Jack Daniel's Racing team-mates Todd and Rick Kelly have both shown that they have what it takes to score podium results in 2009 on a day of sensational speed but no reward for the pair at Symmons Plains Raceway in Tasmania today. The brothers, who are racing as full-time team-mates for the first time as part of the new Kelly Racing operation this year, both showed that their new outfit, in only its fourth championship event, has the pace to match the front-runners.
Todd Kelly qualified in second position this morning, his best qualifying performance since the Oran Park in 2007 to earn the best starting position for Jack Daniel's Racing this season.
Todd Kelly grabbed the lead momentarily on the opening lap aboard the #7 Jack Daniel's Racing Holden Commodore, before settling into second position.
To view images from weekend click here
After one pit stop for fuel and rear tyres on lap 26, the 29-year-old effectively only had Jamie Whincup ahead of him when on lap 44 his engine dropped power and he was forced to retire.
Meanwhile, brother Rick Kelly, who had qualified in 14th place, was showing the same great pace as his brother to be steadily rising up the order in the #15 Jack Daniel's Racing Holden Commodore.
In his 100th V8 Supercar event, by mid-race distance Rick Kelly was running in what was effectively third position with both his compulsory fuel stops completed, right on the tail of Jamie Whincup and Will Davison.
Rick Kelly started the 84-lap race on the softer option tyre, making his first fuel stop at the end of the first lap and then switching onto the harder control tyre at his second fuel stop on lap 36.
Rick then spun off the track at the first corner, unable to avoid oil and debris left on the track as a result of an accident involving James Courtney.
While he was able to recover and rejoin the circuit in fifth place, Rick was forced to pit to replace the flat-spotted tyres as a result of the high speed spin, dropping him down to 15th place.
Soon after, contact with Michael Patrizi exiting the hairpin bent Rick's steering and he was forced to complete a lengthy stop to repair his car, ending the race classified five laps down in 27th place.
Jamie Whincup won today's race ahead of Will Davison and Fabian Coulthard.
The fifth event of the 2009 V8 Supercar Championship Series will be the Skycity Triple Crown at Hidden Valley Raceway in Darwin, Northern Territory on June 19-21.
JACK DANIEL'S RACING QUOTEBOARD
Todd Kelly - #7 Jack Daniel's Racing Holden Commodore:"
"The Jack Daniel's Commodore was very fast," said Todd Kelly.
"After the first pit stop we found that the rear tyre pressures were extremely low. I was struggling with the rear of the car up until the stop, so once we had the next set of tyres on, we had a car as good as anyone out there.
"Unfortunately we lost an engine so that was the end of our day."
Rick Kelly - #15 Jack Daniel's Racing Holden Commodore:
"As a whole this was our worst points event of the season but we showed what we're capable of today," said Rick Kelly.
"I was running third on the track there with car speed to win the race.
"The whole team should gain real confidence from this and to be honest I'm just extremely frustrated.
"As I came over the (start/finish) line there was oil on the track and I couldn't do anything about it and spun.
"We just need to take this frustration to Darwin and use it as motivation to turn this into results and I'm confident we can do that."
2009 V8 Supercar Championship Standings
After Race 8 of 26
1. Jamie Whincup 1044 points
2. Will Davison 948
3. Steven Johnson 753
4. Lee Holdsworth 723
5. Garth Tander 720
6. Craig Lowndes 669
7. Rick Kelly 627
8. Fabian Coulthard 606
9. Shane Van_Gisbergen 600
10. Mark Winterbottom 573
22. Todd Kelly 363
RESULTS: Symmons Plains Race Two
Race 8 of the 2009 V8 Supercar Championship Series
1. #1 Jamie Whincup 84 laps
2. #22 Will Davison
3. #111 Fabian Coulthard
4. #5 Mark Winterbottom
5. #33 Lee Holdsworth
6. #39 Russell Ingall
7. #25 Jason Bright
8. #3 Jason Bargwanna
9. #67 Tim Slade
10. #333 Michael Patrizi
27. #15 Rick Kelly 79 laps
DNF #7 Todd Kelly 43 laps
RESULTS: Qualifying
1. #1 Jamie Whincup 51.4898
2. #7 Todd Kelly 51.5662
3. #51 Greg Murphy 51.5862
4. #22 Will Davison 51.5895
5. #5 Mark Winterbottom 51.6190
6. #6 Steven Richards 51.6388
7. #111 Fabian Coulthard 51.6515
8. #18 James Courtney 51.6597
9. #17 Steven Johnson 51.6625
10. #2 Garth Tander 51.7207
14. #15 Rick Kelly 51.7573
FALKEN TASMANIA CHALLENGE DETAILS:
Circuit: Symmons Plains Raceway
Location: Launceston, TAS
Circuit Length: 2.4 kilometres
Format: 42-lap race (Saturday) and 84-lap race (Sunday)
2008 Polesitter: Garth Tander
2008 Race 1 Winner: Todd Kelly
2008 Race 2 Winner: Jamie Whincup
2008 Race 3 Winner: Jamie Whincup
To view images from weekend click here
