Ingall confident new pairing can win Bathurst

 

By Ed Jackson, 7 Oct 2009

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 Bathurst, motor sports, Russell Ingall, V8 Supercar

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V8 Supercar veteran Russell Ingall says a new combination with Owen Kelly for Sunday’s Bathurst 1000 will be his best chance to win the race since joining the Supercheap Auto team.

Ingall, a two-time Bathurst winner, raced with teammate Tim Slade at last month’s Phillip Island 500 but says he has gone with the experience of former V8 Supercar driver Kelly for Sunday’s race.

“Tim did a good job at Phillip Island, he put up a good show and we had a reasonable result, but at Bathurst it’s very, very different,” the 45-year-old Holden driver said.

“It was a tough call, but when you’re up there and you’re a genuine contender like we are, it’s a lot of pressure on someone. I know what that’s like from when I drove with Larry (Perkins) for the first time in ’95.

“Pace-wise, Tim and Owen will probably be very similar, but the experience tipped the decision in Owen’s favour.”

Kelly left V8 Supercar racing in 2007 after six seasons in the sport to chase a career in America’s NASCAR series, similar to fellow Tasmanian and former V8 Supercar champion Marcos Ambrose.

Slade will now team up with Ingall’s partner from last year at Bathurst and Supercheap Auto team manager Paul Morris in Sunday’s race.

“I’m sure Tim’s disappointed, but with the pressure off he will probably perform better and I’m sure he and Paul will be top 10,” Ingall said.

Most wins
9 – Peter Brock
7 – Jim Richards
6 – Larry Perkins
5 – Mark Skaife
4 – Allan Moffat, Greg Murphy, Craig Lowndes
3 – Dick Johnson, Jamie Whincup
2 – Harry Firth, Bob Jane, John Goss, Allan Grice, John Bowe, Russell Ingall, Tony Longhurst, Steven Richards, Rick Kelly.

Most wins in succession
3 – Peter Brock (1978-80, 1982-84), Jim Richards (1978-80), Larry Perkins (1982-84), Craig Lowndes (2006-08), Jamie Whincup (2006-08).

2 – Bob Jane (1963-64), Allan Moffat (1970-71), Jim Richards (1991-92), Mark Skaife (1991-92, 2001-02), Steven Richards (1998-99), Greg Murphy (2003-04), Rick Kelly (2003-04).

Last 10 Bathurst winners
1999 – Greg Murphy/Steven Richards (Holden)
2000 – Garth Tander/Jason Bargwanna (Holden)
2001 – Mark Skaife/Tony Longhurst (Holden)
2002 – Mark Skaife/Jim Richards (Holden)
2003 – Greg Murphy/Rick Kelly (Holden)
2004 – Greg Murphy/Rick Kelly (Holden)
2005 – Mark Skaife/Todd Kelly (Holden)
2006 – Craig Lowndes/Jamie Whincup (Ford)
2007 – Craig Lowndes/Jamie Whincup (Ford)
2008 – Craig Lowndes/Jamie Whincup (Ford)

Race wins by manufacturer
25 – Holden
17 – Ford
2 – Nissan
1 – Jaguar, Morris, BMW, Volvo

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