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Bathurst 1000: Jack Daniel's Racing qualifying report

RICK AND OWEN KELLY TO START 12TH AT BATHURST AFTER ENGINE PROBLEM Jack Daniel's Racing drivers Rick Kelly and Owen Kelly will start 12th in this Sunday's Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000 after engine problems delayed their progress ahead ...

RICK AND OWEN KELLY TO START 12TH AT BATHURST AFTER ENGINE PROBLEM

Jack Daniel's Racing drivers Rick Kelly and Owen Kelly will start 12th in this Sunday's Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000 after engine problems delayed their progress ahead of qualifying at Mount Panorama today.

The problem occurred in the first practice session of the day and meant that Rick Kelly missed Practice 5 while the engine in the #15 Jack Daniel's Commodore was changed, with the 2003 and 2004 Bathurst winner going straight into qualifying this afternoon.

Under the circumstances Rick performed admirably, qualifying in the 12th position and missing tomorrow's Top 10 Shootout by under two tenths of a second.

Todd Kelly only completed one flying lap in qualifying aboard the #7 Jack Daniel's Commodore today before his session was prematurely brought to an end.

Todd made contact with the wall on the exit of Reid Park, breaking the Watts Linkage in the car's rear suspension. It was a cruel blow for Todd and co-driver Dale Wood, with Todd fifth fastest in Practice 5 earlier today. The pair will start from 27th position on Sunday.

Jason Bright qualified on provisional pole today ahead of Craig Lowndes and Jamie Whincup, with the Top 10 Shooout to be held tomorrow afternoon.

JACK DANIEL'S RACING QUOTEBOARD:

RICK KELLY - #15 Jack Daniel's Holden Commodore

"It certainly wasn't ideal going out straight into qualifying as I didn't get a chance to have a drive in practice today due to the engine change," said Rick Kelly.

"I think at the end of the first flying lap we were sixth, so I would have liked them to call the session there as we'd be in the top 10.

"Our Jack Daniel's Commodore, as per Thursday, didn't handle fantastically well when it was hot later in the day. We really wanted to try a few things this morning to fix a couple of set-up issues we had and also get my eye in by roading a few sets of greens.

"Not getting the chance to do that really hurt because I needed to improve my driving as well as the car. It was tough in that session because we really didn't make any changes before qualifying because we were unsure exactly what we needed and we only had a certain amount of time to get a lap out of it.

"The car down the bottom of the hill is actually quite slow. I couldn't get up either of the straights very well from the corners leading onto them, which cost us, and on my fastest lap I got held up a little bit by traffic down the hill.

"That cost us a tenth or two but there is no point complaining about that because we need to find a second. It's just one of those things.

"I'm disappointed to come 12th but it's far from over.

"At the moment how strong our race car depends on the weather conditions and at the moment it looks like Sunday's weather might suit us.

"We will work through tomorrow's practice session to make some positive changes on the car, give Owen some good laps and I'm confident we will be fine in the race."

-source: kelly racing

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