Jason Bargwanna wants to put Rock Racing into the top 10 in the V8 Supercar Championship standings at the Clipsal 500 on the streets of Adelaide this weekend.
The V8 veteran is in his first season with the Kelly Racing operation and admits that there is more improvement to come from the #11 Rock Holden Commodore as he adapts to the team’s cars.
But in spite of that learning process, the former Bathurst winner already sits equal 14th in the series points after four races and is aiming to leap into the top 10 as soon as possible.
Entering the gruelling Adelaide event, which Bargwanna names as one of his favourites, he sits 21 points outside the top 10 in the driver’s standings.
Bargwanna has enjoyed success in the past on the streets of Adelaide, with the highlight being a podium result in 2000 with third place in Sunday’s race that year. Other top 10 race finishes came in 1999, 2002 and 2004.
Tony Ricciardello will make his Clipsal 500 debut in Adelaide this weekend, but it will not be the first start on the famous street circuit for the West Aussie driver.
The driver of the #16 Super-Max Holden Commodore has raced on both configurations of the Adelaide street circuit, on the longer Grand Prix circuit in his well-known Sports Sedan in 2000 and in the Fujitsu V8 Supercar Series support event at this event in 2003. In the Sports Sedan event Ricciardello won two of the three races held and was second in the other.
Ricciardello will be aiming to learn as quickly as possible in practice on Friday ahead of this weekend’s demanding pair of 250-kilometre races, seeking to convert his previous knowledge of the circuit into improved race results.
KELLY RACING QUOTEBOARD
JASON BARGWANNA - #11 Rock Holden Commodore:
“The Clipsal 500 is an event that I really love,” said Jason Bargwanna.
“I’ve had some pretty good success there in the past and usually it’s an event that is a great way to kick the season off.
“It’s a top circuit and a very tough event that I really enjoy.
“We didn’t understand the Rock Commodore well enough in Bahrain and we paid the price.
“While I am are still learning what these cars like in terms of set-up, we’ve had a solid start to the year so that’s very encouraging.
“Coming out of the Middle East and going to a circuit that we know should give us a leg up in terms of being even more competitive in Adelaide.
“Our aim is to come out the other side of Adelaide and be in the top 10 in the championship points and I definitely think we are capable of achieving that this weekend.”
TONY RICCIARDELLO - #16 Super-Max Holden Commodore:
“I have raced in Adelaide twice, once on each circuit,” said Tony Ricciardello.
“I raced there in 2000 in the Sports Sedan on the full Grand Prix circuit at Le Mans Series event. The Grand Prix track is virtually the same – you really just miss the Turn 8 sweeper.
“Then in 2003 I raced at the Clipsal 500 in the Fujitsu V8 Series. I qualified fourth but had some mechanical failures set me back.
“So I didn’t get as many laps as I would have liked but all that experience adds up for this weekend.
“The two rounds we have already had this year will also help as it has allowed me to get used to the Super-Max Commodore and to also get ‘race fit’.
“But Clipsal is another kettle of fish. Compared to the open space of Abu Dhabi and Bahrain the barriers are right up close in Adelaide. That also adds to the heat and hurts the air circulation, so it’s a tough race.
“We train for hard for events like Clipsal, so the key is just keep your mind on the job for the entire race.”
V8 Supercar Championship Series Points Standings
After Race 4 of 26
1. Jamie Whincup 600
2. Mark Winterbottom 543
3. Shane Van Gisbergen 471
4. Craig Lowndes 447
5. James Courtney 420
6. Rick Kelly 392
7. Lee Holdsworth 372
8. Steven Johnson 296
9. Michael Caruso 294
10. Russell Ingall 270
14. Jason Bargwanna 249
23. Tony Ricciardello 135
CLIPSAL 500 DETAILS:
Circuit: Adelaide Parklands Street Circuit II
Location: Adelaide, South Australia
Circuit Length: 3.22 kilometres
Format: 250km race Saturday and Sunday
2009 Attendance: 272,800 (four days)
2009 Pole Winner: Jamie Whincup
2009 Race 1 Winner: Jamie Whincup
2009 Race 2 Winner: Jamie Whincup
