Russell Ingall has topped the times in the first session of the Sydney.com V8 Supercars Test Day.
Click here for full session results.
Ingall has a new home, with a new Triple Eight-built car at Repair Management Australia Racing, which has immediately exceeded his expectations.
“It’s been pretty good, we’ve still got a couple of things to iron out but the car feels very good right away,” he told v8supercars.com.au.
“It’s only early days, how do you know on a half dry track – we’re not getting ahead of ourselves – but we haven’t been last!
“We’ve been in the top half wet and dry so that has to be some sort of indicator. I’m sure people aren’t going around there just cruising around, taking it easy, I’m sure everyone’s having a bit of a go.”
With the team potentially planning a test day prior to season opener the Clipsal 500, all signs show are Ingall’s choice to keep on racing with the small outfit has been a good one.
“Indicators are we aren’t going to be last!” he laughed.
“At the very worst I think we’ll be mid-field. So that is above our expectations straight away.
“I just don’t know, we’ll just play it cool and get on with the next half of the day and fingers crossed.”
Tyre selection and quality plays a part in today’s testing, teams allowed to run both soft and Dunlop control tyres, and tapping into their tyre bank.
Ingall has suggested the team won’t be using a set of greens this afternoon.
“We want to keep good tyres for Adelaide, we’re not going to blow anything good here. We’ve got to look at the big picture. We’ve got testing in Adelaide to do, and we’ve got a reasonable tyre bank… You can plug tyres on – I’m sure people will – just to do the glory lap but to me Adelaide’s the big picture.
The veteran recorded a 1min32.1444 lap, with Jason Bright just 0.377sec behind. All three Brad Jones Racing Commodores featured in the top 10, as did three of the four Nissans, with Rick Kelly highest in the order in third.
Shane van Gisbergen was fourth, Todd Kelly sixth, with Michael Caruso, James Courtney, Dale Wood and Tim Slade completing the top 10.
The first Ford David Reynolds in 13th, Volvo’s Scott McLaughlin 16 and Erebus Mercedes-Benz AMG’s Lee Holdsworth 20th.
Others to note include Garth Tander 17th, Mark Winterbottom 18, Craig Lowndes 19, Jamie Whincup 21, Robert Dahlgren 23 and Will Davison 25.
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Fans save from $70 with this exclusive offer – visit ticketek.com.au/sydsuperpass or purchase at the Sydney Motorsport Park V-Sport Official Store in person today.
