The Melbourne-based team will enjoy a home event this weekend at the 3.1-kilometre Sandown circuit, where both Kelly brothers have a history of success, including a second place when paired together for the 2006 Sandown 500.
JACK DANIEL'S RACING QUOTEBOARD
Rick Kelly - #15 Jack Daniel's Racing Holden Commodore:
QUESTION: Sandown is something of a home track for you and Todd and it's also a place where you have both enjoyed some success.
"Sandown is a track where Todd and I have had some good results before," said Rick Kelly.
"The year's previous to last year it was an endurance event, so we've all done a million miles around that track and it's one that we really enjoy.
"It's good racing at Sandown as a sprint event rather than an endurance event because it's something a little bit different.
"I think for Sandown this time around, we're really hoping for a good result and I think it's certainly about our time to get that. We've had a bit of bad luck that's hindered us or that's stopped us from finishing up there on the podium.
"The biggest variable is going to be the weather and at this time of year there is always going to be a high chance of rain in Melbourne. I'm pretty excited about the opportunity for us to see what our Jack Daniel's Commodores are like in the wet.
"Both Todd and I have always been drivers that tend to get good results in the wet, so that's something that's pretty exciting for us.
"Mixing the weather in with the soft compound tyre, it's a weekend that is going to be pretty unpredictable."
QUESTION: How hard is it going to be to juggle what race you run the soft tyre in versus what the weather is going to do?
"You could save the soft tyre for Sunday, only to wake up and see it pour down with rain all day," said Rick Kelly.
"I think they need to be pretty smart and very careful about that. I'm not sure what the officials are going to do. I'd imagine that they'll have to think about it.
"You will lose the advantage of running the tyre if that was the case, so that in itself is a penalty of sorts. Until we find out what the official word is, we need to keep that in mind.
"You're going to see most cars run the soft tyre either at the start of Saturday's race or at least some time on Saturday, if it's dry on Saturday afternoon, so that you don't get caught out by the weather on Sunday."
Todd Kelly - #7 Jack Daniel's Racing Holden Commodore:
QUESTION: So far your pace has been strong this season, but you've had more than your share of bad luck. You're obviously keen to turn that around for Sandown?
"We've got a bit of experience at that place and have had a good car there in the past in both the wet and the dry," said Todd Kelly.
"So we're confident that we'll be able to nail the set-up on the Jack Daniel's Commodore. Our biggest issue is a few dramas that we've been having with our engines so far this year, and we've made a heap of changes in that area from Townsville and it looks like we've made a fair bit of ground on that.
"So we're looking forward to just getting through a clean weekend and seeing whether we've fixed these engine dramas, and if we have, this is probably one of many events from now to the end of the year where there's a good chance that both Rick and I will potentially have a bit of success."
QUESTION: Rick is right up there in the points, but due to bad luck, the points are no longer as much of a concern to you. Does that change your approach, looking more perhaps to race results and the enduros?
"There's a lot of stuff that we're trying on my car for Sandown, a lot of development stuff that we've been working on, that we actually want to try on the track, which is a good thing for us," said Todd Kelly.
"I can focus a lot more on trying to better our complete package and overall make both our Jack Daniel's Commodores faster. You always turn these things into a positive and Rick's goal is consistency now and gathering points and mine is being able to push a little bit harder and take a few more risks for results.
"As well as that, it enables us to test as many things as we possibly can on the car, which is obviously a pretty big bonus given the limited amount of testing that we're able to do."
JACK DANIEL'S RACING DRIVERS AT SANDOWN:
Todd Kelly - #7 Jack Daniel's Racing Holden Commodore:
2008 Qualifying: Eighth
2008 Race One: 17th
2008 Race Two: Eighth
2008 Race Three: Fifth
Debut: 1999
Events: Nine (Four Sprint, Five Enduro)
Races: 16 (11 Sprint, Five Enduro)
Best Qualifying: Third (2001 and 2007) - Best Start: Second in 2003 (qualifying lap by Mark Skaife)
Top 10 in Qualifying: Four (Seven in terms of starts)
Best Race Finish: Two (Race 2 - 2001, Sandown 500 - 2003)
Top 10 Finish in Race: 10
Event winner - 2001 and 2003
Rick Kelly - #15 Jack Daniel's Racing Holden Commodore:
2008 Qualifying: Fourth
2008 Race One: Seventh
2008 Race Two: 12th
2008 Race Three: 17th
Debut: 2001
Events: Eight (Three Sprint, Five Enduro)
Races: 13 (Eight Sprint, Five Enduro)
Best Qualifying: First (2004) - also First in 2005 (qualifying lap by Garth Tander)
Top 10 in Qualifying: Four (Five in terms of Starts)
Best Race Finish: Second (Sandown 500 - 2006 and Sandown 500 - 2007)
Top 10 Finish in Race: Eight
Event Runner-Up - 2006 and 2007
2009 V8 Supercar Championship Standings
Championship Points - After Race 12 of 26
1. Jamie Whincup 1560
2. Will Davison 1386
3. Garth Tander 1212
4. Craig Lowndes 1110
5. Steven Johnson 1050
6. Lee Holdsworth 993
7. Mark Winterbottom 957
8. Rick Kelly 903
9. Russell Ingall 830
10. Michael Caruso 828
21. Todd Kelly 573
NORTON 360 SANDOWN CHALLENGE DETAILS:
Circuit: Sandown International Raceway
Location: Sandown, Victoria
Circuit Length: 3.1 kilometres
Format: 32-lap race (Saturday) and 65-lap race (Sunday)
2008 Polesitter: Jamie Whincup
2008 Race 1 Winner: Jamie Whincup
2008 Race 2 Winner: Craig Lowndes
2008 Race 3 Winner: Jamie Whincup
WEEKEND SCHEDULE
All times are local Australian Eastern Standard Time
Friday 31 July 2009
12:35pm - 1:10pm: Practice A (Bottom 15 and Co-Drivers)
1:25pm - 2:15pm: Practice B
2:55pm - 3:45pm: Practice C
Saturday 1 August 2009
11:00am - 11:40am: Qualifying (for Race 1)
11:55am - 12:25pm: Top 10 Shootout
4:05pm: Race 1 - Series Race 13 (32 laps)
Sunday 2 August 2009
10:15am - 10:35am: Qualifying (for Race 2)
1:05pm: Race 2 - Series Race 14 (65 laps)
TELEVISION SCHEDULE - SEVEN NETWORK
Times subject to amendment - please check local guides.
Saturday 1 August 2009
2:00pm - 2:30pm (Support Races)
2:30pm - 5:30pm (V8 Supercars)
Sunday 2 August 2009
12:00pm - 3:00pm (V8 Supercars)
