Magnussen strikes back with a vengeance!
Per Poulsen was the man in charge, starting qualification heat two from pole position. The first eight contestants from heat one have their grid positions turned around, so the driver in eighth position starts from pole. Behind him was Chevrolet driver Henrik Lundgaard, Martin Jensen, James Thompson, Jason Watt, Jan Magnussen and Michel Nykjær and Casper Elgaard.
When the start goes, Poulsen uses his strong Honda engine in his Hartmann Honda Accord, and pulls away.
Magnussen is passing passing Watt, the next order of the day was Thompson. And the white Honda of the Englishman is really suffering form the weight, making his tires last only half of the 14 laps in the heat.
Magnussen seemed to know this, and attacked in every single corner, trying to get past Thompson in fourth spot. The Honda driver can see his laptimes fall for each lap, and soon Magnussen is past after a sneaky manoeuvre in the first corners. Martin Jensen had a less than perfect start, dropping down through the orders.
After a hefty fight, Magnussen gets past Lundgaard at the end of the straight, outbraking the blue Chevrolet Nubira. From sixth spot to second, Magnussen now has to claw in Poulsen in his Honda, who has extended a considerable lead. But Magnussen manages to drive laptimes, which is the fastest in the heat, and soon Poulsen has Magnussen all over his boot lid. Jan is trying outbraking, sneaking in on the inside, almost pushing him around the track.
At the end of the day, Magnussen decides enough is enough, and pushes his way past Poulsen into the Horseshoe turn. You can almost hear the metal from across the track, but Poulsen doesn’t give up. Magnussen keeps adding pressure, and then he is past. From sixth to first spot in one heat, but everyone did their best, while keeping check on their points, not doing anything foolish.
Jan Magnussen wins qualification heat two, and this victory is very popular with the team. After fighting a tough battle with the BMW and the E85 fuel, the frontwheel drive cars has dominated the season so far. But the 2008 champion is back on top, grinning from ear to ear.
“That was mighty nice, “Magnussen cheered. “It’s awesome to be able to win again. It has been tough. But damn, it was about time!”
The fastest privateer is Per Poulsen while John Hansen is the winning Invitation Only driver.
