Abu Dhabi: Jack Daniel's Racing race 1 report

RICK KELLY BEGINS 2010 WITH TOP 10 IN ABU DHABI

Jack Daniel's Racing driver Rick Kelly has started the 2010 V8 Supercar season with a strong top 10 finish in the opening race of the Yas V8 400 at the Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi today.

Kelly started back in 16th position after a poor qualifying run earlier in the day, but got off to a lightning start aboard his #15 Jack Daniel's Racing Holden Commodore.

Kelly was up into ninth position by the first corner and held a top 10 position for most of the 43-lap race, eventually finishing in 10th place.

The 27-year-old is confident that he can improve the set-up of his car in several areas overnight ahead of tomorrow's second race, where Kelly is aiming to break into the top five.

Brother and team-mate Todd Kelly qualified in 20th position and also made a great start to today's race, running close behind Rick Kelly until he was hit hard from behind by part-time V8 driver Paul Morris on the second lap of the race at the Corkscrew section.

Kelly was spun around and persevered throughout the race with a damaged #7 Jack Daniel's Holden Commodore, losing further time when a steering arm broke late in the race.

Kelly, furious over the Morris incident, was classified in 25th position. Morris was served with a drive through penalty for the incident, which also ruined the chances of fellow Holden driver Garth Tander.

Jamie Whincup won today's race ahead of Craig Lowndes and Mark Winterbottom.

JACK DANIEL'S RACING QUOTEBOARD

Rick Kelly - #15 Jack Daniel's Racing Holden Commodore:

"We got off the grid really well from starting 16th," said Rick Kelly.

"I got to 10th and had a good run through the first couple of corners.

"We settled down really well. The car has got some really, really good traits. It gets on the power really well, we just can't get through the corner and that's something for us we know how to fix and it's easy to fix. I guess we should be quite excited about that.

"When we put new tyres on we actually went slower. For us the car is awesome because we have a lot of positive things leading into tomorrow. We have an awesome tyre bank leading into tomorrow as well.

"I'm pretty excited about it. Leading into qualifying I still didn't know the track or I wasn't driving it right. I learned a lot in the races in terms of where to position the car. Hopefully I learned more than everyone else out there.

"Tomorrow I'll be disappointed not to be well and truly in the top 10 and we need to aim for a top five and from today's results that is doable."

Todd Kelly - #7 Jack Daniel's Racing Holden Commodore:

Referring to Paul Morris ...

"Never in my life have I come across such a peanut of a bloke," said Todd Kelly.

"He's renowned for it and he ought to be congratulated for having a racing license as long as he has because he's a first-class fruit bat.

"He's ruined our race right from the start.

"Now we need to come out and get some points tomorrow to make up for it."

-source: kelly racing