Marcos Ambrose wins road race!

[birdman941]

I understand he was quite the driver in the Supercar series,
and he just won the road race at Watkins Glen!
In a FORD!!!!

[orsm8]

Yep he is from Tasmania which is a southern state of Australia. Great news by the way

[orsm8]

yes he won 2 V8 supercar championships. He put Ford Australia back on the map here

[birdman941]

Sort of like the Aussie version of what Bill Elliott did in the states in the mid 80's.
No one knew Ford raced until Bill started winning.
Marcos has been close a few times, but this time he got it!
Seem like good guy, and was pretty happy in victory lane.

[FPV8U]

Still can't belive it... just awesome.

[elgt146]

Well done !

And was this from 43rd on the grid ???

[birdman941]

According to nascar.com, he started 12th.
Link: http://www.nascar.com/races/bg/2008/...nofficial.html

[FTe342]

Great to hear. As you say he has shown that he could do it on the twisty stuff. He still hasn't come to grips with the oval circuits.

A model of his Nascar was recently released here but hasn't been selling all that well. Thsi should help boost sales. A mate has a model shop and has a few to sell so if anyone is interested just PM me and I will put you in touch

[FPV8U]

Originally Posted by shaynet

Great to hear. As you say he has shown that he could do it on the twisty stuff. He still hasn't come to grips with the oval circuits.

A model of his Nascar was recently released here but hasn't been selling all that well. Thsi should help boost sales. A mate has a model shop and has a few to sell so if anyone is interested just PM me and I will put you in touch

Is that the 1:24 scale model?

I'll be looking at one i think :

[birdman941]

Heck, I might buy some STP just to celebrate and help the cause!

[naughts]

Good to see he has "broken the duck" and gunna have a few cans.

[xr8 utey]

Originally Posted by elgt146

Well done !

And was this from 43rd on the grid ???

08 August 2008 http://www.marcosambrose.com
STAGE SET FOR STORMING DRIVE FROM AMBROSE


The stage is set for Marcos Ambrose to perform a storming drive from the back of the pack in the Centurion Boats at the Glen, with rain forcing the cancellation of NASCAR Sprint Cup Series qualifying at Watkins Glen International in New York state today.

With no qualifying held the field will be set by 2008 Owner’s Points standings, giving Ambrose and the #21 Little Debbie Ford Fusion the 43rd and final place in the starting line-up.

Ambrose, who has consistently proven to be one of the drivers to watch on road courses, will now look to use a combination of pit strategy and car speed to storm through the pack and challenge for his best ever Sprint Cup result in what will be his third start in the top division of NASCAR.

Last year rain also washed out Sprint Cup qualifying at Watkins Glen, but on that occasion Ambrose was driving the #77 entry of Robby Gordon Motorsports. As that was a new entry and therefore had no Owner’s Points, Ambrose was denied the chance to make his Sprint Cup debut.

While practice and qualifying for Sprint Cup Series teams was rained out, the NASCAR Nationwide Series teams were able to complete one practice session before qualifying and the Zippo 200 is schedule for tomorrow.

The Australian posted the sixth fastest time in the #59 STP Ford Fusion of JTG Daugherty Racing, getting 25 laps of practice around the 2.45-mile road course in the afternoon once the circuit had dried.

If NASCAR Nationwide Series qualifying is rained out tomorrow morning, the field will be set by 2008 Nationwide Series Owner’s Points and Ambrose will start from 17th position.

QUOTES - MARCOS AMBROSE

“I’ve got the job in front of me – literally,” said Ambrose.

“In a 43-car field it’s a long way from the first row to the last, but I’d like to think that our Little Debbie Ford will be one to watch.

“I just think that it’s great that despite the rain, the Wood Brothers car is in the race for Sunday and that we’ve got a chance to give it our best.

“It’s going to be a big challenge but I cannot wait. I’m pumped because this is a great team that never gives up, so we are looking forward to this challenge.

“I just want to do the best job I can for Wood Brothers and Little Debbie and see how many of those cars we can get passed.

“With the field set by owner’s points and this being a road course, the field is going to take a few laps to sort itself out and kind of reset itself. There will be cars going forwards and slipping down the order.

“I think the #21 Little Debbie Ford Fusion will be one to keep an eye on, for sure.”

STARTING LINE-UP: Sprint Cup Series at Watkins Glen
1. #18 Kyle Busch 1st in 2008 Owner’s points
2. #88 Dale Earnhardt Jr 2nd in 2008 Owner’s points
3. #99 Carl Edwards 3rd in 2008 Owner’s points
4. #48 Jimmie Johnson 4th in 2008 Owner’s points
5. #31 Jeff Burton 5th in 2008 Owner’s points
6. #24 Jeff Gordon 6th in 2008 Owner’s points
7. #9 Kasey Kahne 7th in 2008 Owner’s points
8. #16 Greg Biffle 8th in 2008 Owner’s points
9. #20 Tony Stewart 9th in 2008 Owner’s points
10. #11 Denny Hamlin 10th in 2008 Owner’s points
43. #21 Marcos Ambrose 43rd in 2008 Owner’s points

RESULTS: Nationwide Series Final Practice
1. #33 Kevin Harvick 1:12.822
2. #29 Jeff Burton 1:13.057
3. #64 Max Papis 1:13.162
4. #40 Dario Franchitti 1:13.400
5. #48 Jimmie Johnson 1:13.491
6. #59 Marcos Ambrose 1:13.526
7. #52 Boris Said 1:13.564
8. #66 Steve Wallace 1:13.576
9. #2 Clint Bowyer 1:13.596
10. #55 Robby Gordon 1:13.643

2008 NASCAR Nationwide Series Standings - After Race 23 of 35
1. Clint Bowyer 3346
2. Carl Edwards 3178
3. Brad Keselowski 3164
4. David Reutimann 3035
5. David Ragan 3003
6. Mike Bliss 2944
7. Kyle Busch 2828
8. Mike Wallace 2730
9. Jason Leffler 2629
10. Jason Keller 2628
11. David Stremme 2587
12. Marcos Ambrose 2586

2008 NNS Prizemoney after 23 races:
Marcos Ambrose: US$725,709

2008 NSCS Prizemoney after 2 races:
Marcos Ambrose: US$237,075

RACE SCHEDULE
Local New York (US Eastern) Times
NATIONWIDE Qualifying
Saturday 9 August 2008
10:10am

SPRINT CUP Practice 2
Saturday 9 August 2008
12:00pm – 12:45pm

SPRINT CUP Final Practice
Saturday 9 August 2008
1:20pm – 2:20pm

NATIONWIDE Race – 82 laps
Saturday 9 August 2008
3:00pm

SPRINT CUP Race – 90 laps
Sunday 10 August 2008
2:00pm

UNITED STATES TV SCHEDULE
NATIONWIDE Race
Saturday 9 August 2008
ABC
2:30pm US Eastern

SPRINT CUP Race
Sunday 10 August 2008
ESPN
1:00pm US Eastern

AUSTRALIAN TIMES
Australian Eastern Standard Times
NATIONWIDE Qualifying
Sunday 10 August 2008
12:10am

SPRINT CUP Practice 2
Sunday 10 August 2008
2:00am – 2:45am

SPRINT CUP Final Practice
Sunday 10 August 2008
3:20am – 4:20am

NATIONWIDE Race – 82 laps
Sunday 10 August 2008
5:00am

SPRINT CUP Race – 90 laps
Monday 11 August 2008
4:00am

AUSTRALIAN TV SCHEDULE
NATIONWIDE Race
Sunday 10 August 2008
Ten HD
4:30am – 8:00am AEST

SPRINT CUP Race
Monday 11 August 2008
FOX Sports Three
3:00am – 7:30am

AUSTRALIAN TV REPLAYS
This week’s Sprint Cup race from Watkins Glen
Monday 11 August 2008
FOX Sports One
12:00pm – 2:00pm

Monday 11 August 2008
FOX Sports One
10:30pm – 12:30am

ABOUT WATKINS GLEN INTERNATIONAL
Location: Watkins Glen, New York
Track Length: 2.45 miles
Race Distance: 82 laps Nationwide/90 laps Sprint Cup
Circuit Type: 11-turn road course

NASCAR SPRINT CUP SERIES RECORD BOOK
Defending Sprint Cup Race Winner: Kevin Harvick
Defending Sprint Cup Polesitter: Patrick Carpentier
Marcos Ambrose Watkins Glen Sprint Cup debut

NASCAR NATIONWIDE SERIES RECORD BOOK
Defending Nationwide Race Winner: Tony Stewart
Defending Nationwide Polesitter: Jeff Gordon
Marcos Ambrose 2007 Race Finish: 13th
Marcos Ambrose 2007 Qualifying: Seventh

marcos has just won the event what we would call here in australia a fujitsu race,now don't get me wrong please.it's the level 2 series called the "nationwide series". the main game is the "sprint cup" where marcos will start in 43rd position because qualifying has been rained out.

[Mercury 8]

[birdman941]

He won the Nationwide series race.
The cup race is tomorrow.
Sorry for the confusion, but he still did fantastic.
The man can drive.

[xr8 utey]

Originally Posted by birdman941

The man can drive.

i can see the americans screaming about parity! now that a aussie has stolen their thunder
maybe they might eliminate all the races with right hand corners

[birdman941]

No one her wants the dang Toilettas in Nascar.
Good to see a Ford win,
and as far as I am concerned, US-Oz are brothers.

[kempster1]

Well done Marcos......

[TC200six]

Go Marcos! I was a real fan of him because he ended Holden's domination in the V8s and if he stays with Ford over there he can end Toyota's recent domination.

YES! About time he finally won over there, I heard recently he came close to winning.

He's from V8 Supercars so it's no surprise he would be very good at the road courses. I saw a replay on Fox Sports a while ago when he made his debut in the Nation Wide series and I couldn't get over how quick he was, (it was a road course)...Nether could the commentators, but unfortunately he didn't finish the race because a stupid Dodge PIT manoeuvred him.:(

[birdman941]

I assume the Supercars use the Boss motors?
Still using pushrods/carbs here in Nascar.
Stone age.

[Serial_Fool]

Nope, they use a extensively modified version of the 5.0 V8 "Windsor" engine using EFI.

From the Wikipedia

" V8 supercar has to be front-engined and rear-wheel drive. Every car is powered by either a 5.0 L Ford "Windsor" SVO or Chevrolet Aurora race engine (depending on the make) which is capable of producing between 460 and 485 kW (620 — 650 bhp) of power, but generally quoted as a little over 450 kW (600 bhp) in race trim. Engines have pushrod actuated valves and electronic fuel injection. Both Ford and Holden engines are based on racing engines from their respective US parent companies. Engines are electronically restricted to 7,500 rpm.

Broadly speaking, the engines are of 5 litres capacity, 2 valve per cylinder. Compression ratio is regulated to 10.5:1 and unleaded fuel (ostensibly equivalent to existing high octane pump fuel) is mandated. EFI configuration is that of individual throttle bodies (albeit throttle actuation is linked/synchronised) and one injector per cylinder.

Although there is no restrictor plate, or other equivalent powerrestrictor placed on any circuits (such as with NASCAR on high speed ovals), the engines typically produce approximately 50 less bhp when raced at Bathurst. This is done both to gain necessary engine longevity on the endurance race as well as to improve fuel efficiency, and moderate the number of potential refuelling stops."

[birdman941]

Interesting.
I wonder what a nice Boss motor could do in a series like that.

[Serial_Fool]

We'll probably never know, they are sticking to the 5.0 Windsor like I don't know what and considering the last Windsor sold here was in 2002 they should update already.

He is a YouTube link to our Bathurst 1000 (Kilometer) which is the equivilant to your Daytona 500. Its raced on a "road course" which is placed ontop of a mountain. This link is from the 2007 event while it was raining with all 5 of the front runners only using slick tires. Top speed of the track is around 290 KPH.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vkKc4Po0a-o

[Powdered Toast Man]

He only just missed out winning in Canada because of luck with pitstop timing and the race being red flagged. Good to see his luck finally changed.

[Silver Ghia]

Originally Posted by Powdered Toast Man

He only just missed out winning in Canada because of luck with pitstop timing and the race being red flagged. Good to see his luck finally changed.

Yep, good to see he got lucky this time when he came in for his second pitstop on lap 49, just before the yellow caution went out, so he could then go to the finish.

[birdman941]

Originally Posted by Serial_Fool

We'll probably never know, they are sticking to the 5.0 Windsor like I don't know what and considering the last Windsor sold here was in 2002 they should update already.

He is a YouTube link to our Bathurst 1000 (Kilometer) which is the equivilant to your Daytona 500. Its raced on a "road course" which is placed ontop of a mountain. This link is from the 2007 event while it was raining with all 5 of the front runners only using slick tires. Top speed of the track is around 290 KPH.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vkKc4Po0a-o

Your race was loads more exciting than ours.
Good to see "Ford, Ford, Ford....."
He lost last week from bad luck, and won this week from good luck.
He could have easily won both.
He must be one happy son of a gun tonight!

[kempster1]

Originally Posted by Serial_Fool

We'll probably never know, they are sticking to the 5.0 Windsor like I don't know what and considering the last Windsor sold here was in 2002 they should update already.

He is a YouTube link to our Bathurst 1000 (Kilometer) which is the equivilant to your Daytona 500. Its raced on a "road course" which is placed ontop of a mountain. This link is from the 2007 event while it was raining with all 5 of the front runners only using slick tires. Top speed of the track is around 290 KPH.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vkKc4Po0a-o

This is only slow laps in the rain, show birdman a dry qualifing lap on this great track
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XKpP1Sd4iHU

[birdman941]

That's it!
I am moving to Australia!

[Falc'man]

Marcos!!! Marcos!!! Marcos!!! : : :

Not surprised one bit. He's one of the best steerers ever to come from Oz.

[henry_ford]

Agreed. Go Marcus.
i thought he came third... was that the race before?

[cool65]

I want to share the love.
Has anyone got Greg Murphy's email address?