Jim Beam Racing News
Gritty Performance by Jim Beam Racing at Bathurst
12 October 2008
Jim Beam Racing fought through everything that Mount Panorama could throw at them today to salvage a valiant result at the Bathurst 1000, with Will Davison and Steve Johnson finishing sixth and Steve Owen and Warren Luff combining for eleventh place.
With both cars needing to pit no less than eight times, it was a remarkable effort by both the #17 and #18 Jim Beam entries, and with Davison and Johnson suffering three damaged rear left tyres throughout the duration the team was left wondering what might have been had luck been on their side.
Davison and Johnson had the fastest car on the track at various stages of the race with tyre issues wreaking havoc on their day, but the 2007 Bathurst podium duo went about their business in brilliant fashion for a gritty sixth place finish.
After a podium finish in 2007, Davison and Johnson were well placed to repeat that effort this year, with good form in the lead up to Bathurst and both drivers running in second position in the middle section of the race.
"To be able to salvage sixth place on what was quite a disastrous day is a credit to the team, we passed a hell of a lot of cars today to finish where we did," said Davison.
"The car got better and better as the race went on but we just had no luck with the tyres, I don't know what it was but it definitely had a huge effect on our overall result."
Johnson battled through an overnight stomach bug to take to the Bathurst circuit today, and was full of praise for the team.
"It certainly wasn't a set up issue causing our tyres to give out," he said
"We had a very good race car today and to finish where we did was an unbelievable effort considering the problems we had.
"I was extremely cautious during that second stint in the car, we had good track position and I was steering clear of the curbs to ensure we looked after our rear left after the initial damage we suffered."
"But it happened three times and really threw our strategy out the window so to finish sixth was a top result."
Owen and Luff were forced to make eight pit stops, and along with Davison and Johnson, were the only other pair on the lead lap that ventured into pit lane eight times.
The pair endured a damaged rear left tyre, communication issues, an unlucky black flag ruling and a pit stop on the second last lap for one last fuel requirement to finish eleventh after running as high as fourth position.
Luff drove the last stint and was involved in a racing incident with Holden Racing Team driver Craig Baird with just eleven laps remaining.
Luff was sitting in sixth place when a battle for track position had him come together with Baird and stewards penalise him with a black flag.
"I'm satisfied with twelfth when I consider everything that happened; the black flag was a bit unlucky I thought he might have given me a little more room than he did," said Luff.
"But that's the way it goes and to grind out a respectable result was a good effort."
Owen was also pleased with the effort, and thought their # 17 Jim Beam Falcon was is quite good shape foreven better results during his second stint.
"We had a very quick car in the middle stages of the race, probably the fastest on the track for a portion there and we were just unlucky with the black flag and the last minute need for a small amount of fuel."
"Overall it was quite a decent effort."
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