Sprint Gas Racing just miss pole

Sprint Gas Racing’s Jason Richards and Greg Murphy have just missed out on provisional pole at Bathurst.
Richards sat in first place with 10 minutes of qualifying remaining but slipped to second moments after the session had finished.

Richards was the fastest driver on the track as the big guns tried to better his time. With it looking like Sprint Gas Racing might take provisional pole into tomorrow’s top-10 shootout, it was Mark Winterbottom that spoilt the party.

In the top three in all of the V8 Supercar sessions today, Sprint Gas Racing had its best day of the season.

“We are so fired up, it’s been a sensational day,” Jason Richards said.

“The Sprint Gas Commodore feels amazing; it is so good, easy to drive and definitely the highlight of the year. It’s well balanced and fast. It actually encourages you to go faster.”

Richards’ knew that he had a good car as he went over the top of the mountain.

“When I didn’t have to lift the foot going over the grate I knew we would be fast,” Richards said.

“When you push the metal to the floor, the car allows you to do it. It doesn’t step out, it keeps powering around the track. Murph and I can push the car and it responds. I’m loving this, Murph is loving this, we’re absolutely pumped.”

Murphy, after a lean couple of years admits he is having the time of his life.

“This is easily the best car I‘ve driven since the K-mart days (2004),” Murphy said.

“I’m just so happy. I believe we are back on track, car three feels like a real race car. It feels like how a race car should feel. Bathurst is a tough track, I always enjoy racing here but if you don’t have a good car then you’re not going to achieve much.

“I certainly believe that if we keep going like we did today then Sunday could be a good day for the team. This is the most enjoyable race weekend that I’ve had in the last two years.”

Richards locked in his fastest lap early in the second qualifying session as dark clouds and potential rain looked to spoil what had been perfect qualifying conditions.

“We wanted to punch out a good lap early, in case the weather turned bad,” Richards said.

“With ten or so minutes to go we were in first place and thought we’d done enough to make the shoot-out.

“It would have been nice to stay in first place, but second is OK. I’ll happily accept pole tomorrow.

“At the moment we’re right on top of it and we’re getting more confident after each lap, we’re over the moon.”