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Ambrose qualifies for second cup start and finishes twelth at Orp |
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Sunday, 27 July 2008 |
Marcos Ambrose has qualified for his second NASCAR Sprint Cup Series
start and his first on an oval by qualifying 24th for the Allstate 400
at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indiana today.
The
sizeable feat was achieved despite Ambrose only completing two laps in
the #47 Little Debbie Ford Fusion in the two practice sessions held
yesterday due to mechanical issues.
Ambrose was the third fastest car that is outside the Top 35 in
Owner’s Points and therefore had to qualify for the race on speed.
Also today at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Ambrose was 27th in third practice and 27th in final practice.
Meanwhile Ambrose finished a strong 12th in the Kroger 200 at
O’Reilly Raceway Park, also in Indianapolis, in the NASCAR Nationwide
Series.
Robert Pressley drove the #59 Kingsford Match Light Ford Fusion in
the two practice sessions held earlier today while Ambrose was on
Sprint Cup driving duties, before the Australian arrived in time the
qualify in 37th and run a solid race on the short track.
Kyle Busch won the Kroger 200 today, with the next two races in the
2008 NASCAR Nationwide Series both on road courses in Montreal and
Watkins Glen.
QUOTES - MARCOS AMBROSE
On qualifying for the Allstate 400 …
“I’ve never been so anxious and nervous and apprehensive in all my life,” said Ambrose.
“Two laps on the race track here at the Brickyard, which is so
famous and so intimidating as well, I just had to suck all that up and
let her rip.
“We gained 1.1 seconds from the two laps I did yesterday to make the show, so I’m just happy for these guys.
It’s a big weekend for us to make this race. It gets us off on the right footing and we’re showing them we can do it.”
Q: A LOT OF PEOPLE DIDN’T GIVE YOU A CHANCE OF MAKING IT AFTER YESTERDAY.
“I didn’t give myself much of a chance either, but you’ve got to
trust yourself and forget what’s at stake and just drive the race car.
“You’ve got six corners to worry about, the two getting up to speed
and the four on the race track to get the lap done and that’s it. I
just held on.”
Q: YOU QUALIFIED FOR A CUP RACE EARLIER THIS YEAR, BUT IT WAS ON A
ROAD COURSE, WHICH IS YOUR SPECIALTY. IS THIS THE CULMINATION OF A
DREAM TODAY?
“To do it with these guys – a brand new start-up team. Frankie Kerr
(Ed – Ambrose’s crew chief in Cup) has come on board and he’s just been
a miracle for us.
“We’re racing against the big boys and we qualified ourselves in on
merit. We’ve done it our own way, the hard way. It means an awful lot
to me.
“I feel like today I’ve made it. I feel like we’re in the
Brickyard. We’re gonna have a great day tomorrow no matter where we
finish just because we’ve made it in.
“I just feel so elated for these guys and everyone who has
supported me and gave me the confidence to try and do this. It’s just
amazing.”
On finishing 12th in the Kroger 200 …
“I’m pretty pleased with our finish tonight,” said Ambrose.
“We just quite didn’t have the car there at the very end, but we
got ourselves in a good position. I can’t complain. I hadn’t practiced
the car at all. We had a pretty good piece and I had a fun night.”
RESULTS: Sprint Cup Qualifying
1. #48 Jimmie Johnson 49.515
2. #8 Mark Martin 49.616
3. #12 Ryan Newman 49.732
4. #9 Kasey Kahne 49.776
5. #24 Jeff Gordon 49.849
6. #19 Elliott Sadler 49.890
7. #2 Kurt Busch 49.905
8. #26 Jamie McMurray 49.911
9. #99 Carl Edwards 49.942
10. #17 Matt Kenseth 50.023
24. #47 Marcos Ambrose 50.524
RESULTS: Kroger 200 at O’Reilly Raceway Park
Race 22 in the 2008 NASCAR Nationwide Series
1. #18 Kyle Busch 200 laps
2. #16 Colin Braun
3. #1 Mike Bliss
4. #29 Scott Wimmer
5. #22 Josh Wise
6. #33 Cale Gale
7. #5 Landon Cassill
8. #20 Joey Logano
9. #6 David Ragan
10. #66 Steven Wallace
12. #59 Marcos Ambrose
2008 NASCAR Nationwide Series Standings - After Race 21 of 35
1. Clint Bowyer 3216
2. Brad Keselowski 3043
3. Carl Edwards 3036
4. David Reutimann 2926
5. David Ragan 2885
6. Mike Bliss 2838
7. Kyle Busch 2828
8. Mike Wallace 2616
9. David Stremme 2587
10. Jason Keller 2534
11. Jason Leffler 2491
12. Marcos Ambrose 2411
2008 NNS Prizemoney after 22 races:
Marcos Ambrose: US$657,666
2007 NSCS Prizemoney after 1 race:
Marcos Ambrose; US$88,250
RACE SCHEDULE
Local Indianapolis (US Eastern) Times
SPRINT CUP Race – 160 laps
Sunday 27 July 2008
2:00pm US Eastern
UNITED STATES TV SCHEDULE
Sprint Cup @ IMS
Sunday 27 July 2008
ESPN
1:00pm US Eastern
AUSTRALIAN TIMES
Australian Eastern Standard Times
SPRINT CUP Race – 160 laps
Monday 28 July!
2008
4:00am AEST
AUSTRALIAN TV SCHEDULE
Sprint Cup @ IMS (Allstate 400)
Monday 28 July 2008
Ten HD and FOX Sports Three
3:00am – 8:00am US Eastern
ABOUT INDIANAPOLIS MOTOR SPEEDWAY
Location: Indianapolis, Indiana
Track Length: 2.5 miles
Race Distance: 160 laps
Degree of Banking in Turns: 9 degrees
ABOUT O’REILLY RACEWAY PARK AT INDIANAPOLIS
Location: Indianapolis, Indiana
Track Length: 0.686 miles (1.10 km)
Race Distance: 200 laps – 137.2 miles (220.8km)
Degree of Banking in Turns: 7.5 degrees
Degree of Banking in Straights: 2 degrees
NASCAR SPRINT CUP SERIES RECORD BOOK
Defending Sprint Cup Race Winner: Tony Stewart
Defending Sprint Cup Polesitter: Reed Sorenson
Marcos Ambrose – Indianapolis Motor Speedway debut
NASCAR NATIONWIDE SERIES REC!
ORD BOOK
Defending Nationwide Race Winner: Jason L!
effler
<
br>Defending Nationwide Polesitter: Aric Almirola
Marcos Ambrose 2007 Race Finish: 32nd
Marcos Ambrose 2007 Qualifying: 24th
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