Phillip Island: Kelly Racing qualifying report

BARGWANNA SCORES SECOND PLACE IN PHILLIP ISLAND QUALIFYING RACE

Rock Racing driver Jason Bargwanna has hit form in qualifying for the L&H 500 at the Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit in Victoria today.

Bargwanna was fifth fastest in his qualifying session aboard the #11 Rock Commodore, but it was his 14-lap qualifying race where he turned heads with his speed.

Bargwanna charged hard to finish second in a race highlighted by a late-braking move down the inside of his former team-mate Garth Tander at the Honda Hairpin with two laps remaining.

Combined with Glenn Seton's 28th place finish in the second qualifying race, where Seton completed the entry's compulsory pit stop, the Rock Commodore will start tomorrow's 500-kilometre endurance event from ninth place on the grid.

The Stratco Racing entry of Tony Ricciardello and Taz Douglas made a good start to the afternoon when Douglas finished his qualifying race in 13th place.

Ricciardello, who made the team's compulsory pit stop in the second race, was then on track for a top 20 finish until he was turned around on the final lap of the race at Honda Hairpin, resulting in the #16 Stratco Commodore becoming bogged in the wet grass.

Ricciardello and Douglas will start from 27th position tomorrow, well aware that a long race lies ahead.

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.

KELLY RACING QUOTEBOARD:

JASON BARGWANNA - #11 Rock Holden Commodore

"Ecstatic, delighted, over the moon, come up with any words you want but clearly it was a fantastic result," said Jason Bargwanna.

"As a team we have said right from the outset that the second half of the year was going to be strong and it's starting to come to fruition.

"We've been working on different programs and set-ups, we lost our way a bit yesterday but got back on it today. The Rock car was strong in qualifying and the race, clearly in the race we were able to catch and pass Garth. A few more laps we may have caught Steve, who knows.

"Clearly you know you're on the pace when you can match it with the front guys, but what we've got to do now is to do it regularly. That's now the challenge.

"Unfortunately they don't give the trophies out today, hopefully we can be up there tomorrow to take home some silverware."

TONY RICCIARDELLO - #16 Stratco Holden Commodore

"Taz did a great job in the first race, he stayed out of trouble and got a good result," said Ricciardello.

"I had a pretty good run going on and knew I had to pit in my race so I just tried to stay out of trouble but some numbskull outbraked himself on the final lap and turned me around.

"Now we've got to start from the back for tomorrow's race, it's disappointing for the team in terms of the work they have to do to clean up the Stratco car now when it should have been an easy night just preparing the car for tomorrow."

-source: kelly racing