First DJR Team Penske podium finish at the ITM 500
November 8, 2015
PUKEKOHE, NEW ZEALAND, 08 NOVEMBER 2015: Scott Pye has delivered the first podium for DJR Team Penske with a superb drive today in the final 200km leg of the ITM 500. Pye started the race from position three in the MAN Truck and Bus Falcon and despite dropping a place to David Reynolds on Lap 1, was in contention for the podium for the full race.
Tyres were to become a critical issue as V8 Supercars issued an order to all teams to start the race on Soft tyres and change to the Hard tyres during the first refueling stop. This action was as a result of yesterday's tyre failure on Craig Lowndes' car.
Pye settled into fourth and was holding station with the leaders when a Safety Car saw all 25 cars dive for the pits on Lap 8. Scott was in front of Shane Van Gisbergen and so did not have to double stack as at least half the field did. When the pack normalised he was in back in P4. The DJR Team Penske crew had filled the car for a long run and Scott took his second stop on Lap 39. As the cars shuffled, Pye had jumped Reynolds and McLaughlin, but a fast running Lowndes had got past the MAN Ford. Scott now sat in third place behind the two Red Bull cars and was able to keep them in sight for the run to the flag.
An ecstatic DJR Team Penske crew were at the podium to celebrate Scott's third place. A result made even more special as Roger Penske was in attendance at this round of the V8 Supercars Championship.
Scott Pye – No 17 MAN Falcon FG X
"The podium today is both a great result and a relief. We have had great car speed in recent rounds but we have struggled to convert that into a result. This weekend I felt we ticked all the boxes in that race and got the result. We had another really good Qualifying and our race pace kept us with the leaders for the full 69 laps.
"I am really proud of all the guys. We have come a long way since I jumped in the car in Tasmania and we are working better as a group at every round. The engineers, mechanics and the guys handling the Pit Stops really are doing a great job and they need a lot of the credit for this result. To get that champagne today was for all of us and I hope the boys really enjoyed it.
"We have had great support from all the sponsors and partners and to have Roger here this weekend was special. We had a quick word at the podium before he had to leave and I'm sure we can deliver more podiums and eventually wins for him and DJR Team Penske group."