Ingall looking for a win

Supercheap Auto Racing’s Russell Ingall has got his sights on becoming the first dual winner of a V8 Championship round on the Gold Coast when he contests the Coffee Club V8 Supercar Challenge this weekend.
The traditional surfboard trophies that are presented to the top three finishers in the V8 Supercar Event at the Nikon Indy 300 have become some of the most sought after trophies in the V8 Supercar Championship.

Ingall won the event in 2002 and after finishing second in the corresponding round last year he believes that he can go one better in 2008, adding another highly sought after surfboard to his trophy collection in the process.

“When I won the championship in 2005 I got a trophy that was about twenty centimetres high and sits in the cabinet, whereas my surfboard from 2002 takes pride of place in my pool room,” said Ingall.

“If there is one trophy that all the drivers in the V8 championship talk about then it is the surfboards at Indy, everyone who has won one in the past want another one and those who haven’t got one say that they would love to have one.”

Ingall is under no illusions that whoever stands on top of the podium at this week’s Coffee Club V8 Supercar Challenge will have earned their place in the record books.

“Let me assure everyone that winning a round in the modern era of V8 Supercars isn’t getting any easier, there are a lot of guys out there capable of winning. Whoever gets a round victory has certainly earned it – especially around the tight confines of the Indy track,” said Ingall.

“All year the Supercheap Auto Racing team has been working hard and getting closer to the front of the pack. We had a minor mechanical issue put us out of contention for a podium at Bathurst two weeks ago so I’m very keen to make up for it at Indy this weekend.

“Throughout the season so far we’ve continually improved and are now consistently running inside the top five. I’m chasing a win before the end of the year prior to setting my sights on being a serious contender for the championship in 2009.”

Ingall will take to the circuit aboard the #39 Supercheap Auto Racing Commodore for the first time in practice on Friday morning followed by qualifying in the afternoon. Saturday’s action will consist of the opening 27-lap encounter with the round being highlighted by a pair of 27-lap races either side of the Nikon Indy 300 on Sunday.

Ingall enters this weekend’s 11th round in the 2008 V8 Supercar Championship Series tenth in the points standings. Jamie Whincup leads the championship ahead of Mark Winterbottom.