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Ambrose Eighth in Points After Tough Day Ends in Crash at Texas |
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Tuesday, 17 April 2007 |
Team Australia driver Marcos Ambrose sits eighth in the NASCAR Busch Series standings after a tough day in the O’Reilly 300 at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth, Texas today.
Ambrose was classified as 31st in the Aussie Vineyards-backed #59 Kingsford Charcoal Ford Fusion after a trying day ended in a crash with Raybestos Rookie of the Year rival Juan Pablo Montoya exiting turn two with 21 laps remaining. The crash put both cars out of the race.
Ambrose was quick to walk to Montoya’s pit to apologise for the
incident. The Australian was battling with a broken front shock
absorber and was attempting to reach the finish with the ill-handling
car when the two came into contact as Ambrose drifted wide as the two
ran side-by-side.
Ambrose made contact with Timothy Peters in the early laps when Peters
had a moment and slowed, leaving Ambrose nowhere to go. Ambrose’s car
did not sustain serious damage and was able to continue.
The Australian battled with a loose car in the early part of the race,
losing a lap as a result. Ambrose was able to improve the car as the
race wore on and despite losing a further lap during the pit sequence
he was looking at another top 20 finish.
The broken front shock absorber was another set-back but Ambrose
persevered in an effort to gain championship points until contact with
Montoya ended the two-time Australian V8 Supercar Champion’s day early.
Ford Nextel Cup star Matt Kenseth won his 23rd NASCAR Busch Series race
today in front of an estimated crowd of 98,000 at Texas Motor Speedway.
Denny Hamlin was second and Kenseth’s team-mate and NASCAR Busch Series
points leader Carl Edwards was third.
Marcos Ambrose – Aussie Vineyards-backed #59 Kingsford Charcoal Ford Fusion
“We had a long day out there today,” said Ambrose.
“With about 70 laps to go we broke a front shock and we were struggling
a little bit. From there we were just running around trying to get to
the finish.
“I went and said sorry to Juan Pablo (Montoya) and he was good about
it. Unfortunately for him he was having a good race but had problems of
his own that set him back before we got caught up.
“We were both running to get to the finish and unfortunately my car
wasn’t handling very well and I got up a bit high, we touched and that
was it. I feel bad for it and it wasn’t intentional, but that sort of
thing happens sometimes.
“At the start of the race we also had a bit of a touch when (Timothy)
Peters had a big moment. We were running three wide when we came up on
him and in that situation there’s nothing you can do. It didn’t damage
our car so we were lucky to get away with that.
“In the early part of the race we were fighting a really loose race car
and it was trying to spin me out. It was really hard to get on the
throttle early and we lost a lot of time while the car was like that
and we lost a lap. We dropped another lap just in the way that the pit
stops played out.
“The team continues to progress really well and we have some clear
direction and vision in terms of where we are going in getting the car
better and better.
“We trimmed the car out in the race today and we’re making some gains
and getting good information even though our race was not great.
“We will keep working at it and keep developing our package and work at
getting me more comfortable in the car. There is definite potential
there, the team continues to work hard and we are aiming at scoring
some good results.”
RESULTS: O’Reilly 300
Race 8 of the NASCAR Busch Series
1. #17 Matt Kenseth 200 laps
2. #20 Denny Hamlin
3. #60 Carl Edwards
4. #24 Casey Mears
5. #6 David Ragan
6. #99 David Reutimann
7. #5 Kyle Busch
8. #12 Kurt Busch
9. #15 Paul Menard
10. #29 Jeff Burton
31. #59 Marcos Ambrose 179 laps
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