Lee Holdsworth and Craig Baird have completed the qualifying races for the Dick Smith Sandown 500 in 13th place and that is where they will start tomorrow’s 161-lap 500km V8 Supercar endurance event.
On a day that included practice, plus a single qualifying session to set the grid for the twin 20-lap sprints, the IRWIN Ford looked more like it had done 500km of racing after a particularly rough race for Holdsworth.
The qualifying session which set the grid for the opening 20-lap qualifying sprint didn’t go to plan for the IRWIN Racing crew, with Lee Holdsworth setting the 20th fastest time.
All dedicated co-drivers competed in the opening race, with Craig Baird making a good start and even avoided a three-car collision in the first corner.
After the hectic beginning he settled into 14th place. Over the 20-laps Baird improved his rhythm and his lap times came down through to the end of the race. Team-mate Luke Youlden won the race.
Holdsworth got a strong start to his race and moved to as high as eighth position before a he slipped back down the order after a coming together with Will Davison and an aggressive James Moffat. From that point Holdsworth battled with a number of other drivers before coming home in 13th.
It could be a lucky 13 as Holdsworth and Baird feel confident heading into the big race.
WHAT LEE HOLDSWORTH HAD TO SAY
“That was one of the wildest races I have ever been in – absolute stupidity from some guys out there,” said Holdsworth.
“It was supposed to be a qualifying race and set ourselves up for tomorrow – not bash the cars up and give the boys some work to do tonight.
“We had a really good race car until we got the damage and left handers were a struggle – particularly because this is a left hand track.
“Overall the team is very positive – especially after Shane and Luke on the other side of the garage won both races, plus Tim and Andrew finished right up there.
“All the cars are working really, including ours. It’s a long race tomorrow and we just need to pick them off one by one and stay out of the lunacy.”
WHAT CRAIG BAIRD HAD TO SAY
“I got a good start and from grid #20 I knew I was going to be in the thick of it,” said Baird.
“I kept my head down and just tried to miss cars as for me it’s important to keep it in one piece.
“I didn’t drive the first 10 laps very well. A little bit rusty and over eager. The second half of the race I was really pleased with how I drove. Compared to driving the Porsche you really need to slow the car down mid-corner, which is opposite to what I usually drive.
“I feel we have a very good package for the race, and I am better off after today’s 20 lap race.”
V8 SUPERCARS – Qualifying Race 2
1. #9 SP Tools Racing Shane van Gisbergen
2. #55 The Bottle-O Racing Team David Reynolds
3. #2 Holden Racing Team Garth Tander
4. #47 Lucky 7 Racing Tim Slade
5. #34 Fujitsu Racing GRM Michael Caruso
6. #15 Jack Daniel’s Racing Rick Kelly
7. #888 TeamVodafone Craig Lowndes
8. #22 Holden Racing Team James Courtney
9. #19 Tekno Autosports Jonathon Webb
10. #8 Team BOC Jason Bright
13. #4 Irwin Racing Lee Holdsworth
V8 SUPERCARS – Qualifying Race 1
1. #9 SP Tools Racing Luke Youlden
2. #1 TeamVodafone Paul Dumbrell
3. #55 The Bottle-O Racing Team Dean Canto
4. #6 Trading Post FPR Ford John McIntyre
5. #888 TeamVodafone Warren Luff
6. #2 Holden Racing Team Nick Percat
7. #19 Tekno Autosports Scott McLaughlin
8. #47 Lucky 7 Racing Andrew Thompson
9. #34 Fujitsu Racing GRM Greg Ritter
10. #18 Team Norton DJR Alex Davison
14. #4 Irwin Racing Craig Baird
V8 SUPERCARS – Qualifying
1. #6 Trading Post FPR Ford Will Davison 1:09.3670R
2. #2 Holden Racing Team Garth Tander +0.0072
3. #9 SP Tools Racing Shane van Gisbergen +0.0813
4. #888 TeamVodafone Craig Lowndes +0.0949
5. #55 The Bottle-O Racing Team David Reynolds +0.1165
6. #5 Orrcon Steel FPR Ford Mark Winterbottom +0.1757
7. #49 VIP Petfoods Steve Owen +0.2045
8. #14 Lockwood Racing Fabian Coulthard +0.2906
9. #19 Tekno Autosports Jonathon Webb +0.3134
10. #1 TeamVodafone Jamie Whincup +0.3489
20. #4 Irwin Racing Lee Holdsworth +0.5699
V8 SUPERCARS – Practice 4
1. #5 Orrcon Steel FPR Ford M.Winterbottom/S.Richards 1:09.7477
2. #1 TeamVodafone J.Whincup/P.Dumbrell +0.0007
3. #6 Trading Post FPR Ford W.Davison/J.McIntyre +0.0554
4. #888 TeamVodafone C.Lowndes/W.Luff +0.0864
5. #55 The Bottle-O Racing Team D.Reynolds/D.Canto +0.1880
6. #4 Irwin Racing L.Holdsworth/C.Baird +0.3272
7. #18 Team Norton DJR J.Moffat/A.Davison +0.3492
8. #2 Holden Racing Team G.Tander/N.Percat +0.4027
9. #47 Lucky 7 Racing T.Slade/A.Thompson +0.4306
10. #8 Team BOC J.Bright/A.Jones +0.4576
SERIES POINTS REPORT : After 19 Race & Sandown qualifying races
1. Jamie Whincup 2300
2. Mark Winterbottom 2256
3. Will Davison 2164
4. Craig Lowndes 2153
5. Shane van Gisbergen 1734
6. Garth Tander 1604
7. Tim Slade 1534
8. Fabian Coulthard 1461
9. Lee Holdsworth 1329
10. David Reynolds 1268
LEE HOLDSWORTH CAREER STATISTICS
Event Starts: 99
Race Starts: 217
Best Finish: 1st – Race 23, Oran Park 2007 & Race 26, Sydney Olympic Park 2010
Best Qualifying: Pole – Race 11, Townsville 2009 & Race 26, Sydney Olympic Park, 2010
2011 Championship Position: Eighth
Current 2012 Championship Position: Ninth
Lee Holdsworth Sandown Raceway
Best Qualifying Result: 3rd (2010 – Race 2) & (2011 – Race 2)
Best Race Result: 4th (2010 – Race 2)
CRAIG BAIRD CAREER STATISTICS
Event Starts: 82
Best Finish: 1st – Race 2 Phillip Island 2000
Best Qualifying: Pole – Race 4 Winton 2004
SANDOWN MOTOR RACEWAY DETAILS:
Circuit: Sandown Motor Raceway
Location: Springvale, Victoria
Circuit Length: 3.1 kilometres
Direction: Anti-Clockwise
Tyres: Hard
Format:
Friday: 3 x 40 minute practice sessions
Saturday: 1 x 40min practice session 1 x 20min qualifying & 2 x 20 lap (62 km) qualifying races race
Sunday: 1 x 20min warm-up & 1 x 161 lap (499.1 km)race
WEEKEND SCHEDULE
The times below are Australian Eastern Standard Time
Friday, 14 September:
Practice 1: 10.15am – 10.55am
Practice 2: 12.05pm – 12.45pm
Practice 3: 2pm – 2.40pm
Saturday, 15 September:
Practice 4: 9.40am – 10.20am
Qualifying : 11.40am – 12pm
Qualifying Race 1: 2.45pm – 3.15pm (20 laps 62 km)
Qualifying Race 2: 4.38pm – 5.15pm (20 laps 62 km)
Sunday, 16 September:
Warm-up: 10.15am – 10.45am
Race 20: 1.35pm – 5.15pm (161 laps/499.1km)
TELEVISION SCHEDULE
Times subject to amendment, please check local guides:
Seven Network
Saturday, 15 September
12pm – 3.30pm Qualifying & Qualifying Races(Perth)
1.30pm – 5pmpm Qualifying & Qualifying Races (Adelaide)
2pm – 5.30pm Qualifying & Qualifying Races (Sydney, Melbourne & Brisbane)
Sunday, 16 September:
10.30am – 3.30pm Warm-up & race 20 (Perth)
12pm – 5pm Warm-up & race 20 (Adelaide)
12.30pm – 5.30pm Warm-up & race 20 (Sydney, Melbourne & Brisbane)