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Phillip Island: Jack Daniel's Racing qualifying report

KELLY WIN PUTS JACK DANIEL'S RACING ON FRONT ROW AT PHILLIP ISLAND Jack Daniel's Racing has secured a front row starting position for tomorrow's L&H 500 following Rick Kelly's dominant qualifying race win at the Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit ...

KELLY WIN PUTS JACK DANIEL'S RACING ON FRONT ROW AT PHILLIP ISLAND

Jack Daniel's Racing has secured a front row starting position for tomorrow's L&H 500 following Rick Kelly's dominant qualifying race win at the Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit in Victoria today.

Kelly qualified on pole for his qualifying 'heat' race at the 4.445-kilometre circuit before dominating the second of today's two 14-lap qualifying races in dominating style.

It was enough to give the #15 Jack Daniel's Commodore second place on the starting grid for tomorrow's 500-kilometre endurance event.

Owen Kelly performed well as Kelly's co-driver today, driving well to avoid a first lap crash in the first of the day's qualifying races, delaying his run. Kelly completed a pit stop in his race as rules state that one driver from each pairing must visit the pits for a compulsory tyre change.

Todd Kelly and Dale Wood will start from 14th place in the #7 Jack Daniel's Commodore. Kelly qualified eight and finished sixth while Wood qualified in 17th place but dropped to 25th in the race as a result of contact from behind as well as making the entry's compulsory pit stop.

Jamie Whincup and Steve Owen secured pole for the L&H 500 at Phillip Island today ahead of Rick and Owen Kelly's #15 Jack Daniel's Commodore and the #18 entry of James Courtney and Warren Luff.

JACK DANIEL'S RACING QUOTEBOARD:

RICK KELLY - #15 Jack Daniel's Holden Commodore

"All I was thinking on the line was to make sure I got off the line and I got the worst start that I have had in a long time," said Rick Kelly.

"I could see Jamie (Whincup from P2) also spinning his wheels, then I looked in my mirror and there wasn't a lot of guys hounding us yet. I think we're very lucky as far as that goes.

"Before that I was giving Owen a bit of coaching on starting, now it's reversed and he might be able to give me some tricks. Both Owen and myself are very comfortable in the car.

"When the Safety Car came out a whole heap of swear words came out of my mouth, I put a lot of effort to the first few laps to get that gap because I thought the guys behind would dice a little bit and they did.

"I chewed up a fair bit of the tyre there so as soon as that came out I thought I might have got gobbled up a bit. The last couple of laps the Jack Daniel's car was still pretty good.

"Today was pretty much a test for tomorrow as far as tyre degradation goes and what techniques we can use for fuel.

"I don't know how the fuel will play out tomorrow. Everyone is speaking about how many stops will be required, it's all a bit of a gamble at the moment, a bit like the weather.

"The car today was fantastic, for our team we'll celebrate for half an hour and then worry about tomorrow. We've got some changes to make, we know what to do in the race in certain circumstances.

"Hopefully this year we have got a shot at the race because previous races here we've had a car that is capable of winning but haven't got the opportunity due to an error or slip up here or there. Hopefully tomorrow is our day and certainly right now it could be."

OWEN KELLY - #15 Jack Daniel's Holden Commodore

"I probably under drove a bit in qualifying being a little conservative," said Owen Kelly.

"Today I just wanted to get through the race and give the Jack Daniel's car to Rick in one piece for his qualifying race.

"Payday is tomorrow, I've been working on race pace and what we need to do tomorrow. Obviously Rick has got a lot of speed. If we can do this tomorrow I think we'll be in pretty good shape.

"All in all, the entire Kelly Racing outfit has been great. Rick has been in my position before, he's happy to give me a heap of laps in the car and so far it has been a good combination."

TODD KELLY - #7 Jack Daniel's Holden Commodore

"It's good to see everyone in the team up there," said Todd Kelly.

"While today's results are pleasing tomorrow is going to be a lot harder. The way everyone has gone today really sets us up for a good day for the long race tomorrow.

"Dale and I worked pretty hard on fuel economy but had a bit of bad luck with Dale getting hit in the second race.

"Our plan tonight is to go right over the strategy and we should be right up there tomorrow."

DALE WOOD - #7 Jack Daniel's Holden Commodore

"It would be nice to start up on the front row like the other Jack Daniel's car but for a 500-kilometre it doesn't matter too much," said Dale Wood.

"I was mixing it with some full-time guys out there, which was pleasing.

"We're probably not overly happy with the car at the moment. It's been a while between 'drinks' so to say with my races but so far the weekend is looking OK."

-source: kelly racing

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