into the forward line. Let Tiger Woods make that 15-foot, downhill putt for par.

And you want Craig Lowndes : behind your wheel.

There had been a Safety Car out for five laps while Murphy’s Kmart Commodore was moved to a safe position and, when the lights went out on the Tenneco Ford, there was 24 laps to go. The car behind was a Ford too, Lowndes’s, which had, as expected, stayed out of trouble, was virtually unmarked and was leading.

Time to race. Lowndes dropped the hammer and pulled a second on the first lap. Then another, then another, then another. Lowndes was more than 8s clear when Johnson, in second, stabilised the gap. Despite a

TOP 15 RUN-OFF

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15

Greg Murphy Mark Skaife Todd Kelly Glenn Seton Paul Radisich Marcos Ambrose Garth Tander Craig Lowndes JohnBowe Steven Johnson Jason Bright Russell Ingall Steven Richards MarkLarkham Larry Perkins

1:25.9204 1:25.9746 1:25.9959 1:26.0810 1:26.0485 1:26.0956 1:26.2667 1:26.3214 1:26.3487 1:26.4200 1:26.5112 1:26.5896 1:26.6529 1:26.7261 1:27.2622

moment three laps from the end, when he lost 3s when he looked in the mirror and missed braking point. The Kid was home to another - another - brilliant victory in Adelaide.

If only life was that simple. The race had started in a straightforward manner, Skaife leading Murphy and Radisich, whose Shell Ford was soon through to second. continued on page 36

aiPM

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Hosed off: Marcos Ambrose clanged Into the wall after tangling with Kelly in Race 1, leaving him with a lot to think about on Sunday as he (Photos by Marshall Cass) suited up for battle.

35

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start of a long couple of days: Skaife won the jump in Race 1, from Murphy and Radisich, who was soon through to second and challenging for the lead.

(Photo by Marshall Cass)

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continued from page 35

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hJ

DEAN Canto had much to look forward to for 2001.

After missing out on the Ford Tlckford Racing drive at the end of 2000, the Konica kites Champion set himself for a limited program in the SCS, but things started badly for the diminutive Sydneysider at Phillip Island, where he battled the car through pre-qualifying but failed to make it into the field.

But he turned that around in Adelaide, qualifying a strong 20th, in the front half of the grid.

"It's a relief," he said. "The team has worked really hard to get here and it's really good to be this far up."

"We let Dean down at Phillip Island," admitted team owner Terry Steer. "We knew what was wrong with the car in pre-qualifying, but it was a 15 36

minute fix, and you can't do that in a 20 minute session."

Canto had some fast and more experienced drivers behind the ex-Weel Falcon, including John Faulkner, Brad Jones, Tony Longhurst and Weel himself, who shunted his car in qualifying. Canto's result was even more impressive, given the fact that the car and transporter was bereft of sponsors after the withdrawal of his previous supporters.

On Saturday, he stayed out of trouble and went . from 20th to 10th. On Sunday, an early delay behind the Ellery incident screwed his race, which ended in the wall after brake failure related to his earlier clash with Garth Tander.

Many people in the sport rate Canto highly. A good opportunity for a sponsor, surely.

And it looked quick. The Rat closed The Gap, dragging Murf with him, and caught Skaife on lap nine. For seven laps he stalked, giving Skaife the odd tap, while Mark waited for Murphy to give him some relief from behind.

I was blocking him pretty heavily,” said Skaife. “If he gave me a tap and moved me wide. I’d cop that.”

Radisich was, reportedly, under consideration for a meatball flag, but the Helix car hammered the HRT one on the entry to Turn 3.

Skaife kept it off the wall and resumed with four flat-spotted tyres.

“It destroyed the tyres. I had to be conservative after that; I had to turn so that, if a tyre went, I wouldn’t end up in the wall,” said Skaife.

He resumed 17th and, as an indication, made no real progress until he pitted for first fuel and then tyi-es.

Meanwhile, Radisich was having problems of his own. His drinks system had a kink in it - literally and Paul was getting no fluids.

With the temperature inside the cars climbing, he was soon to struggle. oiotorsport news

^SHEU CWnMPIOMSHIP SERIES

Sick blokes and injuries

mm

mf

Hard at work: The Adelaide circuit is hard on cars and produces great

racing - and will for another five years.

It was ‘a racing incident’, according to the officials.

Before that, even, there had been damage. Kelly held out Ambrose until the Tasmanian got inside at the final corner and pulled alongside, only for Ambrose to try and take his line on the straight.

The Pirtek car flicked around and belted the concrete. He was not happy but, with a 50-50 look, it was ‘a racing incident’ and the

(Photo by Dirk Klynsmith)

Pirtek crew got set for a long night.

His team-mate had problems also. Besnard was almost throwing up inside the car when he drank, but of more concern was the seven cylinders on which the car was running. He retired after 42 laps with a broken rocker stud, a rare failure from a team, which never changed an engine at a track last season. continued on page 38

ER is one of the highest-rating dramas on US and Australian television and, if Drs Mark Greene,John Carter and that moody black guy had been in Adelaide,they would have been up to their collective elbows in blood and guts.

There were, as the footy writers say, plenty of players carrying injuries. Brad Jones had a busted finger, courtesy of having it belted by his wheel spoke when his OzEmail Ford got clouted off the line last time out at Phillip Island. Luckily for Bradley, the injured digit was on his right hand (he's a lefty) and he was suffering, as the support he wore had to come off so he could get his paw into the glove and drive the car.

Next patient, John Bowe. The Tasmanian was suffering from tennis elbow, gained not through tennis, or even a long time spent in RFID cars changing gears with his left n hand. It was down to "gym . weights" (as opposed to Jim : Waits, Tom's brother) from his training regime. Like Jones, he was gutsing it out.

But neither tennis nor errant ; steering wheels claimed David Besnard. The Caltex pilot was ; got by a prawn cocktail which took a dislike to the

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Green around the gills: Besnard almost matched his Havoline Falcon for colour after a bad prawn. (Photo by Doctor Dirk Kiynsmilli}

Sydneysider, who spent much of his pre-qualifying regime in close proximity to a bathroom and the attendant apparatus therein. After virtually fasting through qualifying, Besnard had a 60 minute power snore in the afternoon and appeared well on the road to recovery which was just as well, as Adelaide has a ' deserved reputation of filling cars with A. heat and B. nasty fumes. j - PHIL BRAWAGAN

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Clipsal 500

Boom times

ON lap 48, John Faulkner made his pitstop, and amid a jungle vine of air hoses, made his way back into the race.

But, on the way, the JFR Commodore snagged one of the lines, pulling down Dugal McDougall and Mark Larkham's pit booms. In the process, Ken McNamara, MLR's engine builder, collected a gas bottle fair on the head.

While McNamara was attended to, Faulkner was still carrying one of his wheel guns as ballast. The errant gun was hurled off at the next corner, but Faulkner was to be beckoned to the stewards' room for a chat about the incident.

"They want to ping me for it," said Faulkner with a face like thunder. "We noticed the problem on Tuesday, because Larko has two (air) lines and they are close to ours.

"I have tyre money to think about, apart from the actual points, so we're going to go up there and argue about it..."

Ouch: McNamara is attended to after the JFR Commodore dragged down a pit boom in In the end. Faulkner got fined $2K and kept his points, (Pholo hy Dirk Klyiisntiilt) the Saturday race. and results.

continued from page 37 Radisich pulled a lead from Murphy, but the Kmart challenge faded when Murphy made his fuel stop on lap 27, only to drive straight past his pit box.

“I was concentrating on the (pit lane) speed limit,” he admitted later, “and drove straight past (engineer) Rob (Crawford) said, ‘where are you going?’ and I had to come around. It was the stupidest thing I have ever done in a racing car.'

38

He had been in difficulty for some time, because the cover through which the gear lever emerges had come off and the car was filling with heat.

Kmart’s day was about to get worse. Next time around, Kelly got tapped by Tander near the pit entry when the Toddler was heading towards the pits, and Johnson whacked him. He lost major time, and later clashed with Steven Richards. The heavily wounded car would finish 15th.

Murphy’s indiscretion threw his

hopes out the window, but it came to nothing when he went straight on at turn 7. The steering rack had broken; Murf had about two laps warning before the car refused to turn.

The pitstops beckoned. HRT called Bright in early, allowing him to effectively pass four cars in the pits, while Radisich and Lowndes, who had made steady progress in the still-unmarked car, pitted together. But, there was drama; during his pit stop, one of Bright’s wheels crossed into pit lane before

Recovering nicely: Fiussell Ingall put a tough Phillip Island and a 12th grid spot behind to get back in contention for the series with some typically Enforceful driving.

(Photo by John Morris/Mpix)

being recovered. At the morning briefing, team managers had been specifically warned about it, with a stop-go penalty the likely consequences. HRT was let go with a $2000 fine and you could hear teeth giind all over pit lane. motorsport news

After the first cycle was completed, Radisich’s lead got out to 6s, but soon Bright was hauling him in. The fluid-less and dehydrating Radisich was getting wilder and wilder over the kerbs.

Eventually, the watts linkage broke and the car crabbed into the pits to retire, the NZer needed major attention to attend to his fluid loss.

But, while Bright stayed out, Lowndes had pitted at the same time The Rat had and, stops completed, they had resumed eighth and ninth, while Johnson and Ingall followed their example.

When the Safety Car reappeared on lap 37,for the stranded Garry Holt and Rodney Forbes cars.

Bright, Tander, Murphy, Bargwanna,Bowe,Richards and Ellery were dead ducks. They aU had to pit and, once Radisich was out of the way, Lowndes was sure to win.

Johnson had made good ground, passing Lowndes twice on the track, but Craig reattacked in traffic, got the spot back, the Safety Car reappeared and the Game was over.

That said, Johnson drove superbly for a career-best second.

“The wheel alignment was out,” he said later. “I clouted some tyres on a comer and it wasn’t great after that, and the gearbox temps were up. But, apart from that, no complaints.”

Ingall took third, a quiet race apart from having to suffer fuel in the eyes, a symptom which also stmck a Castrol crewman when he was helping wdth the fuel rig at the end of the race. Rusty had a quick half-off up the Turn 3 escape road, but survived to make the podium.

Skaife’s car was like a jet once

^SHEIl CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES

Moments like these: Mark Skaife doesn’t get much practice in spinning so it was impressive that, when he did, he kept it running and off the waiis.

Like a blur: Garth Tander was hampered by fuel problems in the first race but, at least. salvaged a sixth before a rough Sunday outing.

I

(Photos by Chris Carter and Dirk Klynsmith)

i

continued on page 40

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Clipsai 500 SCS Round 2 CIIIBSSI 500

CD

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Rac8l —78I3PS Pos Driver 1 Lowndes 2 Johnson 3 Ingall 4 Skaife 5 Ellery 6 Tander 7 Bright 8 Bowe 9 Bargwanna 10 Canto 11 Larkham 12 Faulkner 13 Longhurst 14 Morris 15 Kelly 16 S. Richards 17 Perkins 18 Tratt 19 McDougall 20 Mecklem 21 Ashby 22 Fogg 23 Ritter 24 Halliday NC Mezera DNF Seton DIMF White DNF Jones DNF Weel DNF Radisich DNF Murphy DNF Besnard DNF Romano DNF Forbes DNF Holt DNF Heath DNF Ambrose DNF McConville DNF McLean DNS J. Richards

Race lime Fastest lap 1:27.2605 2;02:49.1189 2;02:59.3158 1:27.5487 2:03:03.4460 1:27.5676 2:03:08.0822 1:27.4234 2:03:13.1134 1:27.6067 2:03:16.3438 1:27.5481 2:03:19.1470 1:26.7346 2:03:20.3697 1:27.1032 2:03:28.3780 1:27.5623 2:03:29.5773 1:27.8625 2:03:34.1715 1:27.4925 2:03:35.3567 1:27.8288 2:03:45.3113 1:28.6258 1:28.6653 77 laps 1:27.2735 77 laps 1:27.5811 77 laps 1:28.1101 77 laps 77 laps 1:28.5288 77 laps 1:29.1083 77 laps 1:28.7557 76 laps 1:28.6882 76 laps 1:30.3242 74 laps 1:33.0671 73 laps 1:28.8508 57 laps 1:27.5680 74 laps 67 laps 1:29.4683 66 laps 1:27.9224 64 laps 1:28.0689 1:26.8661 63 laps 1:27.4538 47 laps 1:29.6020 42 laps 1:30.2252 39 laps 1:29.6639 37 laps 1:30.7237 20 laps 1:29.6860 16 laps 1:27.2932 8 laps 1:29.0686 4 laps 1:43.3777 1 lap Olaps

Rase 2 — 78 laps 2:06:34.5914 1 Bright 2:06:35.8414 2 Ingall 2:06:50.8667 3 Johnson 4 Seton 2:06:52.2453 2:06:53.7520 5 Kelly 6 Ambrose 2:06:57.9130 7 S. Richards 2:07:02.0626 8 Perkins 2:07:17.5108 2:07:27.0167 9 Skaife 2:07:27.8080 10 Murphy 2:07:44.0337 11 Longhurst 12 Faulkner 2:07:55.3722 77 laps 13 Ashby 77 laps 14 Bargwanna 15 Mezera 77 laps 16 J. Richards 77 laps 17 Mecklem 77 laps 18 Tratt 77 laps 19 Tander 76 laps 20 Romano 75 laps 75 laps 21 Ellery 22 Ritter 74 laps 73 laps 23 Halliday 24 Larkham 72 laps 25 Jones 69 laps 26 Heath 66 laps 27 Holt 62 laps NC Radisich 50 laps DNF McDougall 71 laps DNF Lowndes 58 laps DNF Weel 42 laps DNF Fogg 42 laps DNF Canto 37 laps DNF Morris 21 laps DNF Besnard 5 laps DNF Forbes 5 laps DNF McConville 5 laps DNF Bowe Olaps DNS White, McLean

1:26.3094 1:26.3991 1:26.6428 1:26.5263 1:26.7437 1:26.3472 1:26.4581 1:27.0718 1:26.7542 1:26,3272 1:27.5467 1:27.2671 1:27.6763 1:26.8355 1:28.0578 1:27.8197 1:27.9537 1:27.6687 1:26.7730 1:29.0580 1:26.8052 1:29.6075 1:31.8495 1:27.3584 1:27.0182 1:29.5469 1:30.7369 1:26.4780 1:27.4955 1:25.8364 1:27.7855 1:29.2546 1:27.7474 1:27.5740 1:31.6301 1:31.9195 1:30.5214 N/A

Points: Bright 703, Skaife 628, Ingall 620, Johnson 608, Kelly 497, S.Richards 475, Seton 454, Lowndes 451, Ambrose 443, Murphy 411, Perkins 357, Bargwanna 353, Ellery 352, Tander 342, Longhurst 313, Faulkner 303, Ashby 259, Mezera 224, Larkham 214, Radisich 198, Tratt 189, Mecklem 180, Jones 165, Bowe 162, Morris/McDougall 142, J.Richards 136, Romano 134, Ritter 128, Halliday 116, Weel 110, McLean 108, Canto 92, White 75, Forbes 66, Besnard 61, Heath 56, McConville 54, Fogg 52, Holt 48.

40

Just a little lockup: Despite this, Johnson was briiiiant, going home with a second and a third. (PhoiobyNosiPapeiora) continued from page 39 he got onto round tyres and he recovered to fourth, ahead of the impressive Ellery, moreso because his own drink bottle went MIA after two laps, leaving him with cramps in the legs. He was also suffering from heat-related blisters on his heels, which were heavily bandaged for Sunday.

Tander was sixth, a solid run in traffic for much of the race (apart from the Kelly incident) while Bright took seventh. He tangled with Seton on lap 75, tapping the FTR car into a spin at turn 3. The rear bumper came off Seton’s car, landing under the diff and, with no wheels on the ground and hence no drive, Seton was going nowhere.

“I was up to the b-pillar,” said Bright in his own defence. “Glenn turned in and ‘bang’.”

But the marks on the #5 were all behind the rear wheel. Seton said he would be “absolutely disappointed” if there was no action taken. There wasn’t.

Behind came Bowe, who was there or thereabouts all day, Bargwanna, who made great progress, especially early in the race (before a drive-thru penalty for turning Bowe around), and Canto, whose back was playing up (a legacy of his Bathurst shunt) but who drove very neatly all day.

Race 2(78 laps) Overnight weather. rain The crowds gave way rolled to fine in to see the race, the scenario of which was set up on lap 1.

Ellery attacked at the hairpin for position, clocked Tander, who was stuck in the middle of the road. Larkham, Bowe and Canto were stranded, while Bright got

through, but only after tagging the stricken SuperCheap Falcon, Jason heading off with smoke pouring from a front tyre.

Out went the Safety Car and in came Brighty for attention to a guard - then again. Once the damage had been cleared, he was last, but at least the car was healthy and he was on the lead lap.

“We’ve done this before,” advised HRT engineer Matty Crawford on the radio.

“Full credit to the drivers who were crashing and putting out the Safety Car,” commented Bright later.

Lowndes was flying at the front from Skaife who was under attack from a Helix Ford - Johnson’s.

Junior took second on lap 3 and set off after Lowndes, while Ingall followed, Skaife obviously waiting for the race to unfold before attacking.

One guy under attack -from within - was Morris. After surging from 14th to sixth, the Big Kev car had fuel leaking into the cockpit and, after batthng on for a few laps, Morris found the fumes too much.

He pitted and collapsed, eventually being treated in the medical centre.

On lap 25, a decisive moment.

Tander and Canto got together at the last comer and the GRM Commodore was stuck, temporarily, in the middle of the road. HRT anticipated the Safety Car and in came Skaife and Bright for fuel.

Then Radisich, after clashing with Perkins, had the car go straight on into the tyres, prompting another Safety Car. In came the HRTs again for rabber to run to the flag. The cars in front had one or two stops left and it wasn’t hard to figure out what was going to happen ...

Lowndes made his stops on successive laps, leaving the order

Murphy(no stops), Richards(one, and a second straight after the next Safety Car), Tyler Mecklem (none).

Bright and Skaife. When Murphy pitted for fuel under green on lap 45, Bright led.

But Skaife and Lowndes were about to have problems of their own.

Skaifey missed a gear at Turn 7 and spun, resuming outside the top 10, and Lowndes had a damaged wheel and a slow puncture. After he pitted for a new wheel, he was behind Skaife on the road in 10th and chasing hard.

Real Hard. Lowndes went lm25.83s on lap 57, almost a second up on Bright’s fastest lap of Saturday and he double-zeroed in on the back of the red VX. Two laps later, he tapped Skaife at Turn 5, fired down the inside and rode over Skaife’s guard and spun backwards into the wall. He was out after reversing the car out ofthe way, but Skaife’s car, scarred but relatively healthy, kept going.

Bright and Ingall were home.

Rusty closing the gap over the last three laps, while Johnson really got motoring in the final 20 laps, passing Ambrose, Kelly and then, after two inside-outside/try-inside set-ups, Seton. Kelly headed for fifth from Ambrose, who ran out of grip, and Richards, while Perkins headed home Skaife, Murphy(who rode the wrong strategy) and Longhurst, who stayed out of trouble and used his head in Rod Nash’s Delphi Commodore for 11th.

Six races in Adelaide, five wins to HRT,three from last. The penny must drop soon; to win in the City of Churches, you have to cover their strategy.

Bright leads the championship from Skaife, Ingall and Johnson. If this, and Lowndes’s win, doesn’t get fans to Eastern Creek, nothing will, motorsport news

Book your tickets to the 2002 Clipsal 500 before June 30,2001 and pay the same price as tliis year. To cap it off, if you had grandstand tickets to the 2001 race, you can reserve the very same seats again.

(Or simply tell us where you’d like to be and if the seats aren’t re-booked by June 30, you’ll get your preference.)

We even give you the option of three easy payment instalments at no extra cost. Use the form below and post with your payment or credit card details to BASS SA, GPO Box 1269,Adelaide 5001;

A

or fax to (08) 8216 8956.

BOOKING PORM. Indicate stand and number of tickets below.

I wish to reserve the same seats I’ve had in 2001; or I wish to reserve the following seats (if available).

iW

11

No. of tickets

Stand

Cost’

Cliicane

$192.50 each

Senna/Chicane

$170.50 each

*

Pit Straight (section _

'SI

Hairpin

$137.50 each

Pirie Street

$126.50 each

Adelaide Straight

$126.50 each

) $137.50 each

Brabham Chrome

$108.90 each

Trackside

$82.50 each

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NEXT YEAR'S TICKETS AT THIS YEAR'S PRICES.

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Date:

l!!gg 131 246

Please note: 1. All mail is processed by BASS South Australia in order of receipt and seats will be allocated as close as possible to your request. 2. Preference will be given to patrons re-booking 2001 scats until June 30, 2001, when all scats not re-booked will be available to any patron. 3. Due to seat re-booking priority, tickets will be allocated and posted after June 30,2001. Part-payment tickets mailed after final payment.

4.Tickets cannot be exchanged or refunded after purchase under any circumstances.

5. Once submitted, this booking form cannot be altered. 6.‘Price Cap’ bookings close 5pm June 30, 2001.

00 2 Supported by Government of Sooth Australia

© CHA^W t-tr7>'SI-;Nl506/MS

bQM

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23 - 25 March Phillip Island 6 - 8 April Adelaide Street Circuit 11 -13 May Hidden Valley 8 -10 June Canberra Street Circuit 13 -15 July Calder Park 27 - 29 July Oran Park 10 -12 August Mallala 7 - 9 September Winton

16 Race Championship with 2 Races at every venue.

ifirww.formulatiolden.com

Formula 3000

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The Formula 3000year fieldaswas very different to last several teams failed to find the budgets needed and have dropped out or have decided not to continue in the series.

Notable amongst these were the McLaren Junior Team,Kid Jensen Racing(which sold its entries to Monaco Motorsport) and Fortec Motorsport. There was a lot of driver switching during the winter months but the top teams had some familiar names: Webber and Mario Haberfeld had become the Super Nova Racing drivers while its sister organisation Petrobras Junior Team had two new Brazilian boys: Antonio Pizzonia and Ricardo Sperafico, the reigning Itahan Formula 3000 champion.

Astromega also had a new line-up. with Giorgio Pantano being joined

by Indonesia's Ananda Mikola.

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T was a day to remember for Justin Wilson, but a day Mark Webber will want to forget.

After qualifying a lowly 10th, Webber raced brilliantly in Formula 3000's first championship foray outside Europe at Interlagos, only to lose second place after passing a car too early at a restart.

While Wilson, 22, became the first Briton to win an F3000 since David Coulthard eight years ago, Webber's subsequent 25s time penalty left him pointless in seventh.

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European Minardi picked up two men with F3000 experience, signing up Andrea Piccini and David Saelens, while Coca-Cola Nordic Racing held on to Wilson and Tomas Enge. The Prost Junior Team went for two new boys in Nicolas Filiberti and Gabriele Varano while Darren Manning stayed with Victor Maslov for another season with Arden Team Russia.

Helmut Marko's Red Bull Junior Team had a clear-out and hired Patrick Friesacher and Antonio Garcia while Durango took on Jaime Melo Jr to partner the littleknown Gabriele Lancieri. DAMS picked up Sebastian Bourdais after he was dumped by Prost and he was joined by America's Derek Hill, son of the 1961 World Champion Phil Hill.

The field was completed by Colon! Motorsport, which retained Fabrizio Gollin and hired Roderigo Sperafico (identical twin brother and with the same initial as the Petrobras Junior Team driver!).

KTR signed up Bas Leinders and Switzerland's Joel Camathias while Monaco Motorsport ran the little-known Justin Keen and Yann Goudy.

The Brazilian drivers obviously had a big advantage over the European visitors, most of whom had never seen Interlagos before, so it was not a big surprise to see four Brazilians on the front two rows of the grid. It was a surprise to see Melo on pole and the performance of the Sperafico twins was impressive, with Ricardo second and Roderigo third. Then came the much-touted Pizzonia.

The fastest of the international visitors was Enge who outquahfied Pantano, Wilson, Saelens, Haberfeld and a rather troubled Webber.

"I expected the first race to be a bit of a lottery because very few of the drivers had experience of the track," he said. "We could not get the balance right in qualifying and if you missed out on a fraction at a

No!

ad

#

'nlicom

Pom beats Aussie(had to happen one day): Justin Wilson, leading top, broke an eight year drought for British drivers in Formula 3000, while Webber, above, charged before being penalised out of second. (Photos by Sutton-lmages) 44

motorsport news

Formula 3 couple of the corners then you were history in a series that is as competitive as this is now."

The top 10 was completed hy Garcia.

Super Nova Racing's problems continued on Saturday when Haberfeld's hopes ended when his car failed to get going for the final parade lap and so he had to start at the tail of the field.

Melo made the best start and took the lead while behind him Ricardo Sperafico was punted off at the second comer by Pantano. This meant that a Safety Car was deployed while the Petrohras Junior Team car was dragged off the track. Pantano had to pit to have a new nose fitted.

When the Safety Car signal was given, Melo reacted rather dramatically and backed right off and, in a flash, three cars overtook him so that the order behind the Safety Car was Pizzonia, leading Roderigo Sperafico, Enge and Melo.

When the race restarted after five laps Enge lunged ahead of the remaining Sperafico and Melo was jumped by Wilson. Behind them Webber overtook Saelens to take sixth place. The order was then set and amusement was provided only by a string of stop-go penalties from the stewards and by the fact that the two Red Bull Junior Team cars managed to collide and put each other out. The same happened in one race last year with different drivers!

Further back, Pantano put on an impressive charge to move up to 14th as he recovered from his pit stop. One by one Enge, Pizzonia and Sperafico came in for their penalties and so Wilson moved into the lead with Melo second and Webber third until lap 24 when the Australian forced his way ahead.

Further down the order.

Manning moved to fourth place by passing Bourdais on lap 26 but he slipped backwards down the field in the closing laps and ended up eighth.

Webber was unable to do very much about Wilson's lead and so the Coca-Cola car won the race, Wilson spinning accidentally as he crossed the line and took his hands off the steering wheel to celebrate his triumph.

After the race the stewards decided that Webber had overtaken Saelens a fraction of a second before crossing the startline when the Safety Car pulled off and Webber was given a 25s penalty which dropped him out of the top six, promoting Melo to second, Bourdais to third, Saelens to fourth, new boy Camathias to fifth and Gollin to sixth.

Imola beckons. Webber and Super Nova will be well fired-up ...

13 Rprfl 2001

Winning start Courtney strikes on F3 debut

JAMES Courtney survived an eventful race to notch up a win in the first round of the British Formula 3 Championship at Silverstone.

After starting alongside polesitter Jamie Spence, Courtney's race got off to a less than ideal start when Spence missed a gear on the run to Copse. Courtney was forced to lift to avoid contact, allowing Paul Edwards to pass the leading pair in a spectacular move around the outside.

Takuma Sato also made it past Courtney on the first lap and proceeded to charge off in pursuit of Spence, dropping Courtney back to fourth. The Japanese driver tried an attack on Spence through Abbey on Turn 3, but the cars touched, sending Sato

spinning back to seventh and putting Spence out on the spot.

Courtney was now in second, and wasted no time in closing the gap to Edwards, who was fighting a lack of front-end grip. A few laps later, Edwards missed the apex at Abbey. Courtney seized his opportunity, swung around the outside of the Allan Docking Racing Dallara-Mugen, and exited the corner as race leader.

From that point on, a series of three successive fastest laps was sufficient to ensure Courtney of a win in his first F3 outing, and the first ever victory for Jaguar Racing.

Edwards, meanwhile, had

been forced to concede second to team-mate Andy Priaulx, who crossed the line 4.6s behind Courtney. Manor Motorsport's Derek Hayes also made it past Edwards late in the race to claim the final spot on the podium, after a storming debut drive from ninth on the grid.

In the second race, after qualifying fifth, Courtney was involved in contact with Martin O’Connell at Becketts in lap 1 and, from then on, had to fight hard to stay in the top 10.

Briton Matt Davies, who is struggling to get a budget to complete the season, won from Gianmaria BrunI, Hayes and Sato.

Davies leads the series on 26 points, while Courtney shares second with Bruni and Hayes on 24.

Get used to this, Poms!

Despite the fact that the British media didn't rate hint a contender, Courtney wmt on debut in F3. iPhdosh

45

Brazilian GP to Formula 1 with a chorus JUAN Pablo Montoya came offans singing his praises.

In the opening two races he did OK.But in Brazil he exploded on to the FI scene.

The Williams-BMW was right on the pace and Montoya used it. He barged Michael Schumacher out of his way and then held off the Ferrari star until Jos Verstappen wombled into the stoiy.

When the dust settled, the small crowd was left to ponder what might have been; what Montoya could have achieved had Verstappen not hammered him in the rear; what Ralf Schumacher, who made it an all-Schuey front row, might have done had Rubens Barrichello not driven into the other Williams on the first lap; what Mika Hakkinen might have done if he had managed to get his McLaren-Mercedes moving when the fights went out.

And,impressively, what BMW and Michelin, aided by the brains of Williams, have achieved in a remarkably short time since their return to the highest level ofthe sport.

And after that it was left to the also-rans to quibble over the victory.

David Coulthard won the day and moved to a solid second in the World

Drivers’ Championship.

Later, McLaren boss Ron Dennis described David’s drive as “impeccable”. He was right; it was.

Unfortunately for McLaren and the Scot, the win was completely overshadowed by the “What Ifs’in Sao Paulo.

The Arrows as team can usually be dismissed an irrelevance.

The car has a smaller fuel tank than most so, on occasion, it shows well but more often than not the cars fade at the end of a race. In Malaysia, Jos Verstappen had a good time and ran remarkably well in the wet but then he faded.

In Brazil the orange and black cars were trolling around in the midfield until the moment when Verstappen was lapped by race leader Juan Pablo Montoya in his impressive Williams-BMW. When Montoya braked for the next comer, Verstappen ran smack into the back of him. It was a pretty big accident but the groans in the Media Centre at Interlagos were not for the (fiterally)flying Dutchman.

The dep^ure of Montoya had ruined the possibility of a very real upset. WiUiams,BMW and Mfichefin had got their sums right. Neither McLaren nor Ferrari could touch

Montoya. It may not happen at every race this year, but Williams is a force to be reckoned with again.

The BMW engine is mighty and Michelin has done a really remarkable job for a company that has been out ofFI for 15 years.

The Williams was a rather different car from the one we saw in Australia and Malaysia. In those two races, the team was unable to put any more downforce on the car.

But after Kuala Lumpur the men in the windtunnel at Grove put their thinking caps on and switched around all the fiddly aerodynamic bits and pieces at the front end and suddenly there was a lot more downforce. How much it is hard to say but it must have been several percentage points because, suddenly, the car was right up there with the best ofthem.

Montoya looked like a man bound for pole position when he went off in qualifying on Saturday, causing Patrick Head to do a frustrated little dance and use a few words that you never hear in polite society.

Montoya was lucky that his car did not roll as it boimced across the gravel trap.

JPM was soon back in the pits continued on page 48

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If I could be like Mike: Juan Montoya stole the limelight and the lead at Interlagos when he out-Schumachered Schumacher at the restart, taking the inside at the Senna Esses. Jos Verstappen fixed his winning chances later in the race.

If I could be like Mika: David Coulthard out-thought and out-drove the opposition to take the win. But, with all the fuss about Montoya, did anyone notice? {Photos by Sutton-lmages)

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Brazilian GP continued from page 46 and into the spare car, which was set up for him, and he went straight out and took fourth on the grid.

There was writing on the wall. The fact that Ralf Schumacher was second on the grid was good for BMW.Williams but Montoya looked like the man setting the pace and this proved to be so on Sunday.

Michael Schumacher At the stai-t ofthe race,took pole off man well but brother Ralf stuttered away from the line with a pick-up problem. Mika Hakkinen,third on the grid in his much-improved McLaren, stalled.

And so it was Montoya who arrived at the first comer in second place. Behind him was the usual gaggle of screaming cars. They all made it through the first comer and, on the mn down the back straight it was pretty lively. And then, as they braked for the comer at the end of the straight, Rubens Barrichello ran straight into the back of RalFs Williams.

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The fact that Rail Schumacher was second on the grid was good lor BIVIW.Williams but Montoya looked like the man setting the pace and this proved to be so on Sunday"

And once again we had a car flying over the back of a Williams. In Australia, Jacques Villeneuve said that he felt that Ralf had braked early. Barrichello said the same in Brazil.

But it was not true either.

It was the end of a really appalfing day for Barrichello. His racecar had broken down when he was doing his recognition laps before fining up on , the grid and,so, the local j hero had to rush back and get to the spare (which was set up for Schumacher). It was all a bit of a msh and perhaps Rubens was not as cool as normal. Perhaps the excitement of being the local hero was getting to him.

Whatever the cause,the accident was a very violent one with one wheel from the Ferrari going high into the air. It landed without hurting anyone but once again the wheel tethers failed, which is worrying.

The accident, and the fact that the Hakkinen McLaren was sitting on the grid (miraculously untouched by 48

the advancing masses at the start), resulted in the Safety Car being sent out as the mess was being cleared away. Ralf went to the pits and the Williams men went carefully over the rear suspension to check that all was well. After five minutes he was sent out again, several laps down, and set the fastest lap ofthe race.

Later on, he spun out when the rain came.

TYRE TIME HSr GAR DRIVER B 1m13.780 1 Michael Schumacher D Marlboro Ferrari F2001 M lm14.030 2 Ralf Schumacher D Compaq BMW.Williams FW23 B 1ml4.122 Fin W6stMcLaren/MercedesMP4/16 3 Mika Hakkinen M 1m14.165 4 Juan Pablo Montoya Col Compaq BMW.Williams FW23 B 1m14.178 GB West McLaren/Mercedes MP4/16 5 David Coultbard B lml4.191 Br Marlboro Ferrari F2001 6 Rubens Barrichello Ita Benson and Hedges Jordan/Honda EJ11 B 1ml4.630 7 JarnoTrulli 8 Heinz-Harald Frentzen D Benson and Hedges Jordan/Honda EJ11 B 1m14.633 B lml4.810 D Red Bull Sauber/Petronas C20 9 Nick Heidfeld B lm14.924 Fin Red Bull Sauber/Petronas C20 10 Kimi Raikkonen B lm15.046 n Olivier Panis F Lucky Strike BAR/Honda 003 B lm15.182 12 Jacques Villeneuve Can Lucky Strike BAR/Honda 003 M 1m15.192 13 Eddie Irvine GB Jaguar/Cosworth R2 M 1m15.371 14 Luciano Burti Br Jaguar/Coswortb R2 M lml5.437 F Prost/Acer AP 04 15 JeanAlesi B lml5.657 Br Orange Arrows/Asiatech A22 16 Enrique Bernoldi B 1ml5.704 N Orange Arrows/Asiatech A22 17 Jos Verstappen M 1ml6.175 18 Giancarlo Fisichella Ita Mild Seven Benetton/Renault B201 M 1ml6,184 19 Fernando Alonso Sp Minardi/European PSOl M 1ml6.229 GB Mild Seven Benetton/Renault B201 20 Jenson Button M 1 ml6.520 21 Gaston Mazzacane Arg Prost/Acer AP 04 M 1 ml6.784 Br Minardi/European PSOl 22 Tarso Marques

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FORMULA ONE barrelling into the first comer,intent on taking the lead from Schumacher.

Michael tried to squeeze him out, but Juan Pablo kept coming and the two cars were suddenly side-by-side.

They touched slightly - perhaps iDrushed’is a better word - and then, in a flash, Montoya was ahead.

From then until the moment that Verstappen took Montoya off, the Colombian dominated the race.

Schumacher could just about stay with him but overtaking was impossible. Michael tried a few tricks in the slow comers where he had an advantage (despite what sounded hke a misfire) but, as soon as the Wilhams saw straight road, the BMW engine hurtled it forward out of danger. Matters were not helped by the fact that Michael had David Coulthard on his tail all the

time in the much-improved McLaren.

Montoya’s car was set for dry conditions. Coulthard admitted after the race that his car was a compromise because McLaren reckoned that it was almost certain to rain. Schumacher refused (rather grumpily)to say what settings he had been using. The odd thing was that Michael could not match Montoya in the dry. That might suggest a wet set-up, but when the rains came later in the race, the Ferrari was no match for Coulthard.

The car was not one thing or the other.

Despite this advantage, McLaren veiy nearly threw away the victoiy by leaving David out in the rain for too long. This meant that

when he rejoined with intermediate tyres he was behind Schumacher.

Before the rainstorm, David was clearly in control despite the fact that he was on a one-stop strategy and Michael was going for two stops. It was odd that Michael pitted as early as he did (on lap 25) but one must assume that he stopped because he had to.

It looked for a few brief moments that Michael would profit from the situation as he usually does but then he had a spin. It was not the same Ferrari we had seen two weeks earlier in Malaysia. Tlie majestic level of performance that we saw had disappeared and Michael was gmmpy about it.

After his spin, Michael was still continued ori page 50

Brothers up in arms: For the first time in history, two brothers sat on the front row of a Grand Prix, Bait’s Wiiiiams chaiienging Michaei’s Ferrari. The two had a chat about it iater...

That Peter Sauber’s a Genius: And his drivers ain’t bad, either.

Nick Fleideid and Kimi Raikkonen quaiified ninth and 10th, the German iater admitting that he ‘stoie’ the settings off the briiiiant rookie to set the time. {Photos by Sutton-lmages and Marsh/Bothwell)

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Brazilian GP continued from page 49 ahead but it was clear that he was going to struggle to keep David behind him, despite the fact that both men were on similar tyres. In the end David took the lead at the start of lap 50 when the pair arrived behind Tarso Marques’s Minardi at the first comer. David went for the inside of the Minardi, Michael went for the outside and the pair went either side ofthe Brazilian. The McLaren popped out ahead.

"Those who write ot( the Prost team are foolish because Jean Alesi might have been on the podium.

II

After that, David took off and Michael struggled. He went offfor a second time on lap 53 but kept it going and eventually he came home second. The result adds to his total of World Championship points but beyond that it was really rather a mystery. Had something broken in the car? It is not easy to say.

The lap times did some weird stuff. On lap 33 Michael was

lapping in lml7.249s. On lap 34 it was lml7.290s, then lml7.330s and lml7.308s. But on lap 37 Michael suddenly did a lml8.645s when traffic was not really an issue.

And then it looked as though Michael learned how to drive around the problem because his next lap was a lml8.368s and then a lml8.093s and on lap 40 he was backtolml7.398s.

It is a possible explanation.

But then why did Michael not mention it?

Coulthard duly led Michael home and that was it. No-one else was on the same lap.

Ohvier should third.Panis He had optedhave for abeen twostop race but had handicapped himself a bit with a slower than needed first lap which left him 13th.

After the Safety Car disappeared Olivier charged, passing Jean Alesi, Kimi Raikkonen, Nick Heidfeld and closing quickly on Jacques Villeneuve. Jacques soon disappeared into the pits with a differential problem and so was not in the running.

Olivier then took care of both the

continued on page 52

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Rubens is at it again: Lap 1, and Michael Schumacher leads Juan Montoya, below left, but the action was behind. Home town hero Rubens Barrichello clouted Ralf Schumacher in the tail on lap 1. The Ferrari is already damaged and out of control, above, and Schumacher just avoided hitting the Jordan of Heinz-Harald Frentzen, below. Once again, a wheel took to the air, bottom, but there was no danger this time.

Schumacher recovered, right, and treated the rest of the race as a test session, the German setting fastest lap in his FW23.

(Pholos by Sutlon-Images)

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Brazilian GP continued from page 50 Jordans and was third when he pitted on lap 28. He dropped back to eighth but was in a position to finish third when the rains came. It should have worked because the rain coincided with his need to go back into the pits.

But the team made a mess ofitwhich was blamed on the radios.

Villeneuve was in the pit when Panis arrived. To compound the disaster Jacques stayed there for twice as long as normal. And Olivier had to sit there too. His time in the pits ended up being(and wait for this) lm47s. Everyone else was in and out in 38s. One cannot afford to throw away 70 seconds in modem FI. “The opportunity was there,” said team boss Craig Pollock. “We didn’t manage to capitalise on it which means that we have to look at our own systems. I feel extremely sorry for Olivier because P3 was easily there to be had.”

Indeed it was.

However,ifthe result was not as good as it might have been there is no doubting the fact that the BAE was quick and seemed to have the measure ofthe Jordans on this occasion. And this is good news for BAE.Villeneuve finished the day in seventh place.

All thisto meant third Sauber. place went Nick that Heidfeld’s The German driver drove a steady race, shadowed for much ofthe time by his team mate Kimi Eaikkonen (who eventually spun out).

The team picked a one-stop strategy and said that it had worked out but it might have been a very different story ifJean Alesi’s first pit stop had not been a mess. Jean was running with the Saubers early on (which one would expect, given the fact that they are using the same engines) and he had gone for a twostop strategy but there was a refiielKng malfunction during his first stop and Jean lost 15 seconds.

This dumped him right back and he had to pick his way through the French kisser: Olivier Panis was dazzling, though BAR team-mate Jacques Villeneuve was unlucky.

Leading Light; Yep, that is a Wiiliams leading a Ferrari, Montoya iater getting ‘bossed’ by Jos Verstappen, which made winner Couithard’s fans most happy.

(Photos by Marsh/Bothwell and Sutton-lmages)

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backmarkers. He won back some of the lost time by being one ofthe first to pit but as the track dried he stmggled with the wet tyres and faded from sixth to eighth in the closing laps.

Those who write off the Prost team are foolish because Jean might have been on the podium.

The Jordan should have been third team as well -it was one of those races - but Frentzen’s solid performance ended when he was running third in the closing laps. His engine began to misfire.

Trulli’s race was compromised from the start as he had to go into the spare car because of a clutch problem. He then had further clutch problems in the race. He lost a couple ofseconds during his first stop because of a fuel rig problem.

When the rain came, he arrived behind Frentzen and had to sit around for 10 seconds longer than normal. It did not help that he chose wet tyres rather than intermediates.

And yet despite all of this he stiU managed to finish fifth.

In truth, World Championship points were there for the asking for those who sm-vived. Giancarlo FisicheUa helped himselfto the final one by overcoming the down-onpower Eenault engine by pitting early when the rain came. In the damp conditions- where horsepower is not such an issue -it was clear that the Benetton is not a bad car so when Eenault gets more grunt we can expect to see FisicheUa and Jenson Button doing rather better. Button had a miserable race with serious understeer and then an engine problem that resulted in a six minute pit stop. He finished 10th. motorsoori news

FORMULA ONE

What they said

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Q: How important were the conditions?

Do you feel it could have been the same result if it was all dry?

DC: I don't know. The fact is that the

race was what it was,so that's what we have to comment on. We took a decision to make some adjustments to the car on the basis of it being wet, because that's what we believed to be the case coming in to the second half of the race. And

RESUEfs Braiilian GR I iirri r4IHi

55 laps/304.865km -●(V

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 9 10 11 12 13

Coultharii Schumacher Heidfeld Panis Trulli Rsichella Villeneuve Alesi Marques Button Frentten Raikkonen Mazzacane

Retirements R. Schumacher Irvine Montoya Verstappen Burti Alonso Bernoldi Barrichello Hakkinen

71 laps 71 laps 70 laps 70 laps 70 laps 70 laps 70 laps 70 laps 68 laps 64 laps 63 laps 55 laps 54 laps

Ih39m00.834 16.164 1 lap 1 lap 1 lap 1 lap 1 lap 1 lap 3 laps 7 laps 8 laps S pin Clutch

Spin 54 laps 52 laps Spin Accident 38 laps Accident 37 laps Engine 30 laps Electronic 25 laps Hydraulic 15 laps Accident 2 laps 0 laps Stalled on Grid

Fastest lap: R. Schumacher, on lap 38,1:15.693 Drivers' points: M. Schumacher 26, Coulthard 20, Barrichello 10, Heidfeld 7, Frentzen 5, Panis 3, R. Schumacher 2, Trulli 2, Raikkonen I, Hakkinen 1, Fisichella 1, Constuctors’ points: Ferrari 36, McLaren-Mercedes 21, SauberPetronas 8, Jordan-Honda 7, BAR-Honda 3, BMW.Williams 2, Benetton-Renault 1.

INNOVATIONS Ceramic Innovations producers and suppliers of the

Official Australian Grand Prix Port %vww.cer«smir inmiviit iniis.rom.titt

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13 April 2001

Throughout the early part of the race Tarso was able to keep ahead of his team-mate Fernando Alonso (local knowledge probably helped) and Alonso disappeared with an electrical problem at one third distance.

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Minardi was only other team to getthe a car home and Tarso Marques was delighted with ninth. It was even better as he had achieved that in the T-car after his own misbehaved.

Jaguar neither car.

Irvine’sfinished hopes were ruined before the start when his crew were still working on his car after the 15 second signal before the start of the parade lap. That meant a stop-go penalty. He took advantage of the rain storm to climb back to sixth place but then screwed up by spinning. Luciano Burti went out with an engine problem.

And for the record, thewith second Arrows retired early hydraulic problems, leaving Enrique Bernoldi to watch as Verstappen demolished the other car - and the hopes of the people at BMW Williams.

There after are the 14 dominance races to go of the and, Perraris in the early races, the signs are there at the Party of Two - Ferrari and McLaren - is about to be invaded by the troops from Grove and Munich - aided by a Colombian and a German.

The wide-open sweeps of Imola always provides great atmosphere and drama. The rest of the season, starting in ‘San Marino’ next weekend, promises much.

that made it pretty difficult for me to hang in there initially, but I thought I was keeping quite close given that I was on the one-stop strategy.

Clearly Michael was on the same strategy, but I was going lap after lap waiting for the rain, and the team was saying,"Here it comes, here it comes," and it came. So that was a big relief, because we could have been sorry if it stayed dry for the whole race.

Q: You went an extra lap almost You said just now that you didn't want to be the first to stop. Why was that? Why did you wait the extra lap?

DC: We just wanted to be absolutely sure what was going to happen with the weather conditions.

The team was waiting to tail me with the weather reports, and they came on when I came past the pits saying, "We think it will rain for 10 minutes." So I said, "Let's wait, one lap." We did - and, clearly, Michael gained time on that one lap-butwhen I came out,the carwas working well and I was able to take advantage of the car.

Q: Michael, first of all a very early stop for you as well, obviously. Were you basically on a two-stop strategy?

MS: Yes. Q: Having gone as far as you did in the dry conditions, would you have preferred to have dry?

MS: Actually I was hoping for the wet patch, but... I was behind David and he had done his pit stop and I had to do one more pit stop, so the only chance was to hope for rain; which came, but did not workout this time tor us.

The carwasn't really working in the way I would like it and, as you saw, I had a couple of offs, which is unusual for me in these conditions, but there are certain limits and the car wasn't really prepared forthose circumstances.

Q: Did you go for a compromise setting.

like David?

MS: Yes and no.

Q: Very precisel So was yours, in a way, therefore a guess in the wrong direction? Isthatwhat you're saying?

MS: Why don't you ask some different questions?

Q: Okay, so you're not going to tell me.

MS: No. Q: Nick, well done. Congratulations. It's nice to see you here. You had quite a battle early on; in the early stages you had quite a bunch of guys behind you, Olivier Panis coming through as well.

Tell us about that.

NH: Well, I started to do my best, but a couple of guys were able to overtake.

KImi was following me quite close as well, and there's nothing else too special about that.

Q: Then, in the wet conditions, were you on intermediates as well?

NH: Yep, I was on intermediates.

Q: And how much had you set your car up for wet conditions?

NH: Not at all. We went for a full dry set-up. We knew that there was a chance for rain, but we thought it was quite small and just went for a dry setup.

Q: After the result in Australia and this race here, are you redefining your sights?

NH: Well, obviously, as a racing driver you always have to believe in yourself, and I did that all the time. Obviously it's a lot more fun this year. To be able to go in the points, I guess it's got to be an exception this year to actually be on the podium, but definitely I'm going to do my best to get back here as often as possible.

Q: San Marino's always been a good track for Sauber.

NH: Yes, I was surprised how quick the car was here, because most other teams were testing.

Unfortunately we haven't been testing, but we got a couple of more parts from the wind tunnel which seem to be working okay and also it's a completely different circuit to the first two circuits, so we're looking in good

shape.

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glowing brakes and, all that's associated with raci'ng-ih the dark, didn’t really come off with such a strung-out field and only a handful of cars which were genuinely capable of winning the race.

“I'd never raced at night before, but it didn’t seem tO' make any difference,” said Stokell, who sat on pole for the race, nearly a I- .tires='i|well'as two Safety Car second clear of Ferrari rival Mark V pew^s'was tipped pn its head No'ske. , y ■., iby aricain'shower, making, things ? ..'difficult for ail drivers/partieularly ‘‘It was really hard driving! oh ■ -Ponsideringthe irase was ciiiiii! at slicks, but «Ge we put on our 6.3(lpm'bn; Satutday :night with ● Pirelli wet^es, the ear was mormal! street liahtincirmakiriQ ^tastic,” said Stokeil, who things even -more' difficult. ^ade his first-stop on-lap eight of . Defending Nations ®up 46 but stayed pn slicks before Champion Jim Richards took his . switching \q wets on lap 1.§ when :©Ti Porsche to secendibut the qenditions got even worse. couldnT catch: the Lambo in. the With the race being: run In night, it was perhaps a little race’s closing stages, ^tokell _ movfng away at times'by fout^'-' surprising that there had been no seconds a lap. Dominic ©enlhca night-time practice or qualifying to aid drivers in becoming steered! the TN’^J3, to third accustomed to the conditions. place, a lap dov^ While Stokell’s Diablo went With a field of just 16 cars, only nineJjQjshed, a total of four laps from strength to strength, even in coveihg the strung-out field. The the wet weather, the Prancing attraction of a night race, with the Horse Racing stable of six cars

^PiK^K^StSkiell kept Lamborghini P^tai|4;ft4ad of the Nations Cup r^j|k^egpi^^!hrA[delaide, the new ^5^,modeiGfft-Diablo a winner In f^Jhe;90>minute dpehingir^^^ i^'^ttheadOi;chanigl©^^^^^ ;^^e(|r'ies>' . . ^.'Tihe^^&^iwhigh featisired itwo .

54

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was cut down to just two finishers.

Craig Baird, guesting for the weekend and driving alongside Maher Algadri, drove the majority of the distance before Algadri crashed at the chiGane in the closing-stages of the race and limped home to eighth.

Baird had earlier felt there was sometliing wrong with the car, though it was just that the team had forgotten to check the pressure of the wets! fhe things that get forgotten when you run six ears!

Noske’s race ended with an oil pressure problem after a spin which cost him plenty of time,, while Martin Wagg’s Porsche made perhaps the most spectacular exit.

The former Porsche Cup star, who had Warren Luff along to share the Co-driving duties, launched his way off the chicane Coming onto Brabham Straight, ending up bouncing off the tyre barrier with heavy front left damage following brake failure.

Sam Newman was another to taste the wall in another of the Ferraris atter having, what must be said; was an impressively solid run.

Peter Fitzgerald and Tony Quinn ended up fourth and fifth though not on the lead lap, while Jim Cornish led the Ferraris home with a solid and reliable run to sixth.

Fitzgerald had organised for the Stone Brothers Racing team to carry out the pit stop tasks but the Pirtek crew was busy, off fixing Marcos Ambrose’s car for Sunday’s race, leaving Ross Stone and wife Dianne to carry out the duties!

Points: stokell 16, Richards 12, Beninca 10, Fitzgerald 8, Quinn 6, Cornish 5.

motorspon news

5

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ID^Sl^Pf^RTS s

D D

a

by AARON NOONAN HOLDEN Young Lion Rick Kelly extended his lead in the Australian Drivers Championship at Adelaide, the Mildura-hased driver taking a win and a second behind Birrana team-mate-for-theweekend,Simon Wills.

Wills retired from race one and carved his way through the field in the second, taking over the lead when NEC’s Stewart McColl had a spin and fell back to fourth.

Qualifying

Victory can’t always be insured: Jim iHiehards, the rain^meister himself, eouldtii-’t ealch; Stokell, while the flock of Ferraris, below, had a variety of diiamas.

(Photos by Peter Bury atxl DiA Klynsmith)

The session wasn’t even five minutes old when it was redflagged. Emerson Newton-John stuffed the NEC 95D into the wall at the Senna Chicane, ripping the right-hand side off it. Although he didn’t get out of the car for a while, the American was uninjured.

“I did a 180 straight into the wall,” reported ENJ. “1 thought I clipped the first little left turn kerb but(Alan) Gunsaid he thought I lost it before the kerb, so I’m confused what happened.”

Wills was simply in the groove as expected. In the ex-Stevenson car, the Konica V8 Series pointsleader spoke of being down on power in practice, but a lm20.90s in qualifying proved that it didn’t really matter and he had pole.

Murchison was second and looking like the best of the rest, albeit a full second off the Ki-wi. He ended up starting at the back of the pack when the Hocking Eeynard 98D was found to he six kilos too light. Murcho was therefore disqualified and banished to the

arid;stiN: take tne rGurid'

"I'm confused what happened It

-Emerson Newton-John back of the grid.

Kelly wasn’t far off the Hocking driver in third, while Stewart McColl flew the flag for NEC in : fourth, making it to the round thanks to support from Motorola, Marsh and Eaceart.

Chris Staff was again left behind

by Murchison in fifth, while Gurr couldn’t repeat his strong Friday practice form, thanks to a severed brake line from debris from the Newton-John shunt and had to settle for sixth, with NewtonJohn’s third lap good enough for seventh.

Race 1(15 laps)

With the field down to 11 cars after various qualifying dramas, Saturday’s race one really was shaping up as a Wills benefit.

He surged into the lead and pulled away from Kelly but the

l *3

—W

1

He’s the champ for a reason: Wills returned with blistering pace, {Photo by Dirk Klynsmith) smashing the lap record in race two.

youngster began to close the gap, though it was through a Wills problem rather than pure Kelly brilliance.

The thread stripped on the holt which secures the rear suspension to the geai-box and Kelly went through to lead with McColl hot in pursuit, some 2.2s behind, though not fast enough to win.

There was daylight back to Gurr, who had an early dice with Staff until the Queensland-based Kiwi retired with an engine failure.

Team-mate Murchison also ended up a mid-race clutch-related retirement after a slow start from the back of the grid, opening the door for last year’s Silver Star champ,Peter Hill, to take fourth position in the M-ONE-11 Eeynard.

Kelly got the jump on McColl and led Sunday’s race from the start but had a severe tank-slapper of a spin at the Senna Chicane starting lap two, handing the lead to McColl.

The 21-year-old then had to fend off the charging Wills and had it pretty much under control until lap seven when he spun.

Having been covering the inside of the corner to fend off Wills, McColl hit a bump which accidently made him bump the gearshift to neutral and quickly grab second, the momentum shift enough to spin.

From there. Wills was unchallenged and racing himself.

He reset the lap record on five consecutive laps, leaving the mark at lml9.955s, while Kelly faught his way past Gurr to grab second.

Newton-John made it to the race with a multi-coloured assortment of replacement pieces, but ended up in the wall after running off on oil from Terry Clearihan’s Ealt.

Hidden Valley is the next stop in May. Points: Kelly 75, McCoU 50, Hill 34, Murchison 26, Gurr 24.

55

GTP/V8 BRutes/Celebs

Brawn versus blowers

HOLDEN and Mitsubishi shared the honours in the opening round of the Australian GT-Production Car Championship at Adelaide, with Philip Polites(HSV GTS) and defending Champion Mark King sharing the wins.

Polites, returning to Australia after a stint in British Formula Ford, was declared the winner of race one after it was red-flagged in his HSV GTS, which was built and prepared by Frank Lowndes.

Subaru driver Scott Jacob rolled his WRX to bring out the red flag, while team-mate Grant Kenny came to grief in qualifying with a fire which ended a shocker of a weekend for the team.

Bob Hughes (in a brand new Lancer Evo VI) and King chased the 300kW beast to the line, though the sedan rookie was able to hold on.

“For our debut in the series we couldn’t have asked for more.

Whatever comes in tomorrow’s second race will be a bonus,” said Polites, who continued a unique streak. He won his first kart race, his first open wheeler race and

now his first sedan race!

Unfortunately for him, King was too strong in Sunday’s second race, with Hughes again second and Polites beaten for third by the Subaru of Brett Peters.

“I’ve raced on the Adelaide street circuit quite a few times and have learned how to set up the Mitsubishi, but the Commodores are heavy and hard on their brakes here,” said King.

In the Poolrite High Performance Class (Class B), Anthony Robson scooped the points lead in a Toyota MR2, while the debut of the VW Beetles in the hands of Tim Leahey and Matt Coleman were hampered by brake problems.

The cars were nobbled with an extra 100-plus kilograms of lead as well as smaller brakes even before they had turned a racing wheel, leaving Leahey out of brakes after two laps in race one and in the wall.

“I can’t believe how the cars have been nobbled without even running,” exclaimed Leahey.

Points: King 25, Hughes/Polites 24, Peters 13,Alexander 12, Kirkham 9.

-AARON NOONAN

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ADELAIDE SUPPORTS

V8 BRutes debut in style

The Iceman: Damien

The defending champ: Mark King started his defence in perfect fashion, while Leahey's Herbie Bug had no brakes.

(Photos by Chris Carter and Dirk Klynsmith)

and the V8 BRutes turned on a show.

PROCAR’S new ‘V8 BRute’ category debuted in style at Adelaide, with three non championship races gaining plenty of attention.

Featuring 10 V8 Holden SS and Falcon XR8 utes, the field was littered with recognisable names, including Nathan Pretty, Damien White, Pirelli man Rod Wilson and Network Ten’s Grant Denyer.

In a unique system, drivers draw their grid positions, rather than have them based on qualifying times, with the wins going to Wilson, White and Gary

MacDonald.

Pretty was lucky to even run.

His car was crashed into while on the back of a trailer while on the road and repair work meant he missed race one.

Denyer too had a damaged car after brake failure in the second race. He aimed the VIP Pet Foods Falcon at Wilson In a bid to slow down before hitting the wall heavily on the run to the final hairpin. The jockey-sized racer emerged unscathed, though you could say he got a good look at the ‘Trackside’...

-AARON NOONAN

Nat, Tat and Jill

ADELAIDE’S podiums were nearly a Lowndes/Johnson-fest all weekend at the Clipsal 500, with Natalie Lowndes and Jill Johnson starring in the Ford Laser Celebrity Challenge.

Lowndes was clearly the ‘gun’of the field and was never headed in the five lap race, with Johnson a strong second until pole vaulting superstar Tatiana Grigorieva pulled off a huge out-braking manoeuvure to steal the spot in the race’s dying stages.

“Slow in, fast out is what the instructors were telling me so I had to change my plan!” she said.

All the celebs were equipped with the new model Ford Laser, painted in V8 Supercar warpaint to correspond with their V8 counterparts and some of them weren’t afraid to use it.

Cheyne Coates (she of Madison Avenue fame) and Tania Zaetta ended up in door-smashing contest, which must have pleased their ‘mentors’Steve Ellery and Brad Jones no end!

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Forest Rally

T

HE battle for the Australian Rally Championship has seen honoxu's shared between Toyota’s Neal Bates and Subaru’s Possum Bourne.

Suspension and gearshift problems stopped the defending Champion on day one of the two day Respect Yourself Forest Rally in WA,but Bates struggled to stay with the Kiwi on day two as the new Subaru showed it will be the car to beat in 2001.

Centred around Busselton(two hours south of Perth)the rally produced plenty of surprises for the Subaru team, with Cody Crocker losing bags of time on day one with a punctime, giving Ed Ordynski the Group N win while privateers diwyed up the spoils behind.

The rally started with a promotional stage around the seafront areas of Busselton, with Bates building a 19s lead after the two shots at the 1.5km stage.

Bourne was suffering gear selection problems as he came to gi-ips with the all-new sequential shifter in the P2000 Subaru and spun at the beachfront hairpin.

While thousands turned out to watch the Mickey Mouse stage, the real rally started on Saturday as the crews trekked 50 kms inland to Nannup and the pine and native forests surrounding the town.

Bourne blew Bates away on the first two stages, the Corolla driver admitting he had made the wrong choice of Michelin.

After two forestry stages Bourne had washed away Bates’s margin to lead by 2s.

The Group N battle was intriguing as Crocker grabbed fastest oil the first forestry stage to lead by 4s over a resurgent

Sharing tr

Toyota's Neal Bates and Subaru's Possum Boui Championship opener, the Respect Yourself

n itr.

Is that ‘Sport IVO’: Bates and Taylor took the honours on Day 1 before the Poss and the Stace fought back on (Photo by Steven Baker) Sunday, the two WRC cars splitting the spoils in the west, Ordynski, who seemed more at ease with the Michelin-shod Lancer.

However, on the start line of the second forestry stage, Ordynski dropped the clutch and:then had clutch of the Lancer slip for

virtually the rest of the day.

“I just had to back off a bit and drive it quietly otherwise it was just slipping too badly,” said Ordynski.

Stewie Reid was having a battle royal with Dean Herridge who had started slowly, easing himselfinto task and coming to terms with the new tyre package which he had not previously driven on. Reid was faster on the first three stages but then Herridge found the groove while Reid

Ed at work: Ed Ordynski had to nurse his Grp N Mitsubishi but still shared class honours with Cody Crocker.

(Photo by Jon Thomson)

had a multitude of problems,from turbo boost to flat tyres.

Bourne had a 5s lead going into the rally’s sixth stage but lost more than two minutes before dropping his left front into a culvert, which pushed one of the struts through the bonnet of the new car. This handed Bates a lead of around lm49s.

Undaunted, Bourne staged a charge, pulling hack 20 seconds on the next stage and gaining another 7s on SS9 before finishing the day with a stage win at the 0.87km Nannup Oval Super Special Stage.

Things were not going well for the Subaru factory cars, as Crocker also had misfortune tear an almost certain Group N win from his grasp. A flat tyre lost him three minutes and dropped him from second outright down to eighth.

But Crocker also staged a magnificent fightback, clawing back 45s and four places to finish the day in fourth, 17s behind Ordynski and just 16s ahead of

Herridge.

Bates took victory by 40s in the motorsport news

n

ARC

e Respect

-ne shared the honours in the Australian Rally Forest Rally in Perth. JON THOMSON reports

selection system arising as the crew were about to leave the first service just prior to the opening stage of the day. Bates had to complete the first two stages with the problem before it could be fixed. By then, he was 44s behind the kiwi.

First car out of the fight on Sunday morning was racing convert Warwick Rooklyn, whose Smeg Daihatsu had an alternator fail on the transport out from Busselton.

Ordynski and Crocker were again separated by less than a cigarette paper after the opening stages. Ordynski’s Mitsubishi had a 2s margin over Crocker’s Subaru.

But Crocker turned the tables on the second stage, but only by Is, leaving Ordynski leading the Group N fight.

Herridge and Reid continued their battle from the previous day, Reid leading Herridge by 13s heading to he third stage of the day.

It appeared Bourne was in an aggressive mood as he attacked the next trio of stages, ripping another ; 40s from the Toyota as Bates struggled to find an answer.

“There is nothing we can do,” said Bates.“He is simply faster than us and I can’t go any faster.”

Bourne held an almost unassailable lead into the final two stages with a lm24s advantage over Bates.

Meanwhile, Crocker had clawed his way back into the Group N lead, taking 8s off Ordynski over the next three stages to enter the final regroup in third outright, 7s ahead of the Mitsubishi driver.

Behind the two works drivers,

of Crocker, with Herridge in fifth from Steven Shepheard and Osamu Yamaguchi.

Steve Winwood was back in form, taking the Aussie Car Class with relative ease beating home the Commodore of fellow South Aussie Andrew Krieg and Paul Pywaara’s Holden Ute, which suffered some problems during the

Day 1 Saturday

Day 2 Sunday

1 Bates/Taylor Toyota Corolla WRC 1:22:56 2 Bourne/Stacey Subaru Impreza WRC 1:23:36 3 Ordynski/Stewart Mitsubishi Lancer 1:26:22 1:27:39 4 Crocker/Foletta Subaru Impreza 1:27:55 5 Herridge/Carlton Subaru Impreza 1:28:30 6 Reid/Murphy Mitsubishi Lancer

1 Bourne/Stacey Subaru Impreza WRC 1:14:15 Toyota Corolla WRC 1:15:50 2 Bates/Taylor 1:17:08 3 Crocker/Foletta Subaru Impreza 1:17:19 4 Ordynski/Stewart Mitsubishi Lancer 1:19:43 5 Herridge/Carlton Subaru Impreza 1:21:53 6 Thompson/Moscatt Mitsubishi Lancer

Points: Bates and Bourne 36, Ordynski and Crocker 22, Herridge 16, Reid and Thompson 6.

Next round: June 16/17 Queensland.

ARC Round 1 Respect Yourself Forest Rally

Day 2 fter his woes. Bourne burst

A

hack into the fray early on Day 2, absolutely blitzing Bates with stunning pace that sent an ominous signal of what could be a very one-sided championship this year.

I got in the car this morning and said,‘to hell with this, I need to attack’ and I just went for it and it seemed the harder I went the

line lm35s ahead of the Toyota.

Crocker was lml8s further back

the penultimate stage.

This allowed 19-year-old Sydney driver Mark Thompson to bring his Mitsubishi Evo V home in sixth place, showing his huge potential and talent.

more comfortable the car felt,” said Bourne

13 April 2001

stage to edge ahead with a 2s margin.

The final two stages were mere formality for Bourne as he eased off slightly, only gaining another 11s from Bates to cross the finish

in third outright, besting Ordynski by 11s.

The Reid versus Herridge battle went the Subaru driver’s way when the Queenslander came unstuck and dropped 6m 35s on

day.

Bates did have problems, a hydraulic leak from the gear

Herridge and Reid are still neck and neck, with Reid winning the

Into the night: Herridge battled Reid all weekend for fifth. (Phoioby jonThomson)

The battle for the Super Series and the Drivers’ Championship starts again in Queensland in early June and with both outright and Group N locked together and even the battle will start from scratch.

59

Gearbox woes don’t stop Possum IF there is a weak link in

the new P2000 Impreza of Possum Bourne, it may be the gearbox.

At the moment. Bourne does not have a spare and, after the dramas he suffered on the opening day in Perth, that could be the Achilles heel of the machine if it has one.

The Kiwi had problems adapting to the sequential shift of the new car and knocked the teeth off some of the dogs, causing a few gear selection problems.

Photo by Stevm fiak4ji

Re-tyred, hurt: Dean Herridge battled on after Michelin knocked him back on running their tyres. (Photo by sieven Bakao

Michelin says non’ to Herridge

by JON THOMSON

Who let the dogs out: Bourne struggled with his sequential box.

The five-times champ spun the car in the Busselton street stage and had trouble finding neutral in the new 'box, costing him dearly.

On Saturday evening a change of gearsets was undertaken in the end of day service.

Murray Brown, who was managing Bourne's team in the absence of Simon Curry, said the change was to "help the boys learn the gearbox" and that "the team has no spare just some replacement bits".

Odd,then, that the practice came with such a degree of urgency and with team minders attempting to keep photographers at bay.

- JON THOMSON 60

A TYRE supply drama erupted on the day before the start of the Forest Rally when new semi factory Subai-u driver Dean Herridge was refused supply of Michelin rubber he had tested on and was ready to use.

None of the players were willing to say to much but it is clear that a rival manufacturer applied pressure to Michelin in France to stop the satellite Subaru team, operated by Les Walkden, buying the French rubber.

Michelin competition man on the ground Trevor Sheumack broke the news to Herridge on Friday of the rally, forcing the WA driver to seek alternatives.

Bridgestone was a possibility, however Pirellis were

the final choice, forcing the young driver to re-learn the car and its handling on the first few stages.

“I had orders from above not to sell them the Michelin rally tyres,” was all Sheumack was prepared to say.

None of the players were prepared to make comment about the situation and who exactly might have applied the pressure.

Mitsubishi Ralliart has switched to Michelin rubber in Australia this year after years on Yokohama,joining Neal Bates on the same brand. Both of the works teams apparently still pay for their t3rres, but at a discount rate. Mitsubishi is also rumoured to have promised to fit Michelin tyres as original equipment on 1400 of its Magnas over the next year in order to secure access to the rally rubber.

Ten cranks up coverage More

Rally man: Bill Woods will be busy In the Super Series. (Photo by MN Digital)

TEN'S presence was a big step up from TV coverage of the ARC last year, with more camera crews, including steady cams and a helicoptermounted unit.

A satellite uplink truck was parked in the main street of Nannup (where the rally service park was located) all weekend and Ten presenters were thick on the ground, with Bill Woods, John Smailes and Allison Drower all on hand along with a team of producers.

But it seems even with a

for ARC

massive team, things get missed. One cameraman standing on the corner where Cody Crocker suffered a puncture had no inclination to run the 100 metres to capture the drama of Crocker and co driver Greg Foletta changing the wheel.

And, while he led Group N for much of the second half of day one, Ed Ordynski did not have a camera in his face until he was almost ready to leave service at the end of day two.

- JON THOMSON moiorsport news

RALLY NEWS

hiternational ARC?

by JON THOMSON

A PASSING comment from five times Australian Rally Champion Possum Bourne could lead to our national rally championship becoming an international series as early as 2002.

Bourne’s idea was taken up

by Australian rally Commission Chairman Garry Connolly and embraced by ARCom as a way of bringing a wider spectrum of outright contenders to the series.

Currently the series is seen as a two-horse race between the Toyota World Rally Car of Neal Bates and Bourne’s Subaru WRC. “It was a throw-away line by Possum but it got us thinking that, perhaps,this was the way to open the series up to more World Rally Cars, drivers from around the Asia Pacific and to deliver a better TV spectacle,” said Connolly.

“We acknowledge there is a perceived problem at the moment, with lack of outright competitors, and this could be the way to fix that problem.

“The British and French Rally Championships are both International championships and are viewed by the works teams as a way of discovering and trialing young talent away from the World Championship.

The Australian Championship could fulfil that role in this part of the world,” he said.

“The downside would be a problem with local‘PRC’ homologated machines including the Aussie Cars but we have had some very promising discussions with the FIA on this matter,” he added.

“The idea still has to be bedded down but we believe it wiU be revenue positive for organisers and bring an awful lot of money into the Championship as weU as creating opportunities for vehicle preparers who could provide rally lease or service facilities to visiting drivers and teams.

The ongoing weakness of the far-flung A-PAC series could provide the idea of an International Australian Championship with the added fuel to make it a success.

13 April 2001

roam,

i

Jump for Joy: Could we start to see APac regulars in all ARC events in the future?

Yn

n

Colin staying

... but he admits he may be eut of contention in 2001 COLIN McRae is not going to leave Ford - but he may have given up on winning the 2001 World Rally Championship.

The Scot, who has failed to finish all three of the WRC events held this season, says he will stick with the blue oval, despite his run of outs.

"There have been stories in the press that I'm thinking of leaving Ford," said the 32-year-old.

“Obviously, things aren't going well, but I'm not thinking about leaving."

There had been discussion in the international media that McRae was thinking of moving for next season, but Malcolm Wilson, who runs Ford's WRC program from his M-Sport

headquarters in Cunnbria, England, has reaffirmed his commitment to the former world champion.

"Everybody here is totally committed to getting Colin back on the winner's rostrum. We've traced the [Catalunya Rally] problem, but it was just unfortunate that his car wouldn't go any further."

All three Focuses stopped in the Spanish event with fuel pressure problems.

However, McRae has admitted that, with nine events remaining in the season, his title aspirations are virtually over.

"I'm beginning to think I'll give up on this year,” he said. "We are just having a really bad run at the moment and things seem to be going against us."

61

d

‘

Through the e As the Speedwayseason draws to a close, Motorsport News thought it was time to delve through the photos we've collected over the summer and put together this pictorial ‘squizz'ofseason 2000/2001 from the tracks ofAustralia.

moiorsporinews

SPEEDWAY

lens lye of the ✓Ira

Clockwise from above: Brooke Tatnell had another stellar year with yet another World Series Sprintcar victory; junior flagman Marcus Hocking got busy waving off a field of Sportsmans at Avalon; Robbie Farr made the clay of Parramatta City Raceway his own with a number of victories late in 2000 in addition to his win in the Australian Sprintcar Open; Western Australian Joe Little found a novel way of inspecting the clay at Parramatta in his Speedcar; there must have been something in the clay at Parramatta over the summer because John Mineef went flying as Mark Blyton (#82) watched on. Donny Schatz(bottom left) did nothing but scoop cash during his visit to Australia, winning the Grand Annual Classic at Warmambool in addition to the CAT 50,000 and a pile of other events; Adam Clarke won the Australian Speedcar Championship to become Aus #1; while the Rush family continued their racing involvement, Garry Jnr a winner atPCR. (Photos by Warren Bridce. Brett Swanson. John Monis/Mpix and Paris Charles)

Chasing the trail Easter is approaching and forsouthern Sprintcar foliowers that means the 2001 Easter Trail.

MaxDumesnyis an unbackable favourite for the ; % three night event if'.;-.

GmFFROUNDS previews the Line ‘em up and drive ‘em hard: The traditional Easter Trail is set to take in Avalon, Borderline and Premier action n Speedways over three consecutive nights of racing.

(Pholo by Ian Robinson)

AX Dumesny looks set to do something he likes to do each Easter - crucify his opposition and walk away with the silverware from the 2001 Easter Sprintcar Trail.

The two-time Australian Sprintcar Champion will again be the one to beat.

He'll be against 40 drivers all vying for a share of the total of $100,000 in prizemoney on offer along the southern coast of Australia in this annual event.

Three huge nights of Sprintcars will be hatched across Victoria's west coast and over the South Australian border with teams looking to hop into some of the lucrative cash on offer in the 22nd running of the trail.

The A-main winner of each round will receive $3000 while a $10,000 series bonus will also be decided, with the winner grabbing $5000 for their efforts.

Dumesny, a two-time Australian Sprintcar champion, is the driver that again looms as the one to beat for this year's overall honors. Of a possible 66 Easter rounds contested since 1980, Dumesny has won 22.

When Dumesny cracked his maiden trail victory in the 1984 Melbourne Speedbowl round at Brooklyn he began his domination.

Last year, by virtue of two wins and a third at Warrnambool when he charged from 13th on the grid, Dumesny scooped the pool for the bonus overall money.

Mother Nature has also hindered Dumesny winning series honours, with fickle autumn gripping the Shipwreck Coast of Victoria during this religious season.

Since 1991 the Warrnambool leg has been washed-out on six occasions due to severe storms and torrential rain.

Racing will again commence

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64

at Avalon International Raceway, Lara, on Good Friday, then cross over the South Australian border to Borderline Speedway, Mount Gambier, the night after before winding up at Warmambool's Premier Speedway on April 15.

Dumesny's opposition this year could come from tvvo drivers that have climbed onto the podium with regularityDavid Anderson and Robbie Farr.

Trevor Green has secured a drive in the Cobden-based Walsh Motorsport machine driven earlier in the summer by Tommy Tarlton, and is expected to mount a strong challenge.

Others expected to challenge this year are Darren Jensen, , Stephen Bell, David Murcott, SRA Series Champion Mike Van Bremen, Jeff Judd, Cameron Gessner, Peter Attard, John Shore and New Zealand's Kevin Moore.

Heathcote back IN a collaborative effort with the Victorian Speedcar Drivers Association (VSDA), 16-time state titleist Wayne Milbnrn will co-promote a meeting at Heathcote Park Raceway on April 28 featuring 360ci Sprintcars and Midgets.

“The Victorian 360 Sprintcar Championship and the Beasley Memorial or another major race for the midgets (Speedcars) will be the featured events on the night,” said an excited Milburn, who is having his first attempt at Speedway promotion.

Apart from promoting the meeting, Milburn will also compete in the 360 Championship in his familiar #2 JSR, which he hopes to be able to re-number #1 at the end of racing.

2001 WORLD OF OUTLAWS SERIES SCORE Standings to April 7, 2001

I. Danny Lasoski .

2. Mark Kinser ...

3. Craig Dollansky 4.Joey Saldana...

5. Brad Furr 6.Andy Hillenburg 7. Steve Kinser...

8.Jeff Shepard ...

9. Danny Wood ..

10. Paul McMahan

1350 1307 1303 1243 1236 1235 1229 1227 1201 1189

II.Tim Schaffer

12. Donny Schatz...

13. Brooke Tatnell ..

14. Stevie Smith 15.Jason Meyers ...

16. Randy Hannagan 17. Dale Bianey ....

IS.Jac Haudenschild 19. Daryn Pittman..

20. Brian Paulus....

Houston Raceway Park,7 April 2001 1180 1178 1177 1159 1149 1143 1127 1118 1054 855

I. Mark Kinser 2. Jeff Shepard 3. Brad Furr 4. Randy Hannagan 5.Andy Hillenburg 6.Stevie Smith 7. Mike Goodman 8. Danny Lasoski 9.Steve Kinser 10.Jason Meyers

11.Joey Saldana 12. Dale Btaney 13. Donny Schatz i 4.Jason Sides 15. Brooke Tatnell 16. Paul McMahon 17. Ronald Lancy 18.Tim Schaffer 19. Brian Paulus 20. Danny Wood

motorsport news

SPEEDWAY

By Farr and away Robbie Farr has had one of those winning seasons in 2000/2001 and he’s clinched the Proton Series as well. WADE AUNGER caught up with him for a chat TEN Sprintcar feature wins in one season, including the recent NSW Championship at PCR and the King of the Wings at Kwinana (plus a trip to victory lane in a Speedcar at Parramatta), would be enough to give any racecar driver a grin.

But for Robbie Farr, who’s enjoying his best season ever in racing, this record breaking year has brought with it more questions than smiies, “I can’t work out what I’ve done this year that I haven’t done in the past,” he muses, “If I can just work that out then I can do it all a lot more. Until I put my finger on it though, it’s of no real value to me,” Trophies and smiles: The flavour of Now 27-year-old Farr is certainly coming of age, and 2001 for Robbie Farr. (Phcuo by David I^ont) has certainly come a long way from the cheeky 16-year“I feel like the EWT ride is not old who wanted to plant his size going to dry up on me, and that nines into the rump of the world. makes a difference too. I don’t “Back then, I raced with no have to worry about not racing regard for what happened after next weekend because we the next corner. Now, at least crashed this week.

I’m considering what might “The guys are real relaxed happen next week. Maybe that’s and everyone’s enjoying the made a difference.” races. Feeling good about the Could someone have told car and the future helps me do then teenager Farr that 10 years my job.” ago?

Farr leads every pointscore at You couldn’t have told me Parramatta with ease as the season winds down. anything back then,” he laughs, “I knew it all. As it turns out, I He will almost certainly knew a whole lot about nothing.” clinch the $28,000 Proton These days Farr is still as Satria GTi as the prize for the aggressive, but a lot more Track Championship, would seem odds on favourite for the patient.

“I tend not to gee myself up PCR Gold Medal, and will no so much on race day as I used doubt be heading to the USA to. You can get yourself psyched with his two free tickets out if you think about it too courtesy of David Stein in the Premier Hire Stars Dash much, so I think there is a fine Series. line between focussed and Not a bad haul for a man who wound up. I think I race better if can’t seem to find the answer I’m more relaxed, even if I do for his success. need to carry a certain level of intensity with me.”

“I think maybe I shouldn’t try too hard to work it out. Maybe Farr is also quick to praise his Peter and Gillian Johnsonjust being relaxed and enjoying owned EWT Auto Dismantlers the time I spend with this team Team for their part in his karma. is the key after all.”

13 April 2001

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NASCAR Briefs TONY Stewart was fined US$10,000 for his antics at Bristol on pit road following the March 25 race, where on the last lap of the event, Stewart was spun by Jeff Gordon for fourth place.

Stewart, who finished 25th due to the incident, retaliated and spun Gordon around after the chequred flag on pit road. The incident was not the first between the two.racers. At Watkins Glen last August the two got into a slanging match post-race.

"I've got no hard feelings against Jeff and I don't think he has any against me," commented Stewart. n Also fined following the Bristol race was Greg Steadman, John Andretti's crew chief. Steadmen was hit with a US$20,000 fine when post race inspection by NASCAR found the Petty Dodge to be too low.

H Robin Pemberton, crew chief for Rusty Wallace since the early 1990s, was absent at Texas while waiting on some tests from doctors that relate to his heart and stress n levels. Wallace finished 12th in the Texas event after starting 38th. a Roush rookie driver Kurt Busch had a new crew chief at Texas and it appeared to pay dividends yvith a fine fourth place result. Ben Leslie was the appointed new head wrench replacing Matt Chambers who was with Busch in the Truck Series during 2000. @ Many top running drivers -four in Dodges - found themselves taking provisional starting positions at Texas. Sterling Marlin, Rusty Wallace, Bill Elliott, John Andretti, Tony Stewart, Terry Labonte and Dave Blaney all started at the rear with Kyle Petty in his Dodge and Rick Mast both too slow to make the 43 car field. n Tim Brewer, the crew chief on the #7 Mattel Motorsport car of Mike Wallace, has left the team. Brewer, known for causing a storm at just about every team he’s been involved with, has been replaced by veteran Jim Long, who formerly was crew chief for Kyle Petty at SABCO. n Another crew chief to depart is Phillipe Lopez, who has been in the position for AJ Foyt's #14 team and driver Ron Flornaday. Fred Graves, father of SABCO/Ganassi team manager Andy and winner of two Truck Series titles at Dale Earnhardt Inc with Hornaday, will handle the headphone duties until another permanent replacement in named, so prior chemistry could help the struggling team and Flornaday's seemingly lack of ontrack patience.

- MARTIN D CLARK 66

DALE Jarrett passed his Robert Yates

BOTH Ford and Dodge teams will enter the April 22 Talladega event with new aerodynamic rules.

The Taurus will feature a two inch width cut on the boot spoiler to 75 inches, which will cut wind resistance in an attempt to slow the car slightly.

Dodge’s roof air deflector will be increased across its width and will not slope off at the edges, creating more disturbance and therefore slowing the mighty Mopars. Dodge are yet to win a win since their Winston Cup return at this year’s Daytona 500.

team-mate Ricky Rudd with just five laps to run on Sunday to capture the 500-lap Martinsville event, his third win of the 2001 season as he pads his points lead over Jeff Gordon for the series title.

Jarrett was running

fifth before the penultimate caution aired and the team elected to pit for fresh tyres, while leader Rudd stayed on track.

"Todd (Parrott, crew chief) made a great call there to come in and get tyres and adjust the car, because we weren't good enough to win the way we

i Four’s better than two: The Yates team (Photo by Sutton-lmages) made the right call.

Lone star gun

FOR the second race in succession, tyre strategy played a role in the outcome of a Winston Cup race,this time in round six at Texas on April 1.

Dale Jarrett’s crew elected to take on four tyres as opposed to the competition’s two and stormed to victory.

However, if Goodyear could make the remainder of the race interesting, they would really be on to something, because it was only the waning laps that provided entertainment.

'The final(10th) yellow flag left some gambling on pit road. Johnny

Benson stayed on the track with old rubber, while pole sitter Dale Earnhardt Jr, Gordon, Kurt Busch, Dave Blaney and Mark Martin all elected to t^e two.

JaiTett, against his own wishes, left pit road mired in traffic by being the first to take four tyres, but slowly the gamble paid off, finally passing Benson for the lead on lap 328 of 334 with a courageous move around the outside.

Steve Park was second in the Pennzoil Chev, while Benson held on for third, with Gordon dropkicked to fifth by the impressive Roush rookie Busch.

Two incidents on pit road left crew members injured. Sterling Marlin’s front tyre changer was knocked down by Rusty Wallace, sending the crew member over the bonnet of Marlin’s Dodge.

The crew member received treatment for bruises to his ankle and hip.

“That’s what happens when you go up against a bunch of idiots!” said Marhn.

Final result; Jarrett(Ford) 180.084mph, Pai-k (Chevy), Benson (Pontiac),Busch (Ford), Gordon (Chevy), Blaney (Dodge), Harvick (Chevy), Eamhai-dt(Chevy), Martin (Ford),Schrader(Pontiac).

- MARTIN D CLARK motorsport nows

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Stacks on: The Martinsville half-mile claimed its fair share of victims, including Ken Schrader (#36), making his 500th Winston Cup start.

(Photo by Manin D Clark)

were," continued Jarrett.

Pole-sitter Jeff Gordon only led six laps mid-race as Rusty Wallace dominated the early going, but both faded at the end on old tyres, Gordon finishing 12th and Wallace 13th.

Third-starting Jeff Burton posted his best result of 2001 in third, after pitting for tyres on the 12th and final yellow flag.

"You can say a lot about this team, but one thing you can't say about it is we don't quit and we won't quit," remarked Burton.

Bobby Hamilton led the most tours - 130 - but was caught in traffic as he fought to the front at the end on new tyres, finishing fourth with Sterling Marlin the top Dodge in fifth.

Rudd's runner-up slot was his best result since winning Martinsville in September 1998, but was still a disappointment.

"It was a call on tyres that cost us, if the final caution had not come out we would have most likely been the ones in victory lane," said Rudd, "but I can't say enough for this team, we fought back from almost two laps down.

"The brake bleeder valve broke off on the front left, but they got it repaired and it only cost us lap that was amazing work."

Final result; Jarrett (Ford) 70.799 mph, Rudd (Fordl, Burton (Fordl, Hamilton (Chevyl, Marlin (Dodge), Kenseth (Ford), Stewart (Pontiac), B Labonte (Pontiac), Spencer (Ford), Nadeau (Chevy).

Points standings; Jarrett 1236, Gordon 1113, Benson 1049, Marlin 1049, Park 1039, R Wallace 1008, Hamilton 990, Rudd 970, Elliott 943, Sadler 924.

- MARTIN D CLARK 13 Anrll 2001

Taiiiadega tow; The restrictor plate racing: isn’t popular anp drivers want their say:

Boycott threat A

(Photo by Sutlon-lmagss)

A HANDFUL of major sponsors have apparently told top drivers - including Winston Cup Champion Bobby Labonte - that they will support their actions if they do not race at Talladega on April 22 and boycott the event following NASCAR’s decision to make no alterations to the restrictor plate rules.

The plates, which severely limit the power output of the cars and force two crowded ‘congo’ lines of machines slipstreaming one another, have never Keen fo r some action: Defending Winston Cup been popular with fans Champ Bobby Labonte standing strong. or drivers, and, on (Photo by Sution-lmages) occasion, have been the Kenny Irwin though drivers reason for a number of ‘chaineventually raced. reaction’ crashes on super "One mistake can be costly speedways. for 15, 20 cars," said two-time “It shouldn't come to the point series champion Terry Labonte. where the drivers have to say, "I'm not a big fan of these 'Hey, we all need to do rules. But I'll be in Talladega something about this.' It should because that's my job." have already been done,” said Dale Jarrett, the 1999 series Labonte. champ and this year's points “Sponsors are saying, 'If you leader said: "Nobody is going to don't want to go, I think we'd be OK with it.' Now, that time hasn't skip these races. It's not that type of a situation. The fans love come here yet. But at least the racing and, if the fans love it they're talking about it now.” and it's good TV, then we better While a driver boycott is find a way of getting used to it extremely unlikely, a similar action was rumored at New because that's what we're going to be doing.

Hampshire last year following - MARTIN D CLARK the deaths of Adam Petty and

NASCAR announced on April 9 that they are conducting a full investigation into the February 18 death of Dale Earnhardt, although results of which would probably not be known until August of this year.

An accident re-construction is being conducted by what the governing body calls a team of international independent experts, using model and real crash testing, including impact barrier testing. Also being looked at are safety restraint systems.

"Safety has always been the top priority for NASCAR," commented Mike Helton, president of NASCAR. "It is important that we continue to develop new and better techniques, resources and information for the sport's safety effort. We are confident this-'review will make a large contribution toward that goal. Everyone involved in this process is committed to a sense of urgency, but we must also move forward in a thorough, careful and complete manner."

He continued using words never before heard in NASCAR circles ... ’We feel that only through a complete review of engineering, dynamics, kinematics and bio medical mechanics can we have a comprehensive understanding based on solid, factual information and data, even if it takes longer to obtain than we would like."

■ Team owner Ray Evernham and driver Bill Elliott are lobbying NASCAR regarding the roof deflector rules change for Talladega, that will effectively slow the Dodges down at the 2.6 mile super speedway.

"I don't really understand the logic behind a rule change like that," said Evernham.

"I know the Dodges were competitive at Daytona, but we certainly haven't been as competitive as we would like to have been everywhere else."

■ The #97 Roush Ford driven by Kurt Busch has finally picked up a sponsor. The rookie will be sponsored by Newell Rubbermaid, as will the Craftsman Truck team of Chuck Hossfeld, which Roush also owns.

■ Kenny Wallace is still trying to squash rumours that his un sponsored Jack Birmingham-owned Eel River Racing is about to shut its doors. "Two weeks ago I realised my car owner had enough money to run this team," said Wallace. "If I'm not worried about it, then nobody else should be."

- MARTIN D CLARK 67

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"These guys run with a budget 10 times what we have so, to achieve what we have done here this weekend and so far this season, is a true testament to the skill and abilities of our all-Australian team."

The final round was the second time that Bernstein met up with a Cowin-driven machine, as Graeme Cowin runner-upped to Bernstein in the Funny Car final round of the 1987 Winternationals in Pomona.

"We owe Kenny a couple now so we'll just have to find a little more speed, get the car running a little quicker and we can pay him back some," Graeme Cowin said.

Cowin is now ranked eighth in the series points, although the team will soon surrender any chance of a top 10-season finish when they return home at the end of the month, missing 10 events before return for the last 68

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flawless in notching Welcome to the big leagues: An impressive 520kph run by Cowin (top) wasn’t quite enough to their first victory in (Photo hy David Ostaszewski) hold off Bernstein (above) in the Top Fuel final. exactly one year. two when his opponent, Garth Bernstein low Of interesting note, Widdison, was unable to fire, Bernstein's son, Brandon, won qualified at 4.52/325, having sending Cowin on an instantly his first NHRA national event strung together three straight up-in-smoke 12.51/66. In the title, winning Federal Mogul passes in the 4.5s range, the semis, a battle of oil filters, the Dragster in the Darien-Meadows team electing to skip the final K&N backed car of Cowin got to session. In eliminations, /VFuel Dragster. The elder the finish line first, despite Bernstein was elated to share Bernstein and company the winners circle with his son hurting the motor at 1100 feet, continued to run the table, recording a 5.74/310 that for the first time. clicking off runs of 4.56/318, defeated the tractionless Pram "This is one of my proudest 4.54/322 and 4.54/323 to defeat dragster of Rhonda Hartmandays ever," said Bernstein. "The Rob Passey, beer rival Larry Smith. only day that I was happier than Dixon, and Mike Dunn.

Tommy Johnson Jr. defeated this was when we went 301 "Tim Richards had this Whit Bazemore in the Funny Car mph."

Budweiser dragster on a rail this final round to get his first win For Cowin, a 4.61 at 323 mph, weekend", Bernstein said. since 1999. The final round "When Tim came over here a new career-best speed for the pitted two car owners who were second event in a row, put him five weeks ago, I knew right battling one another on U.S. seventh in the show. Just as it then we were on to something dragstrips some 30 years ago. was in Houston, Cowin squared good. It felt right away like those Johnson's Skoal Camaro used a off in the opening round against glory days of the 80s. We all final round 4.86/310 to hold off know that retirement is close for fellow countryman, David the 4.96/291 of Bazemore in Grubnic.

This time the tables me and I don't want to quit after Don Schumacher's Mateo were turned as Cowin pedalled a year like the last few have Pontiac. Johnson and team been. It'll be a lot easier to retire his way to a 5.13/303 victory. owner, Don 'The Snake' He received a break in round on top." moiorsport news

DRAG RACING Prudhomme, both celebrated birthdays on Friday, Johnson turning 33 while Prudhomme celebrated his 60th.

"This is as good as it gets for a birthday weekend," said Johnson. "We've been looking toward this race and said how nice it would be to win here and we did it.."

"This was a total team effort.

We switched to Ron's body for the third round because it's one of the new Camaros and it has more downforce, I think it really helped. This is definitely not our last win, this organization is firstclass and the calibre of people involved is unmatched."

Johnson qualified his Ed McCulloch-tuned Camaro third at 4.83/318 and knocked off Jim

Since Houston, we've made some pretty drastic changes on this car. Car builder, Jerry Bickel, has been helping us quite a bit and the guys have been working around the clock."

Coughlin, made the show on his final attempt, landing in the 10th spot with a 6.98/197. In round one he took out point leader, Warren Johnson with a 6.96/197. He then recorded back to back 6.97s at 198 to dispose of the number two and three qualifiers, Darrell Alderman and Bruce Allen. The win moves Coughlin into third place in the point standings.

Yates, the low qualifier at 6.933, also recorded the first six second pass by a Pro Stock at Las Vegas during the opening

Road aoRQiieps Kwlaaaa MULTIPLE Top Fuel champion Jim Readi downed RacheUe Splatt 2-1 at the final event of the Quit Motorplex's inaugural season.

With a huge crowd in attendance to sample some of the nitro action, the main attraction was the Read-Splatt match race, while the ex-Graham Cowin Shell Rocketship on hand for licencing with new owner John Buchanan at the helm along with the Greenemachine nitro Frmny Car and three Top Bikes helped make for a vei-y interesting event.

The first round saw Read take a con vincing win with 5.406s/272.72 mph, while Splatt fought a huge bout of tyre shake to post 9.490s/90.54 mph. The tables wei’e turned in the second round, with Splatt streaking to a 5.233s/247.93 mph to down Read's 6.259s/158.73 mph, levelling the series.

The third and deciding round

went to the Gregoi-ys-backed team as Read shot to a huge lead and looked to be heading for the Motorplex’s first four-second time when the blower belt departed at three-quarter track, slowing Read to a still very respectable 5.209s/233.76 mph. Splatt again endured horror shake that restricted her to 10.374s/89.82 mph.

Buchanan was impressive, running a 5.94s ET on his first full pass, but unfortunately the Fueller laid down on the second halfofthe next licensing ran,and . the resultant 6.31 not enough to ^ earn his Group 1 license. . , .' i In the Ibp Comp bracket, >.■Stuart Rowland defeated' .● Sheehan with a sub-record.'. ’ , ●%:' 6.240s/225 mph from .th^ ^ > _' ’U Funny Car. Meanwhife,,MPrk ‘ Ashelfoi’d emerged: tritii^ph|pt from his Top Bike battle'agam||'7* Brett Jonas-with.a bestjgjtddf- -4 7.856s/I58.73mph.

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5frS It beats blowing out candles: Tommy Johnson Jr. celebrated his birthday by (Photo hy David Ostas zewski) talcing home the Funny Car trophy.

Epier, Gary Densham and Dean Skuza with runs of 4.86/311, 5.05/279 and 4.88/310. The Funny Car field once again produced record times, with Al Hofmann on the bump at 4.958 seconds.

Bazemore struggled to a 12thbest 4.93/303 before coming to life in eliminations, using runs of 4.86/311,4.94/278 and 4.85/316 to defeat Johnson teammate, Ron Capps, Frank Pedregon and low qualifier, Bruce Sarver, who had Bazemore on the ropes until the blower belt exited the car right before the lights, Jeg Coughlin returned to the winners circle for the first time since last year's Memphis event, successfully defending the event title in Vegas.

Coughlin's Jeg's Mail Order Parts Chevrolet Cavalier defeated Jim Yates in the final round on a holeshot, 6.95/197 to 6.94/197.

"We had to claw our way along today," said Coughlin.

"We did find a way to put this yellow and black Jeg's Cavalier in the winners circle. I hope it's a sign of good things to come.

13 April 2001

qualifying session on Friday.

Yates looked strong in eliminations, posting 6.96/197, 6.95/198 and 6.95/197 wins over Larry Morgan, Kurt Johnson and Allen Johnson.

Reigning two-time Winston Champion, Bob Panella, also sucessfully defended his event title, stopping Greg Stanfield in the Pro Stock Truck final round, 7.55/178 to 7.57/178. Panella had defeated Larry Kopp and Don Smith in the first two rounds of eliminations and made some ground on point leader, Randy Daniels, in the semis with his quickest and fastest lap of the weekend, a 7.53 at 178 mph.

Stanfield's runner-up effort secured his second place standing in the points battle, having defeated Matt Rhoades, Brian Self and Jeff Gracia.

The tour returns to Gainesville in two weeks for the conclusion of the Mac Tools Gatornationals before heading to Bristol and the inaugural Mac Tools Thunder Valley Nationals one week later.

-DAVID OSTASZEWSKI /AGENCIES

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Street drags on ANDRA’s agenda SWEEPING changes to legal off-street drag racing aimed at making this aspect of the sport more accessibie are on the agenda for meetings of the ANDRA administration in the next few weeks.

“Nearly all of our safety regulations are based on the performance of the vehicle,” said ANDRA Technical Officer Morrie Huckel.

“Once a car reaches a certain point, it may require rollover protection, better seat belts and higher quality components in some areas.

At the same time, the driver may need a higher level of licence and better protective clothing. In response to changing road regulations, we've revised some of the technical requirements for off-street vehicles over the past two years, and now ANDRA is looking at the second part of the package.”

Proposed changes will mean that drivers running

between 11.99 and 10.99 over the quarter mile will no longer require a full competition licence.

Vehicles without chassis modifications will not require rollover protection until they run quicker than 10.99, and other racing-related components will not be needed until that point.

Special provisions for classic and hot rod style vehicles running slower elapsed times will also be considered.

Off-street participants running 10.99 or slower will no longer require a temporary ANDRA licence or membership.

For those who want a permanent licence and competition number, the ANDRA Super Street licence package will be extended down to the 10.99 level. This will give legal off-street racers access to the Australian Drag Racing Series through Super Street Eliminator.

69

Cowin's 322.42 blast ft

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(Photo by David OsiaszewskiJ

ANDREW Cowin's recent 322.42 mph (518.88 kph) run in the O'Reilly Nationals at Houston Raceway Park was the fastest speed ever recorded by an Australian.

The 21-year-old qualified in sixth position for the NHRA O'Reilly Nationals with a 4.598-second elasped tinne for the standing quarter-mile, but was beaten in the first round of eliminations by fellow Aussie David Grubnic when his car slowed to a 4.776-second run.

"After qualifying, I was confident we would be able to advance through the elimination rounds but the changing weather conditions caught us out," Cowin said.

"Despite having lost to David in the first round, the times and speeds our K&N Filters car ran in qualifying are very encouraging. We are now consistently qualifying in the top

eight of the 16-car fields and our car is running faster and more consistent with each passing event."

The K&N Filters team stayed over in Flouston to test following the O'Reilly Nationals, an 'easy' 4.600second elapsed time coupled to a 319 mph terminal speed offering proof of the team's recent progress.

"We learnt a lot during the race and also with the test session," team principal Graeme Cowin said.

"Andrew recorded his fastest ever half-track speed during the test over 268 mph - and the incremental times point to the possibility of running our quickest ever times, which means we will be even more competitive.

"The signs are encouraging and that's extremely positive for the team, especially when you understand how far from home everyone is."

LARRY ‘Spiderman’ McBride recorded the quickest pass in history for a fuelburning motorcycle en route to his second win of 2001 in the AMA/Prostar series.

McBride stopped the Atlanta Dragway timers in 5.890 seconds on Friday during qualifying for the event.

After a 1.03s 60ft time, McBride recorded all-time personal best progressive numbers, including an eighth mile performance of 3.891 seconds and 200.92 mph. He clicked the bike off at 5.7 seconds and recorded a 5.890 at 228.46 mph, covering the last half of the .track in just 1.999 seconds.

Saturday’s first session served as the final round for the rained-out season opener from Gainesville, and McBride stormed to a new national record of 5.969 seconds at 220 mph in a win over Ron Webb, a run which saw the cam chain break at 1100 feet. It was the first time that back-to-back five second runs were recorded, and the pass reset the 6.069 second mark held by the late Elmer Trett.

However, the run was not quick enough to back up the 5.89.

On Sunday, McBride once again defeated Webb in the final round when Webb’s bike crossed the centerline and struck the timing blocks.

“It’s unreal,” said McBride. “To run 5.89, set a record in the fives and win two events in one weekend? Unbelievable!’

- DAVID OSTASZEWSKI moiorsporl news

DRAG RACING New date for Sunstate Nats

DEFENDING and three-time IHRA series Top Fuel Champion, Paul Romine, defeated Bruce Litton in the final round to win the Holley Spring Nationals at Rockingham Dragway,the opening event in the IHRA Summit Drag Racing Series.

Romine's Car Quest dragster defeated Steve Smith in the opening round and received a bye in the second frame when Louie Allison failed to make the call in Jack Ostrander's dragster.

Litton, meanwhile, had defeated Roger Dean and Clay Millican to reach the final round.

Earlier in the day, Millican had recorded the quickest pass in the series history at 4.621 seconds during an opening round defeat of Jim Bailey.

In the final round, both drivers left fairly close and were side by side, until the engine in Litton's car began to eat itself. Romine went on to record his quickest pass of the weekend at 4.75 seconds, also setting top speed of the meet at 309.77 mph to defeat the 4.78/291 of Litton.

While Romine scored the win, Litton leaves the 'Rock' with the points lead due to the 'black flag' rule, which Romine and team violated twice, costing the team 40 points.

The rule penalises teams for depositing oil on the racing surface, 15 points per occurrence. There are also 5 bonus points awarded for producing a clean and dry run.

Alan Pittman appears to be the early season dominant force in the Pro Mod ranks. Fie followed-up on his win at the Majesty Flomes Groundhog warm-up and his low qualifying effort in Gainesville with a season opening win at Rockingham, besting the quickest field in IFIRA history.

13 April 2001

Pittman's Westbrook Motorsports '41 Willys (above), led the supercharged cars in the class during qualifying with a third best 6.261/221 blast.

Utilizing a new engine program courtesy of Redline Design's Darren Mayer and Aussie Troy Critchley, Pittman dispatched Mike Castellana, Ronnie Flood

Paul Romine: 1 win, 0 points.

(Photo by David Ostaszewski)

and Mike Janis before recording his best pass of the weekend in the final round at 6.260/221 to trailer Mitch Stott's 1963, nitrous-assisted. Corvette.

Stott, the fourth qualifier at 6.265, bested Carl Moyer, Chip King and Dale Brinsfield en route to his runner-up finish.

Forty-five cars on the grounds produced the record-quick field which was led by Quain Stott's 6.259/228.92, and anchored by William Rojas, who carded a 6.340/217 for the final spot in the show. Stott backed up his earlier blast for a new national speed record in the opening round.

Troy Critchley qualified in his new Majesty Flomes ride, putting the '41 Willys into the show in the ninth position at

6.31/218. Unfortunatly, he broke on the burnout in the opening round and handed a win to Brinsfield's '68 Camaro.

Gene Wilson's better reaction time against final round opponent, Tom Lee, spelled the difference in Pro Stock with Wilson's slower 6.60/210 holding off Lee's record-setting pass of 6.552/210.

The pass by Lee is the quickest ever by a IHRA legal trim Pro Stock.

Wilson's Mercury Cougar qualified second and advanced through eliminations, disposing Doug Kirk's Chevrolet, Jason Collin's Ford Probe and Ron Miller's Chevrolet Monte Carlo, posting consistent laps of 6.62/207, 6.63/207 and 6.62/207.

Lee, the low qualifier at 6.60/208, used a 6,60/208 to stop Steve Speiss' new Pontiac Grand Am, a 6.68/199 to defeat John Montecalvo's Cavalier and a 6.58/208 to knock off Dwayne Rice's Firebird.

Johnny Mancuso won a 'no power' battle against Doug Vancil in the trouble-plagued Nitro Flarley final round.

Mancuso's 8.79/115 held off Vancil's 10.28/73 as both bikes suffered problems and coasted through the lights.

The win was Mancuso's sixth of his career and second at this event, as he also won here back in 1999.

Monty Todd's final round 5.89/234 was enough to win the Alcohol Funny Car title when final round opponent, Jimmy Rector crossed the centreline at half-track and was disqualified. Todd earned the second victory of his career, having earlier defeated Mike Preslar, Terry McMillen and John Vouros, - DAVID OSTASZEWSKI

n Palmyra Dragway has changed the date of the 2001 Sunstate Nationals to April 20/21.

According to the club, the decision was based on the scheduling of an event at Willowbank Raceway on the planned Easter date.

ANDRA CEO Tony Thornton said he was concerned at the short notice, especially in view of the fact that the Willowbank event was listed some nine months ago.

As the track was in a separate ANDRA Division, policies covering date clashes did not apply.

The Sunstate Nationals will be Round Six of the 2001 Australian Drag Racing Series. All Group Two, Three and Four categories have been posted. For further information contact Palmyra Dragway on 0418 186484. n The final lane of concrete was poured and levelled on the famed quarter-mile drag strip at Indianapolis Raceway Park last week, completing the bulk of the US $500,000 renovation project on the strip's surface.

The two lanes of concrete, each measuring 660 feet long by 60 feet wide and poured six inches deep, represent the first new racing surface on the IRP strip since 1978.

The concrete project is just one part of a renovation plan by the National Plot Rod Association and IRP to improve the host facility for the annual NFIRA U.S. Nationals, drag racing's largest event. In addition to the new surfacing, the strip's electronic devices, including cabling, computers and tracking systems are in the process of being replaced. n Two years after the idea was first proposed, it seems that the green light has finally been given for the construction of the Adrenalin Complex.

Those behind the project have reportedly secured the rights to a section of land in the western suburbs of Melbourne in a deal worth almost $4 million.

The multi-purpose facility will feature a drag strip lined with grandstand seating on both sides of the track, and a 3/8th mile banked speedway oval.

The building of a dedicated drag and speedway facility only a few minutes from the centre of Melbourne will fill a huge gap in the state's motor racing infrastructure, and in view of the recent events concerning Calder Park, it probably could not have come at a better time.

-AGENCIES 71

Eddington action

by BRIAN REED

winner on handicap.

At Eddington, the WORKING on the basis that 'If Monoskate was shared by it ain't broke, don't fix it', Graham Raper and Barry nothing much has changed in Batagol. The latter was also the past 18 years for the taking part in a Bentley Rally at Echuca the same weekend.

Eddington Sprints organised by the Vintage Sports Car Batagol drove his imposing Club of Victoria.

Bentley Speed Six from It’s a thoroughly laid-back Eohuca, won his class with a event with simple organisation best time of 18.19s, had his and the focus very much on runs in the Monoskate, and putting some fun back into then drove the Bentley back to Echuca for the remainder motor sport. On all scores, it's a winner. of the rally.

One competitor who Unfortunately the epitomised what the event is all Monoskate appeared to break an axle on the start about was Brendan Dillon, who drove his 1926 Minerva line when Raper was having Roadster from Melbourne with his final run. Later, Raper his penny farthing bicycle said, "I wish you had been strapped to the side. Dillon was driving, Barry," to which making a real weekend of it; Batagol replied "Well, after competing at Eddington, he there's gentle, and there's brutal!" took in the post-event social activities, camped the night on One of the most pleasing the banks of the Loddon River, aspects of the Eddington and then left for Lake Sprints was the number of Windemere near Ballarat next female competitors and day to ride his bicycle in a penny youngsters taking part. farthing rally around the lake.

Seventeen year-old Joanne Seventy-four entries were Goad was having her first run received, and featured a in the Vauxhall Special, a fascinating line-up of cars. One . famous sports car built by of the most interesting was the George and Frank Goad - and 'Monoskate', the George Reed she won a trophy. How proud Special that almost won the the late George Goad would 1951 Australian Grand Prix at have been to see his grand Narrogin in WA. Reed led the daughter driving in a competitive event. race until two laps from the end when his magneto overheated An addition to this year's and he retired. However, some program was a display of early consolation came when his Eddington memorabilia in the old second, slower, car (also called a local church. Naturally the G. Reed Spl.), driven by Warwick sprints featured in the display Pratley, crossed the line in third from 1984 to the present day place and was declared the and attracted plenty of interest.

I

72

’■

Also, the ladies committee did a roaring trade with lunches, and $1000 was raised for the upkeep of the local hall.

The Eddington Sprints usually attracts its share of celebrities, and this year was no exception.

Australian jazz musician James Morrison drove Felix Gappy's 1928 Delage to the event after performing the previous evening at the Gastlemaine Town Hall.

In fact, the James Morrison concert could well have been the location for the driver's briefing, so many competitors were in attendance. In return, five of the six members of the band came to Eddington for the Sprints.

Crowd favourite; Graham Raper (above) behind the wheel of the 1951 AGP second-placed Monoskate.

Change of tune: Jazz man James Morrison (with Felix Cappy, below left), swapped his trumpet for a 1928 (Photos by Brian Reed) Delage.

Eddington Sprints 31 March 2001 Edwardian Cled Davies (Dodge Roadster) Austin 7 Sports Allan Tyrrell (Austin 7) Austin 7 Racing Glen Bishop (Austin 7) Group J to 1500CC Pat Phillips (Saimson) Group J over SOOOcc Barry Batagol (Bentley Speed 6) Pre-war MG to lOOOcc Lou Molina MG TA Group K to IIOOcc Betty Lowe (Alta) Group K1100-1500CC David Price (MG Magna) Group K over ISOOcc Peter Wilson (Riley Sprite) Group K Racing Jim Russell (Ford V8 Special) Sa Prod. Sports to 1500cc Robert Lewis (MG TC) Sa Prod. Sports to 2000cc Ted Heriot(MG A Coupe) Sa Prod Sports over 2000cc Ivan Washington (Buchanan) Group Lb Sports/Racing John Coffin (Robbins 500) Lb Racing under 1500cc Michael Kiliinsworth (MG Ford Spl.) Lb Racing over 2000cc Joanne Coad (Vauxhall Special) invitation Class Andrew Howell (Waggott Clubman)

21.40s 19.74s 15.74s 22.76s 18.19s 15.96s 19.99s 18.97s 16.93s 15.18s 20.68s 19.09s 17.27s 23.15s 15.78s 18.54s 14.12s

moiofsoort news

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HISTORICS Briefly Historic

ADEILAIDE may have lost its Race of Legends for Grand Prix cars of the 60s as a support event for the Clipsal 500 meeting, but its replacement was a fitting substitute that complemented the touring car feature.

A Legend’s Parade of past Australian touring car stars featured high-speed demonstration laps in the sorts of cars that helped make the drivers famous. Queensland collector David Bowden supplied several cars from his stable, with Fords featuring prominently.

One of the most interesting cars was the Falcon GTHO Phase 3 driven by Allan Moffat. The champion Ford works driver, who won three ATCC titles, has some less-than-happy memories of Adelaide. His first championship was clinched at Mallala in 1973, but only after his race car was stolen from a local Ford dealership in the early hours of the morning of the race. Moffat borrowed Murray Carter's similar car and finished second, scoring sufficient points to become Touring Car champion.

His second shot at the title was also secured at Mallala in 1976.

After his race car and transporter were destroyed by fire, Moffat

borrowed the GT of John Goss and won.

For the Legends Parade in Adelaide, other Ford GTHOs were driven by Leo Geoghegan (Phase 1), Murray Carter (Phase 2), and John French (Phase 4), while Ian ‘Pete’ Geoghegan, the man who clinched four ATCC titles from 1966 to 69 in his Castrol-backed Mustang, was back behind the wheel of a 1965 Mustang. Big 'Pete' also won the title in 1964 driving a Ford Cortina. Dual champion ‘Stormin Norman’ Beechey drove his Chevrolet Impala, while ‘Big Rev Kev’ Bartlett got behind the wheel of a Chevy Nova.

Notable Holden drivers included 1976 Hardie Ferodo 1000 winner Bob Monis, driving the ex-Ron Hodgson Torana XU-1, and Colin Bond, who won everything from Bathurst to Australian Rally Championships during his. career.

One of Beechey’s team-mates from the highly successful Neptune Racing Team days, Jim McKeown, brought back memories took to the track in a Lotus Cortina. Although outgunned in the power stakes by the bigger Mustangs and Camaros back in the 1960s, McKeown was never far behind and his skill

[MOSS

I

behind the wheel of the nimble Cortina became legendary.

A welcome inclusion on the program was Alan Hamilton, a man who achieved much success driving all sorts of Porsches in touring and sports car events.

Hamilton was equal first in the Australian Sports Car Championship in 1977 and was four-times Australian hillclimb champion. No field of touring cars from the seventies would be complete with the Chrysler Charger, a challenger to Holden and Ford that promised so much but somehow never quite delivered.

With more development and more factory backing, who knows what the Charger might have achieved. Doug Chivas was a top driver associated with the Chrysler Pacer and Charger challenges, and he took his place amongst the great names of the past.

For the older fans at the Clipsal 500, the Legends Parade was an opportunity to see again the heroes of past Touring Car eras, while it gave the younger supporters their first glimpse of the cars and drivers the crowds came to see in their thousands a few decades ago.

-BRIAN REED

■ What is being described as 'the last speed event at Catalina Park' is being pianned for the famous old circuit at Katoomba and is being organised by the Vintage Sports Car Club of Australia.

With the demise of many motor racing circuits in the Sydney region over recent years including Catalina Park, the VSCCA is encouraging potential participants to give this one some serious consideration - regrettably, the likelihood of future sprints, lap dashes and other motoring activities there look rather remote.

The event planned for Saturday May 5 will be an Historic hillclimb, and there will be classes for vintage, post vintage, sports and racing cars manufactured before 1961, and classic sports and racing cars built between 1961 and 1970. This will be a low-cost event to encourage younger drivers to experience club competition in a controlled environment. Entrants requires a valid civil driver's licence and membership to one of many car clubs.

Further details and entryTorms can be obtained by phoning the Event Secretary, John Hills on (021 9591 1107 or Peter Docker on (02) 9416 2437.

■ The 16th annual Mangalore Sprints will be held at the Mangalore Airfield on April 22.

The meeting is open to financial members of the VHRR plus several invited clubs and will consist of one practice run and three timed competition runs over a quarter-mile strip of the airfield.

It's another well established event where the emphasis is on having a good time.

Entries close on April 20 with the Meeting Secretary, John Pyke, ' 30 Warnes Rd., Mitcham 3132 . (phone (03) 9872 4729 or 0419 002 379).

- BRIAN REED

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national

scene

eAedby

Aaron Noonan

Saloons set for Winton

THE CSA Alloy Wheels Saloon Car Challenge will make its debut at Winton Motor Raceway on May 5 and 6 as a support to the Konica V8 Supercar Series and,judging by the grids and racing so far this season,looks set to become a fan favourite.

The class, which was developed by a group of HQ Holden racers who considered that a late model, six-cylinder Holden versus Ford class was required as the step up from HQs, was formed in 1998 and has continued to grow from strength to strength.

The technical regulations for the category, which features VNA/P Commodores and EA/EB Falcons, are firmly locked in place, which ensures a long life for the category. The regulations also bring the focus very much on the actual driving of the car, rather than the chequebook being thrown at it.

Already, Queensland has developed a strong local crop of cars, with Victoria and NSW also beginning to flex its muscles and get some cars onto the grid.

The series will continue to follow the Konica Series for the rest of the junior V8 season.

Prepare for action: The Mazda 808 Wagon which Wayne Wakefield made his name is heading back to racing (Photos by Mark Jones and James Smith) - with Wakefield doing the driving!

Enter the wagen A NOTABLE absentee from the open round of the Konica Series was Queensland hero, Wayne Wakefield.

The budget to run one the teams two VSSupercars didn't materialise, even though the exKevin Heffeman car, crashed at Bathurst in 1999,is repaired and ready to race should a budget be forthcoming.

However, while Wakefield will definitely return for Lakeside Konica round, the legendary Mazda 808 Wagon has also been repaired from its big shunt of two years ago, and is also ready to

race. At the moment Wakefield will race the Wagon at the Hidden Valley Improved Production races.

The Hidden Valley Improved Production event should also so another one of Queenslander Phil Laird's creations. Phil Corbett will be racing a Commodore Cup car, but not just any Commodore Cup machine. This one has the running gear out of the white VSSupercar Commodore that Wakefield campaigned last year.

The result has been excitingly quick and should definitely be one to look for.

-MARK JONES

Fi gets championship status CAMS has granted National Championship status to this year’s Formula 3 Championship.

“In granting National Championship status to Formula 3 CAMS has recognised the importance of Formula 3 in the makeup of the structure of this level of motor racing in Australia,” said Chas Jacobsen, Chairman of Formula 3 Australia.

“Formula 3 Australia has adopted full F.I.A. International specifications and as such the young guns here can gain the same experience with our cars as they would overseas at a fraction of the cost.

‘To further align our racing with that in Europe and Japan - where F3 has had a long and illustrious history - Formula 3 Australia has adopted a new pointscore system which allocates points for pole position and fastest race lap in addition to the normal pointscore.”

The Formula 3 category has now come under the wing of Ross Palmer’s PROCAR Australia organisation and is set to run alongside the PROCAR-run rounds of the Nations Cup and GT-P championships.

74

moiorsDorl news

NATIONAL

Pro Nats launched

Karting set to run under lights in Saturday night Grand Finale

by MARK WICKS

EASTERN Creek International Kartway will play host to what some are heralding as ‘The Event Of The Year’on October 19 and 20.

The inaugural APS Pro-Nats will be run at the Sydney circuit for a limited number of classes and will double up as the Australian Championships for the Rotax MAX and ReSa categories.

A special International class of Formula A and Intercontinental A combined will draw the cream of CIK competition while a Junior Piston Port and senior Pro-ARC class will complete the program.

The meeting will also decide who will represent Australia at the Rotax MAX World Finals in Malaysia in January 2002.

The event is being promoted as much more than just a race meeting and is set to showcase the sport as never seen before in this country.

Apart from a huge list of prizes,

n

Event

When the lights go out the karts come out: Eastern Creek International Kartway will be abuzz to the sounds of the APS Pro-Nats on October 19 and 20.

(Photo by Sean Henshelwood)

all classes are set to receive television coverage, there will be a trade expo, expression sessions and much more.

The event is scheduled to run

Circuit Collingrove/Mallala Mallala Tasmania Oberon

11-15 Historic Speed Week 13-14 Sprite National Challenge 18-24 Targa Tasmania 21st NSWRally:2 Horsham/Portland, Vic Yulunga Trial Australian Off-Road Championship^ Willowbank, OLD Queensland Raceway Race meeting Werribee 22nd Vic Motorkhana Championship:3 Barbagallo Torque Trophy Ansell Park 27th NSW Motorkhana Championship:4 Sandown 28th Victorian Motor Racing Championship:2 Mt Leura Victorian Hillclimb Championship:3 Mallala Australian SuperTruck Championship^ 29th Tasmanian Motorkhana Series:1 Wynyard Mt Cotton Hilllclimb Mallala Supersprint Series:2 Winton Club Superkart Race:2 SE South Australia LJ Hooker Rallysprint

To make sure your event is listed in future issues, write to(PO BOX 1010, Caulfield North 3161) or email(msnews@ozemail.com.au) the National Scene Editor with details of your event.

13 April 2001

THE AKA National Championships are being contested this weekend at Newcastle, NSW. A number of classes failed to meet the minimum entry number thus leaving only eleven championship classes. The circuit is located at the corner of Cameron Park Drive and George Booth Drive, West Wallsend.

^

over two days and sees a switch away from the way traditional kart meetings are run with racing on Friday and Saturday, culminating in a Saturday night Grand Finale.

Teams AprH hold out National Racing Calendar Date

Karting Briefs

A NUMBER of teams have stiU not entered for the Formula Super A World Championships which start in June at Montreal, Canada.

It is believed several teams and manufacturers are not happy with the FIA-CIK stipulation that teams must be of two drivers and are withholding their entry in the hope offorcing a rule change to allow one-driver teams.

One driver to be effected by this is Australian Ben Horstman.

At this stage, his Biesse/Fox team has stiU not lodged an entry.

Horstman is still due to compete but the question of a second driver remains unanswered following the poor form ofteam mate Max Orsini.

Ibny Kart have confirmed their multiple World Champion factory team of Davide Fore and Franck Perera. Kosmic,PCR, CRG and Swiss Hutless have also announced their factory line ups.

-MARK WICKS

m Dick Johnson, above, has shown his support for karting by putting his name on and endorsing the Queensiand-based Azzurro karts team. "I can see the talent that has been recruited into the Azzurro team as a training ground for DJR," Johnson said in a statement. Team karts carried DJR signage at the Victorian Open last month. n With only weeks remaining before the opening round, Tony Kart has lost its lead Formula A driver for the 2001 CIK Australian Championship.

New Zealander Jonathon Reid pulled the pin at the last minute to pursue Formula Ford racing back in NZ. Reid was to have taken the seat occupied

by Michael Caruso last year and had been moved across from the Kosmic team to Tony Kart in the off-season, it now remains to be seen if Tony Kart importer Jim Morton can put a deal together with a reputable driver before the first race in Adelaide on May 5-6. n Brian Stockman dominated the 250cc International class at the Victorian Superkart Championships at Phillip Island last month. The New South Welshman took victory in all four races aboard a kart of his own design and manufacture.

Michael Rogers (lOOcc Light), Rick Setterfield (lOOcc Heavy), Luke May (lOOcc Junior), Mark Vella (80cc Gearbox), Gary Pegoraro (125 Maxi), Steve Crossland (125cc Gearbox) and Stephen Tapper (250 National) were the other winners. n There has been a slight change in the Ford KartStars and Junior blitz regulations. Due to the clash of dates of the opening round of the Ford supported series with the Murray Bridge Street meeting, KartStars drivers will now have to drop their worst score from the series.

-MARK WICKS 75

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world Champions '95, '96, '97, '98, '99, 2000 Australian Champs '95, '96, '97, '98, '99, 2000 KART AUSTRALIA 6-30 Foundry Road, Seven Hills, 2147 Ph: 02 9620 6055 Fax: 02 9838 9055 Pty Ltd 13 Bnrti 2001

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Sedans/Sporls Cars

Commodore Cup car, 1 meeting old since new build, spare wheels and tyres, struts. Fast car, first meetatWinton. $23,000. Ph 03 5275 5988.2m AUSCAR VN-VS, complete with some spares, exJason Wylie, urgent sale, will deliver in Australia.

POA. Ph Mark 08 8284 8087 or 0409 846 717. 2m

Sports Sedan Series 4, space frame, new 3 rotor turbo, fuel injected MicroTech ECU, 9-inch full floating diff, AP calipers, 6 and 4 spot. 8 BBS 16x10 - 16x12 3 piece rims, new shell and paint, total package, less gearbox. $30,000 or will separ ate. Ph 0418 974 351.30.1

Westfield Sierra Cosworth, fuel injected ex-2 litre tourer engine, Motec M4, 245bhp, dry sumped, Quaife SCCR 5 speed. Vent discs, LSD, fully rose-jointed. Professionally built. $42,000. Ph 02 6642 2417 ah. 2m

Triumph Dolomite 1975, fitted with sprint rear end, 5 speed Toyota gearbox and worked 2TG Toyota motor with factory extractors and twin side-draught Solex carbs. Ph 0407 546 204. zo4 ■

Mini Under 2L Sports Sedan, top 1380cc race engine with all the good bits, near new 13" front tyres, vented Ford disc brakes, top body, CAMS log book, ready to race. $4500. Ph Rob 02 4684 2117 or 0407 294 962.203

VT Commodore V8, ex-police pursuit vehicle, auto, enhanced to SS, can't tell the difference. The car was re-shelled at 14,000 km, now done 60,000. Drives Super Tourer, Tom's factory car. In the right . hands, this car would be very competitive. All spares included. 2 motors etc. Will consider Trade/Lease or payment program. $65,000. All offers considered. Ph: 0418 644 217.203 Sports Sedan Commodore VP, new Tig welded chassis with all suspension, floating diff, rose joints, Simmons wheels, new factory panels plus fibreglass bonnet, guards etc. Giveaway at $3750.

Ph 0412 156 766.203

Falcon XR8, 260kW, SVOcam, aluminium heads, 70mm throttle body, EMS computer & handpiece, Koni SUSP, 18x8 ajs wheels and new tyres, twin tuned exhaust, Recaro seats and trim and more. $70,000 invested, sell $29,900. Ph 02 6299 4656.2«

Mazda RX2 Club Car, strong 13b, Needham close ratio gearbox, new clutch, motec injection, tidy con dition, proffessionally built car. All components are excellent quality. No time left for racing this year, therefore serious about selling. Offers around $8700. Ph 07 4151 3864 or 07 4155 2250.204

Lotus Cortina, car re-shelled. Historic log book, alloy panels and housings, best components, Carillo, Quaife, SCCR, LSD, gen Miniiites etc, immac cond. Group N or Historic rally. $33,000 ono. Ph 0418 539 027. 204

HQ #81, as raced by Tim Rowse. HQRA and Victorian State Race Series winner 1999. If you want to win then this is the car for you! Make an offer. Ph 03 5626 1319 all hrs. 204

Mazda RX7 Improved Production, 13B Bridgeport, 51mm Weber, big front brakes, Volvo 4 spots, rear discs, 5 speed turbo box, freshly painted, good entry level car or perfect for sprints. $7000. Ph James 03 9888 3131 or 0413 936 360.204 Rare Datsun 260Z two seater, rolling shell without doors, hard to find one this good. Bargain at $500.

Ph Sam 08 8248 5309.204 Complete racecar package, that includes HQ95 In 5 years of racing has never finished worst than 4th in NSW at the end of each year. It has 16 podium finishes to its name and has represented NSW twice at the HQ Nationals. Packages include freshened B.R.E Engine plus spare (both Sealed). 1 sealed rebuilt gearbox plus spare. Complete set of every panel needed. Spare set of shocks and springs. $7500. Ph 02 9543 2306.204

13 April 2001

Lotus Europa/47 Replica, very rare, very fast, very desirable, new big horsepower Peter Wallacebuilt Cosworth BDA 4 valve engine, fresh transaxle, fully adjustable suspension. Logbooked since '85. Potential Group R Histories contender.

Spare Cosworth short motor and many spares plus full drawings. Currently damaged. $20,000. Ph Bob. 02 9544 2399 or 0412 332 336. zos Group Nc Mustang, not complete. Van Zelm cage, Harrop full floater diff, Sidney engine, heaps of spares, $35,000. Ph 03 5988 6286.203 Commodore VL, rebuilt high performance 308, Aussie 4 speed, 9" locker diff, Simmons wheels, professionally prepared shell and cage, excellent condition, suit Sports Sedan or Club Car. $9500 ono. Ph 02 4946 9554 or 0407 905 039.203 Nissan Skyline GTR R33 96, Nations Cup spec, top HP engine, M8 Motec, very new & fast car, spend $179,000 to build, swap for V8 Supercar package. Must be very good condition. Ph 07 3325 0489 or 0417 775 507. 203

Pulsar GTiR 1990, black hatch, 2Ltr 5sp man, 67,000kms, pocket rocket WRX eater, intercooled turbo charged, 4WD, Viscous LSDs, climate control air conditioning, 3 inch exhaust. Alloy mags with new Michelin Tyres. $19,900ono. Ph 0419 361 908 or 03 9842 9163.203

HR Holden' sedan, bash car, very successful car, full roll cage, trip meter, 186 worked, 4 speed, 15-inch wheels, 3/4 chassis, braced diff and front end. Too many extras to list. $4000. Ph 0418 744 757.203

HD X2 Group N, genuine HD X2, CAMS log book, quality new parts used, 2 speed Powerglide, 1 lOmph in 1st gear, top HP motor (ali steel), excel lent potential, hand grooved wets, 8 spare tyres and Chevoit wheels, details supplied on request. POA. Ph 03 9439 7667 or 0409 465 837.203

1965 Mustang, gold, black interior, new C4 trans mission, 302W, mild camshaft, roller rockers, S/S valves, moly pushrods, moly rings, screw in studs, Hypertectic pistons, new exhaust. King springs, Koni shocks, too much to list. $25,000 ono. Ph 07 5448 5569 ah. 203

GTP Mazda RX7, 3rd outright Bathurst 2000, Ric Shaw engine, entered for Adelaide. $48,000. Ph Phil 0425 732 796.203

●I

Sports Sedan, Ford Cortina TF, 351 Windsor fresh engine, alloy heads, roller cam, roller rock ers, dry sumped, 600 + HP, big brakes, Koni fully adj shocks. Super T10 box, full floater 9 inch Ford diff fab front end, big rose joints all round Simmons wheels, all moulds, new paint. Ready to race for $30,000 ono. Ph Frank Sola 0412 328 124. 203

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A" .ilk Dino Ferrari replica, turbochargeid, fuel-injected V6, 4 speed, new paint, new Motec M4, Simmons wheels, 265 rears, 225 fronts, roll bar. Fibreglass body 1040kgs, electric windows. $19,990. Ph Rick 0417 700 208.203

well, ideal towing vehicle with all the luxuries. Any test welcome, genuine reason for sale. $24,500. Ph Michael 03 9717 3775 or 0427 291 963.203

80

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HQ Holden, consistent race winner, 1999 State Championship, 2000 runner-up, lap record holder, best presented car, ready to race, no expense spared, set up assistance, POA. Ph Charles D'Aquino 0413 368 049. 2m VP Commodore shell, ex-V8 Supercar, suit Sports Sedan, full roll cage, ready to go. $6000. Ph 03 5626 1319 all hrs 204

Toyota MR2, AWII 20 valve, turbo charged, full rebuild, adjustable suspension, big brakes, 16” wheels, Azenis tyres, Sparko race seats, road regis tered, excellent condition. $22,500ono. Ph Charlie 0414 701 207.203

Fastest MR2 in GTP, Proflex shocks, Elbach springs, Motec ECU, dry brake fluid system, ideal for Bathurst/Indy/Le Mans. Spares negotiable. Killer club car. $24,000. Ph Anton 0408 164 821. 203

Chevrolet Corvette 1977,350 auto, red with brown interior. Excellent condition, must sell to fund speed way project. $21,000 ono. Ph 02 6552 6366 ah. 203

19

Superkart 125, 5 speed, spares inci stand, rims, fuel pump, tyres, chains. Ph Rega 0411 114 254 or 03 9327 2888. $2800. Drive Gear available. 204

r .

Lotus Cortina/Escort competition parts, Lotus T/C head complete, Quaife 2.5 SCCR gearbox complete, LSD centres 3.9,4.1,4.7,4.9,5.1 ratios. Alloy bonnet and door skins, 4 spot callipers etc. Much more. Ph 0418 539 027.2M Sparp pro driver racing seat black with mounts, alloy Ph 03 9530 5838 or 0409 997 911. 2m 2,02 steel main caps, stainless studs and nuts $350, 186-202 Starfire rods, floating bushes $250, knife-edged c/dore crank 202, '010" $350. Arias pistons, new 2.02 + .003", suit supercharger turbo. $400. Ph 03 5422 1942 or 03 5422 7037.2«

Ford Escort Club Car 2L, twin side draught Weber carbies, performance tuned extractors. Max power head. Crow cam, flat top pistons balanced and blueprinted. Toyo tyres, 7-in Rebel race wheels, spares and log book. $5400 ono. Ph Craig 03 5126 2822.203 Mazda RX3 Club Car Sports Sedan, 13B Bridgeport, fully welded cage, LSD, 4 wheel discs, 15x7 wheels, minor finishing touches needed, $5900ono, or swap under 2L Club Car or Sports Sedan, ready to race. Ph Alan 0411 502 437.203 Gemini Coupe Improved Production (Club) Car, 2 Litre, twin 40 IDF Webers, adjustable Konis all round, modified brakes, locked diff, many spares. Ready to race. $6000ono. All reasonable offers considered. Ph 02 9274 2201 bh or 02 9181 3071 ah. 203 Gemini Coupe Sports Sedan roller, log book $3700. Rover 3.5 V8, new heads 360hp and block's one thick web. $2500. Ph 02 6734 2259 or 02 6732 3353.203

Superkart 250cc National, brand new rims and tyres with log book and spares, ready to race. $4500. Ph 02 4578 0193.204

U2 Sports 1300, with Corolla engine and 4 speed box, neat and quick car, many extras, mounted wets, nothing to spend. Ready to race, log book with registered trailer. $12,000. Ph Al 02 4721 5060 bh or 02 4736 6853 ah. 203

Exhaust temperature monitor, with 2 Probes. $250. Ph 03 5250 2345 or 0412 181 136. 2m Contods, Carrillo H beam to suit 289, 302 Windsor, re-sized $500 ono. Ph 03 5250 2345 or 0412 181 1 36. 2M Hilbourne fuel injection, to suit 289/302 Windsor, just been serviced, cam driven pump, timing cover, lines, shut off, tank, electric water pump. $1500 ono.

Ph 03 5250 2345 or 0412 181 136.204 OMP seats, driving suits and all OMP race, rally and kart products available from new Sydney shop at 625 Forest Rd Bexley. Ph 02 9553 4100. Trade enquiries 02 6562 7762.204 4 Magnetos, Scintilla SA,6 cyl new, clockwise $1250.

4 cyl, as new, anti-clock $650. Ph 02 9997 8072.204

sLlotinini

i,*'0.

Pirahna Hillclimb car, sister car to one in photo, brand new, totally complete less engine. $15,000.

Ph Dennis 0417 011 652 or Jim 03 9723 6632.204 Formula Ford RF90, wanted, complete or roller, send details of car, price and contact details to fax 03 5441 1439.204

Superkart'91 Zip Eagle,'91 Yamaha YZ250cc,2 sets of slicks,(1 new)and 1 set of wets, all on rims.

Numerous spares, enclosed trailer, all in excellent condition and ready to race. $3800. Ph 02 9820 1673.203

Go kart, Swiss Hutless Maximo '98, blueprinted KTS 100. Tacho, driving suit, ideal for any class, as new condition. $2900. Also, trailer to suit if required. Ph 03 9590 9196.203 Wheels, five English Dunlop 5 1/2 x 13 with Bridgestone Premio 185x70 tyres, Ford four stud with correct centres, nuts and washers. $1250. Ph07 5452 5812 ah or 0419 477 264. 203

Falcon AU2, 6/2000, XLS utility, Mako limited edi tion, 4 Itr, auto, silver, all options, alarm, towbar, new car wrnty, only 3900kms, make great tender vehicle, used privately, as new. $32,900 neg. Ph 02 4578 2686or0412 817 166. 203

Formula Ford, Royale RP31, Grp R, excellent con dition, ready to race. $16,500 ono. Ph 02 9716 0082.203

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Sierra Cosworth head,complete with inlet manifold &45mm Webers, belt tensioner, gears etc. $3150 ono. Ph 02 4294 1196. 203 C&S Holley carby, 860 CFM, completely re-kitted. $1050. Ph 0416 048 962.203 Ford 5 litre, Motorsport block, crank and 5.7" rods. POA. Ph 03 5988 6266.203 Hilborn injection, to suit Windsor. $1200. Ph 0418 423 007.203

Toyota Celica GT4, 1991 model, turbo, 4WD, race only, suit Improved Production sport class, low kms, ready to go. $7900 ono. Ph David 0414 275 860.203 Datsun 260Z 2+2, 2.8 litre motor, 5 speed, mag wheels, Le Mans red with black interior, 11 months, NSW rego, ideal Club Car. $3500,located in Camden.

Ph 0414 556 591.203

Open Wheelers

Webers,3 x 48 DCO, new unused. $2100 ono. Ph 02 6231 2964.203 Mk 9 gear ratio, 19:32. Ph 07 3806 1465 ah. 203 250CC Inter Superkart, 1995 Zip Eagle chassis, 256 Rotax motor, Apprillia internals, Delordo carb, motor recently rebuilt. 4th 2000 Australian Championship. $10,500 ono. Various spares for sale. Ph 0412 005 866 or 08 8296 5511 ah. 204

Ford Sierra RSSOO body shell, with doors and hatch, suit Sports Sedan (burnt and sandblasted) Bulant 1940, Australian SPL, eligible Grp L, total ly rebuilt. $9500 ono. Ph 02 9716 0082. 203 Delta Ford 1960s, eligible Grp M, in pieces but all there, as is $6500 ono. Ph 02 9716 0082. 203

$750 ono. RSSOO fibreglass panels, bumpers, wing, flares, bonnet and guards, plus headlights and tailights. POA. Sierra 4 door bonnet guards, lights and bumpers. $750 ono. Ph 0412 676 734.203 Alloy V8 parts, both Leyland and Rover. Leyland 4spd box complete kit exc. Ph 02 6231 2964.203 Holden 308 heads, large valves, screw-in studs, guide plates. Crane gold roller rockers $700, A9L conrods, set $200, Edelbrock Performer manifold $200, 308 block standard bore with crank $250 or $1200 the lot. Ph 0416 281 054 or 03 9795 1112.203

Hatma T8 Yamaha, hillclimb car, 750 Yamaha 5 valve, 6 speed, motor, aluminium monocoque chassis, monoshock front end, light and fast, $8500. Ph 07 5539 1285 ah. 204

Formula Libre, space frame complete rolling chassis, suit autocross/sprint/hillclimb, front inboard pushrod suspension, independent rear.

Four wheel disc brakes, quick ratio rack.and pin ion. Alloy floor and dash, Sparco race suit, suit large bore motorcycle engine. $1800 ono. Ph 03 5662 5400 bh or 0419 566 690 ah. 203 1986 86/50 Lola Formula 3000, stunning ex works car fitted with Mazda 12A rotary turbo. Full ground up rebuild. Ready to race. Many spares.

Part exchange Lotus Cortina considered. Ph Donnie Mackillop (Scotland, UK)0011 44 1360 440 902

Formula Libre, 1997 Pirahna, powered by Suzuki GSX-R 1100 W/C, mounted wets, spare nose/wing, winner 2000 Winton Masters. Suit rac ing or hillclimb. $17,500. Ph 03 9723 6632.204

80

or email juliasquire@hotmail.com 203 Butcha Formula Vee, one of Australia's fastest.

NSW champion 98, 2nd Super Series 98, Pole 99 Nationals, several lap records, weighs 465kg with 95kg driver. Mags, data logger, $13,500. Ph 02 4954 3333 bh or 02 4359 2796 ah. 203

Formula 3 Reynard 903, 2nd 2000 National Championship, powered by Golf engine, ready for 2001 season, priced for quick sale. Loads of spares. $33,000. Ph 02 9743 5357.203 Formula Ford 1991 model, complete with enclosed trailer and annex, excellent condition with ratios, wheels and spare bodywork and fresh engine. $16,500. Ph 07 3806 1465.203

Parts Ford 289-302, large capacity oil pan. Proven in Nc Mustang. New in box, sell for $575. Ph Ross 0408 463 777.204 Ford, Lotus Bullit Box, Timewarp, brand new unused as optioned for Lotus Cortina, $2500 Also 4.4 diff for Cortina/Escort, few other MKl GT Cortina parts. Ph 08 8264 2948. 204

Mini Arden, Xflow, alloy head, new, 1310 block, steel crank and rods, pistons, cam, manifold for 2 Webers, all parts unused inc head. POA. Ph Gary 07 5529 3374 or 0414 552 933.203 Valiant Group N parts, Webers, engine parts, new g/box, suspension joints, exc donor car. Will separate.

Ph 02 6231 2964. 203 Chev 350,too much race gear to list, heaps of HP. Over $17,000, spent $10,000 ono. Ph 02 9825 6110.203 l Air jacks, new/used, large range, most applica tions, quick release handles available, top quality.

C.C.I. Ph 0418 925 767. l Clutches, 7.25, 5.5, 5.0 single, twin, triple plate, sintered or carbon, AP-Tilton-QM, new/used. Spare covers, rings, plates also avail able. CCI Ph 0418 925 767. l Pedals, brake/clutch, floor mount/hanging, new/sued. Also available, bias valves, bias cables, mas ter cylinders, reservoirs etc. CCI Ph 0418 925 767.

motorsport news

AMRKET PLACE l Brake calipers, discs, pads. Mega range, new/used, exc condition - AP, Alcon, Brembo, Outlaw, Willwood. Overnight delivery. CCI Ph 0418 925 767.

Rolling chassis, VN-VS Commodore Super Sedan. New suspension and shocks, ready to race less engine. Spares included details on enquiry. $6000 ono. Ph 0408 839 788 or 0418 856 633.

l Hewland, DGB, 5 speed transaxie, top condi tion, new 9:31 CWP, ratio choices and spares available, $14K ratios, over 300 in stock to suit DGB, GFGB, TPT, FT200. CCI Ph 0418 925 767.

203

l Oil coolers - heat exchangers, Earls, Setrab, Serck, 6-70 row, new/used, also used water to oil heat exchangers, over 100 in stock. CCI Ph 0418 925 767. l Racecar parts, brake parts, chassis stands, diff oil pumps, exhaust collectors, fuel cell accessories, oil filters, quicklift jacks, ratio boxes, radiator caps, springs, spoilers, wings etc. CCI Ph 0418 925 767. l Uprights, fabricated/cast, fronts/rears, various sizes, new/used, also CVs, driveshafts, wishbones, rockers, pushrods, all top quality, exc condition.

CCIPh 0418 925 767. l Radiators, aluminium, new/used, single/dual pass, top quality, large range, various sizes, suit all applications, fr $300. CCI Ph 0418 925 767.

Transponers/Trailers Fully enclosed tandem trailer, suit FFord or open wheeler. CW annexe, lift up top, tyre racks, work bench etc. $3000 ono. Ph 03 9435 7082.202 Race car transporter, 1983 Ford FI 00 ex-ambu lance,dual fuel, resprayed and rust repaired, includes TV, video, CB, electric sunroof, AM/FM radio. New heavy duty tow pack and new tyres.

New bushings and rear wheel bearings. $15,000.

Ph 02 9543 2306.202 Trailer, fully enclosed, single axle, easy to tow, front access, suit FF, FV, go karts. Complete with annexe. $1700. Ph Paul 03 9842 3315.302 Lightweight trailer, open 2 wheel steel trailer 3.4 X 1.8m, built to carry racing car. Tows well, fair condition. $250. Ph 0408 143 093. 202 Toyota Coaster Bus, new 3.4L turbo diesel, fit ted with 3 beds and lots of cupboards, full length annex, Novrego. $18,500. Ph Rod 02 6562 7762.

204

SpeeUway

Trailer, large enclosed tandem, rear doors and ramps, side door, workbench, tyre racks, near new suspension, wheels and brakes. $5500. Ph 0408 510 198. 304 Ford F100, LWB, 351c, C6 auto, power steer, Hayman Reese towbar, LPG, new 2 pal blue, rear seats, alloy mags. $15,000 ono. Ph 08 8261 6672.204 .1

Super Sedan Mark 5, Hi-bar chassis, Q/C diff, 3 spd gearbox, coil over leaf springs, 5th arm rear, lots of spares and wheels, spare panels, M5D ign, Charlyn power steer, quick steer. 1 season since complete rebuild. $15,000 ono. Ph 08 8261 6672.204 Sprintcar, 1997 J&J standard bar car. Winters, KSE, Sanders direct mount f/ends. New tank, lightweight plates, complete roller or sell as kit. Ph 03 9778 4839 or 0410 493 242.204

Trailer, fully enclosed tandem 7 x 2.5 x 1.8, colour bond panelled, rear door ramp, side door access, winch, full length awning, near new. $7800 ono. Ph Paul 0418 109 006.203

H pen R t T B

i

I

Modified Production, VL Commodore, workewd 3.3 blue, CNC brake setup, powerglide, very competitive, nothing to be done, heaps spares. $7000 ono. Ph 02 6624 6071 or 0418 229 791.203

Ford F250 1992, 5.8L EFi, auto, A/C, P/S, 12 months rego, towbar, all new alloys, ally chequer tray, twin fuel tanks, extremely tidy, awesome towing rig. Must sell, $18,750, Ph 02 6895 4046.

c

Super Sedan VT Commodore,full roller, wide 5, 0 change diff, Willwood brakes, Q steer and charlyne, ex-cond with spare body and moulds and other spares. $11,000. Ph 03 6424 4544 bh or 0409 092 040.203

Fully enclosed tandem trailer, 18x6x6, electric brakes, fully enclosed alum annexe, winch, plenty of storage space, will carry two Formula Fords or similar. $4400. Ph 03 9431 3955 or 0414 469

gauges, switches and brake lines. Leaf springs and sliders. $1500. Ph 02 4262 8209 or 0412 652 397.203

13 April 2001

1 188. 203

Engines Falcon 4.1 crossflow motor, new, never used, all the best gear, too much to list. $5500. Ph 0419 787 031.204

V8 Heroes, from 80s and 90s. 10 photos from $45 inc postage. Ph 07 3806 1465 ah. 203

Other Model cars, ONYX 1:24 1992 Benetton (Schumacher) $40, ONYX 1993 Williams (Prost) $40, 1:20 plastic kits Tyrrell-Yamaha (1995) $30, Ligier JSl 1 (1979) $30, Ferrari 412 TB (1:24) $25.

Ph Bill 03 5243 3660 ah. 202 Hyper Stimulator, excellent condition, inc soft ware for Windows and supports all driving games. Comes with butterfly steering wheel and gear paddles (FI), pedal box and moulded fibreglass seat, still unpainted and unstickered. $1200 ono.

Ph 02 4655 6266.202

Motor Racing magazines, lOOs of them, from 1970 to 1983. Includes Racing Car News, Auto Action, Motoring News International and 4 bolt 010 block, modified cast dart heads, dyno Chequered Flag (complete set), any reasonable St flow sheets available. $8700 ono. Ph 08 9593 ; offers considered. Ph Russell on 02 4350 2238 bh 2377 or 0412 357 262.204 or 02 43 926709 ah. 202 Mazda 1.6!t B6 DOHC turbo, engine and 4WD Motoring and racing magazines, Motorsport, 5 spd $750, Mazda 1.81t BP DOHC turbo eng and Motor, Autocar, Autosport, Sports Car World, Car 4WD 5 spd $950, Toyota 4AGE eng and auto and Car Conversions, Car. Huge collection. Ph $850, Nissan V6 VG30 turbo eng and auto 0409 997 911 or 03 9530 5838.202 $1250. Ph 0412 146 555 or 03 5134 6998 ah. 204 Queensland Raceway life membership, com Pistons BDD Cosworth, 81.00 +.002", 100 petitor level entitles free spectator admission, dis miles, new rings, $800. Ph 02 9997 8072. 2cm counted entry and garaging fees. 8 hrs of free Ford Pinto 2L, 2 x 48 Webers, Crane cam, extrac practice per week, must be sold, moving inter tors, Mallory dist, 5 meetings since rebuild, Celica state. $2000 including transfer fees. Ph 0415 357 5 speed, suit Club/Sports Sedan. $3800 ono. Ph 398.202 02 6687 5355.203 Snap-On toolbox, KR 637, 34" long, 18" high, 1 Chev 355 engine, Cola crank, JE pistons.

18" deep, 10 drawers, ball bearing drawer slides, Weaver dry sump, 18 degree heads, Jessel rock internal lockable section, drop down front cover. ers, roller cam, alum radiator, alum Ford 9-inch $1500. Ph 0419 270 813. 202 spools. Ph 0416 049 442.203 Bell Sport II, forced air helmet, small, white.

Full race Chev engine, never raced, new 4340 Complete with 2 speed blower. Cost $950, sell $700. Ph 03 5422 1942 or 03 5422 7037.202 crank, rods, JE pistons, full roller Brodix 10 with Chev 6 litre, 355CI 630+hp, JE Pistons .030 Lunati crank & rods standard roller cam & lifters,

Jessel rocker gear, Victor Jnr. Manifold, billet caps, 600hp+ engine. $12,000. Ph 08 9452 2808.203 13B PP rotary, 300hp, complete 51mm down draught Weber carby, button clutch & lightened flywheel. Electronic dist. $2990. Ph 03 9792 9526 or 03 9708 0992. 203

1 X race suit, double layer RPM mondial. Size ML, red. $500. Ph 0419 242 025.202 Clipsal 500 tickets, 1st chicane, best seats (2), for 6-8 April. Ph 0419 339 796.203 Race clothing, Sparco gauntlets, t-shirt, socks, all new. Bell Mag-4 S61, black, radio wired, exc cond. Assorted balaclavas and L/S nomex tops. Ph 02 6231 2964. 203 Workshop decorations. Ford Motorsport ban ner 2.4 X 1.4, blue/red on heavy while vinyl $60.

Goodyear 1980s FI banner, canvas 1.4 x 0.8 $75.

Assorted screen-printed enamel signs. Ph 02 6231 2964.203 Books, large range, yearbooks, technical, mar que, general interest, genuinely cheap to clear.

Call for list. Ph 02 6231 2964.203

Ford Falcon Sport Pack XF, mild 351 Cleveland, C4, 600cfm v/s, headers, 3" single exhaust, pro lowered front by 50mm, 4 wheel disc brake, LSD 2.77:1, 15x7 ROH polished mags, 245x60 & 225x60 BFG, After market bonnet scoop, grill, rear and boot spoilers. Pro respray 1999. Quick car with economy. NZ$12,000. Ph 0064 03 548 1334 (NZ). 203

Wanted

250. 203

Comics, 'Hot Rod and Racing Cars', 'Clint Curtis and the Road Knights'. Any quantity/condition, genuine replies to phone/fax 02 6258 2425 or 0410 423 243.20Z Duggan or Irving cylinder head, suit 6 cyl Holden, will consider complete engine. Ph 0402 304 777.21M

1985 Isuzu FSR dual cab, seats 7 people, 454 Chev with engineer's certificate, on gas. 240v, bellylockers, winch, ramps, bedroom, 4 berth, suit large sedan. $27,000. Ph 03 5382 5940.203

Commodore Cup car, to lease for selected rounds in this years championship. With team support. Ph Marcus 0403 372 100 anytime. 203 SVO wheels, 16"x8" to suit Falcon. Ph 03 9720

Photographs 40ft Lusty Pantec, ex Glenn Seton, 2 car caring capacity overhead tyre racks both sides, large overhead lockable storage areas both front and rear, 12 volt winch with battery charger, wired for TV, 40ft X 18ft annex with side walls, 18ft wide, with brand new secondary smaller annex 20ft x 18ft , remote control alarm system, massive amount of storage cabins all with master key lockable doors with living area, fold down seats either side. $136,000. Ph Graham Hunt 03 9528

o Transporter, 28' x 8' x 10' pan. Retractable ramps, winch, 240 & 12 volt, plenty of belly lock er storage, side door access, wheel racks. Drives very well, reliable & economical & Hino’s biggest 170 diesel. $23,500 ono. Ph: 0418 644 217.203

Neptune Racing Team, Jim McKeown, Lotus Cortina Mk 1, friction powered model car.

Originally available from Neptune Station's circa 1964. Lost by anxious 40 year old who needs a replacement. Please helpl Email: rodbarrett® ozemail.com.au or 0411 101 977. 203

5667.203

tport

Super Sedan, Rayburn chassis. Commodore VS Clubsport body, aluminium interior and fuel tank, window net, AVCO top and bottom control arms, throttle pedal and linkages, electrical and spares. $3000. Ph 0416 048 962 or 07 5494 8962 203 Super Sedan EB Falcon, chassis and body with new Thunderbird nose and interior. Fuel tank,

'1!

J>

iwao* NKW

Two new AFCQ rear coil springs, 250 + 275 $80 each. Plus 175 + 400 $50 each. Power steer ing ram tube with 2 hoses $150. Pair front struts $100. Ph 02 4572 5949.203

Formula 500/Micro Sprint, chassis kit, c/moly tig welded, bonnet, tall, aluminium panels, all SUSP mounts and nerf bars, brand new. Bargain at $1750. Ph 03 6424 4544 bh or 0409 092 040.203

1

203

Super Sedan chassis, with Pontiac body, was ASCF registered, 4 meetings old. $1200. Four platform grain scales used to weigh car. $1000.

Ph 02 4572 5949.203

Super Sedan Corvette '95, body, complete, less motor and box, QC, 2 spare bodies and 5x5 hubs, spare tyres, rims, upper and lower arms. $7500.

Ph 0425 233 169.203

Hollywood mobile home, with race car in rear.

5 ton with tag axle 190hp with turbo, 6 speed, cruise llOkm/h. Toilet, shower, coooking facili ties, sleeps 6, immaculate condition. Spent $200,000, sell $110,000. Ph 08 9452 2808.203

Head for KT100S, in good condition. Also, bits and pieces to suit Arrow Clubman Light. Ph 0418 877 435.204 FI circuit maps, photocopies OK, for overseas tracks. Must be recent. Ph Bill 03 5243 3660 ah.

204

Race suit, FIA size L, FIA boots size 9, FIA gloves size 10, helmet large, 2 meetings old. $700 ono or will seperate. Ph 0419 489 465 or 02 9792 4779.203 Car Storage, at a sensible price from April 1st, monitored, brick lock-up factory, attended 8am6pm daily. Cars only $20 p/week, only 6 places available. Ph Colin, Seaford, Vic 9782 4144.203 Mack 613 Elite tractor, trailer and tanker unit, 23" long, never out of box. Authenticity cert, per fect condition, cost new $565, sell for $400. Diecast metal. Ph 02 6284 4833. 203 Formula One and MotoCross blockmounts, 3 FIs (90x60), 5 Motocross (50x40), very good con dition, $40 ono FI and $15 ono Motocross. Ph 08 8636 2527.203 Queensland Raceway competitors pass, includ free track time and spectator entry, dis count competition entry and garage hire, pre ferred parking etc, must sell. $1500 including transfer(60% of new price). Ph 0409 270 063.203 Sponsors required, for a talented QLD driver.

Looking for a naming rights sponsor for Improved Production car. Racing an ex-Group A Walkinshaw V8 Commodore. Great tax write offi Ph 07 5577 1005. 203

81

OPINION

nuorsport EDITORIAl STAFF

Editor: Phil Branagan Staff Journalist: Aaron Noonan Staff Journalist: Mark Glendenning

PRODUCTION Adv & Graphics Co-ordinator: Viv Brumby

ADVERTISING Advertising Manager: Brendon Sheridan

ADMINISTRATION Managing Director: Chris Lambden

CONTACTS 89 Orrong Crescent North Caulfield Vic 3161 (PO Box 1010 North Caulfield Vic 3161) Ph: 03 9527 7744 Fax: 03 9527 7766 Email: msnews@ozemail.com.au

CONTRIRUTORS General: Grant Nicholas, Darryl Flack, Mark Jones, Jon Thomson FI; Joe Saward, Adam Cooper, Nick Garton Europe: Quentin Spurring, Gary Watkins US: Phil Morris Speedway: Brett Swanson, Julie Pearce, Geoff Rounds, Wade Aunger, Tony Millard (UK) Rally: Peter Whitten, Jon Thomson Histories: Brian Reed Drag Racing: Greg Ward, Jon Asher (USA), Dave Ostaszewski (USA), Nick Nicholas, Steven White, Ken Ferguson Super Speedway: Martin D Clark (USA) National: Mark Wicks, Sean Henshelwood, Michael Shaw Photographers: Sutton Motorsport Images, Dirk Klynsmith, Bothwell Photographic, Marshall Cass, Nigel Snowdon & Diana Burnett, API Images, Neii Hammond, Slipstream Photographic, Thunder-Pics, Phil Williams, Allsport, John Morris/Mpix, Frank Midgley, John Bosher, Lynley Reid, Mike Patrick (UK), Daniel Wilkins, Peter French, Chris Carter, James Smith Artist: Bernie Walsh Cartoonist: Allan Schofield Motorsport News Is published by Australasian Motorsport News - ABN 55 125 120 702 Publisher: C Lambden Printed by: PMP Print 37-49 Browns Road Clayton 3168.

Distributed by: NDD Ltd Material published by MOTORSPORT NEWS is copyright and may not be reproduced in full or in part without the written permission of the publisher. Freelance contributions are welcome, and while all care will be taken, Australasian Motorsport News does not accept responsibility for damage or loss of material submitted.

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in

82

He doesn’t have his tongue in his cheek, surely?

Just a short note to congratulate Channel 9 on their once again fantastic coverage of the PI GP. The way they manage to cut to ads just as the commentary team announced it was raining, as well as; return to the coverage once the bulk of the rain had passed, all pit stops had been completed, the McLaren team had stuffed up the stop, and then show absolutely no replays of the action,just seemed to come so easily to the team at 9.

Must be all those years of experience in motorsport broadcasting.

Roll on Channel 'who cares as long as it ain't Channel 9' takeover of FI. Jon Sanderson e-mail: jsanderson@southemhydro.eom.au

Not up for a clip

On the front cover of last issue's mag it says,‘Clip their wings’.

GIVE IT A BREAK! The Fords almost caught up to Mark (Skaife) but they didn't. So what! It just proves that Holden has just that little bit better advantage. Why clip them for doing good. It looks to me that the Fords are scared of the Holdens.

Just stop and think that you've got everything and Holden hasn't.

I wonder what you will say to that.

AdamKaryn Email: V8srule2000@yahoo.com.au

Stinky Joe

Joe Saward's ‘subtle’ antiSchumacher stance is stinking out his FI reports.

In the Malaysian GP report(MS News #202) he made the thinlyveiled suggestion that Ferrari are using traction control. Apparently, the Ferraris had no right to be as fast as they were. They were on the "wrong tyre" for the conditions and passing other "fast" cars with much ease (such as Frentzen, who Saward himself later reports as having had gearshift problems!!).

He quotes other ‘experts’(the opposition) talking about the red cars being fast on intermediate tyres in "heavy rain". In fact, the Ferraris began their charge when the track was drying!

What about a perfect strategy by the team, poor performance by rivals, and plain faster driving?

Even if they had traction control, it's not the cure for everything.

You still have to brake, get into, and through the corner before traction control cuts in. That needs good driving.

converter Would it kill you Joe, for once, to acknowledge Schumacher's abilities unconditionally?

Go ahead, call me paranoid.

Saward's dislike for the German is loud, clear, and excruciatingly painful.

Still on FI,I have to say that J. Williams' letter in MS News #202, regarding MS News' treatment of Mr. Beveridge's death, was unreasonable. I am one more who praises MS News for the sensitivity with which they treated the incident. If only all the media could behave the same.

Malcolm Tarny Bridgewater, SA

Phillip Island thoughts

After the first round of the V8 Supercar championship for 2001,1 feel compelled to write you. Never before has it been so evident that the vast majority of Ford campaigners spend more time whining than they do testing/developing.

It is not possible for a team to be put together at the last minute, take on a second hand car (a totally unknown package to the team) and stick the bloody thing on provisional pole and finish second outright on the day with what has long been claimed to be an inferior product (albeit technically a better race car)!

I ask, where were DJR and Tickford Racing on Sunday 25

March 2001? What is blatantly obvious, and is easily reconciled to last year’s results, is that HRT worked a hell of a lot harder than any other team, and reaped the benefits.

Now we do have a parity issue, the concessions given to those racing behind a blue oval mean that those Holden teams working their arse off will achieve around the same results as the majority of the slack blue oval brigade.

Those Ford teams that attempt to put in a bit of effort will t^e it right up to HRT and probably walk away with the championship.

I call on A^SCO to stop giving concessions based on finishing order, and to open their eyes to the wider issues. Penalising Holden teams for HRT’s hard work is hardly achieving parity!

Daniel Robins Drobins77@hotmail.com

Get the drivers to drive them!

As readers know, there has been plenty of talk on V8 Supercar wings, undertrays and parity.

How about going the other way to hven up the racing and replace the wheels/tyres with normal, road height, competition wheels/tyres.

I’m sure Bridgestone could supply the right tyres. This will bring back what CAMS/ AVESCO/ TEGA are ignoring, full steering lock-to-lock.

The lower wheel/tyre combination will bring back what V8 Supercars currently lack, latter day versions of‘Fiery Fred Gibson’ and ‘Stormin Norm Beechey’.

The current V8 Supercars are becoming too predictable with driver input on-track being reduced.

Rununing lower diameter wheels/tyres may seem drastic, but with full steeling, comeiing techniques will be hvely and the racing/entertainment spectacle will return.

Damian Rowan Kew, Vic

Reader Rowan wants to see some good ’ol lock-to-lock and rubber burning. If Tony Longhurst drives like he did in Adelaide, then we should just get rid of tyres all together ... motorsport news

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