Johnson fights back to fourth

It was a challenging day for the Jim Beam Racing team at the Clipsal 500 today as Steve Johnson blitzed through the field to take fourth place overall after dealing with a late race penalty.
Johnson was denied an almost certain podium finish when race officials deemed that he overlapped another car during a late race restart.

Will Davison was sidelined with a clutch problem very early in the race and had no option but to retire on Lap 7.

After a blinder of a start where he jumped two places to fourth before the first corner, Johnson was bitterly disappointed when he was forced in to serve a drive-through penalty after moving through the field into 6th place following the incident with Garth Tander.

“To get a penalty that late in the race is so disappointing considering the car in front of me had a very obvious problem on the restart; our car was fast and I was so close to stepping onto the podium”, said Johnson.

“Although we had our fair share of trouble today, it was still pretty gratifying to come back from all the drama and end up fourth overall. The guys have all worked really hard over the season break and the car has definitely improved. Its a great feeling to be up there with all the top teams; not only to catch them but also to pass and maintain the gap. There is no doubt that Jim Beam Racing is on the rise and looking to get some great results this year”, Johnson concluded.

Will Davison started Race 2 from seventh place and was poised to push the leaders when a slipping clutch ended his race on lap seven.

Davison said, “I was really looking forward to a great result today after yesterdays race and was focused on getting to the podium but I knew I was in trouble as soon as I got off the start line”.

“The clutch started to slip once I started and wasnt quite right. After a couple of laps the problem only got worse so I came in to try and get it fixed but when I went out again it still wasnt right; the car had no drive so I had no choice but to retire. Its always a huge disappointment, especially when you are going so well but all you can do is look forward to the next race and hope for better results,” said a disappointed Davison.

Team owner Dick Johnson was pleased with the strength of his team despite todays mixed results and is positive that this is the start of great things for the Queensland-based outfit.

“When we get beaten down, we always seem to come back bigger and better and this is no exception,” Johnson said.

“Steve drove exceptionally well for a fourth placing overall today and I have no doubt that if Will didnt have to retire, he would have also been up there with Steve by the end of the race. Its unfortunate that Steve copped a penalty when he was circulating in a fantastic position but thats the way things go in this business. The cars are looking very good indeed and Im very positive that the season ahead will bring great things for the team”.

Jamie Whincup completed a clean sweep of the event with another win in todays final race, followed by a great drive by Lee Holdsworth in second and Cameron McConville in third. Todd Kelly was fourth and Shane Van Gisbergen from Stone Brothers Racing completed the Top 5.

After the first round of the 2008 season, Jamie Whincup from Team Vodafone leads the points from Lee Holdsworth and Rick Kelly. Jim Beam Racings Steve Johnson is in fourth place and Todd Kelly rounds out the Top 5.

Round 2 of the V8 Supercar championship kicks off at Eastern Creek Raceway in Sydney from 7 9 March.