A day of mixed results for DJR Team Penske at Sydney SuperSprint
August 22, 2015
EASTERN CREEK, SYDNEY, 22 AUGUST 2015: The MAN Truck and Bus Ford Falcon FG X of Scott Pye has recorded a Top 10 finish and a fastest lap despite being turned around in the second 60km Sprint race today at SMP.
Qualifying was run in two short ten minute sessions, first up on the hard Dunlop rubber then the second on the soft compound. Scott Pye continued his good form in these qualifying runs with P10 and P13 starting spots. Race 1 was largely uneventful with the MAN Falcon latching onto the back of Scott McLaughlin's Volvo and coming home in 9th place.
Race 2 saw the DJR Team Penske Falcon a little slow away dropping a few spots as the field headed to to Turn 2. Recovering well, Scott was caught out three wide at Turn 5 and was hit by Moffat, spinning the MAN Falcon to last place.
A determined Pye set about catching the field turning the fastest lap of the race on Lap 2. He caught the field and regained 3 spots to finish in P22. A somewhat disappointing result after a strong showing during the day.
Qualifying will take place tomorrow for the final 200km race at the Sydney Motorsport Park Super Sprint, with the threat of rain a big factor for the teams.
SCOTT PYE – #17 MAN TRUCK & BUS FALCON FG X
‘Qualifying went fairly well for the first race with a P9 in the MAN Falcon on the ‘Hard' tyre. We ran for most of the race just behind a big group of cars and finished where we started in ninth.
"I didn't get the best of starts in the second race but picked up a few and got back to 15th on Lap 1. When we got to Turn 5, I think one of the Nissan's was re-joining the track, hit Moff who in turn spun me. I don't think it was anyone's fault but for sure it made it very difficult from that point. We got a bit of a consolation prize with the fastest lap, but for me I just pushed hard to catch up as many places as I could. All in all we improved the car and it was good to get another Top 10 in Race 1.
"Looking at tomorrow, I don't think you will go too far on the Soft tyre so it may help us with a longer stint on the Hard tyre. This is a bit of a turnaround for the team so we will work hard to find a set up that is kind to both compounds."