Jim Beam Racing News
Jim Beam Racing impressive in the wet at Symmons Plains
22 November 2008
Jim Beam Racing's Steve Johnson and Will Davison were both impressive in wet conditions at Launceston's Symmons Plains this afternoon as both finished inside the top ten at the opening race of the Falken Tasmania Challenge.
Johnson continued on from his Bahrain qualifying form, putting the #17 Jim Beam Falcon in fifth spot on the grid, while Davison was in unfamiliar territory in 18th place after qualifying after some unfortunate circumstances.
With wet and windy conditions looking ominous, strategy and a bit of luck were always going to be a factor today, and while luck wasn't on Johnson's side early in race proceedings, he quickly went about ensuring his day wasn't going to end up as gloomy as the weather after contact from Craig Lowndes at the end of the back straight ruined his impressive qualifying result.
Johnson spun, and with no car control after being forced on to the wet grass on slick tyres he re-entered the race in 19th position, however he wasn't done there.
He quickly went about working his way back into the top ten, and a change to wet weather tyres on lap 23 saw him carve through the field to eventually cross in 8th position, a brilliant fight back and after the damage to his car he said it was fortunate he was able to finish the race.
"When I jumped out at the end of the race, you could see there was a fair bit of damage to my wheel from the contact with Lowndes so I was lucky we didn't puncture a tyre," he explained.
"The car was great when we needed it to be during qualifying, but we were pretty unlucky during that race and to be starting inside the ten and away from the carnage tomorrow is a great effort."
Davison stamped his authority as a class act in the V8 Supercar Championship, starting from 18th to eventually cross in 4th position in a race he said was one of the most enjoyable of the year.
"It was just a really fun race and I think I probably enjoyed myself the most I have this year out on a race track, it had a bit of everything and I was able to pull off some pretty big moves and really work my way through the field," said Davison.
A solid performance in the wet conditions, he was able to steer clear of trouble and pick off his opponents as a change to wet tyres on lap 22 paid off and had him well and truly mixing it with the front of the field for the second half of race proceedings.
"We didn't have a great qualifying session, some things we tried didn't work, I had a fairly big excursion off the track which damaged the under tray of the car and a bit of a mix up with Steve held me up as well.
"It was just a misunderstanding between me and Stevie, he was trying to get out of the way while I was on a flyer and I was trying to avoid him and we chose the same path so it was just unfortunate more than anything," he said.
There are two races on Sunday at Symmons Plains before the Championship heads to Oran Park for the final round.
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