News

Track: Sandown International Raceway  
Race:  Wilson Security Sandown 500
Date:  16th September 2016

No. 17 Shell Helix Ford - Scott Pye / Tony D'Alberto
Practice 1:     P 11     Fastest Lap 1:09.51 - SP
Practice 2:    P   2      Fastest Lap 1:09.84 - TD    
Practice 2:    P   1      Fastest Lap 1:09.16 - TD    

No. 66 MightyMite Special Ford - Fabian Coulthard / Luke Youlden
Practice 1      P   1     Fastest Lap 1:09.12 - FC
Practice 2      P 11      Fastest Lap 1:10.02 - LY        
Practice 3      P  6      Fastest Lap 1:09.30 – LY

Practice Recap: The DJR Team Penske Fords have produced a strong result in Practice for the Sandown 500. A unique format saw main drivers Fabian Coulthard and Scott Pye only run one thirty minute session this morning before handing over to the co drivers for the rest of the day.

Both the MightyMite Special No 66 and Shell Helix No 17 Fords topped sessions during the day and when results were consolidated the team sits in first and second place overall.

All four drivers were pleased with the progress during the day and the cars have shown good speed on the challenging Sandown layout.

Fabian Coulthard Quote: "A short session for me today. Only half an hour this morning in the MightyMite Special, and then hand over the keys to Luke. I did the best I could this morning and was happy with P1. It was then really important to concentrate on the race package with Luke and he ran the two final sessions working to our plan. Overall a good day, Luke improved in the third practice session and I feel we have good race package."  

Scott Pye Quote:  "Like any practice day it is all about tyres. The track surface here is quite slippery at the moment but it will get better as we do more laps. It was great to get out there in the Shell Helix Ford today even if it was only one session. I really love this place, it has some great corners and across the top to Dandenong Road is a lot of fun."

"I feel we have a pretty good race car, and with new tyres tomorrow we should be in a good position. Tony has done a really good job today and has been competitive in both session. So we will know see what the weather holds for us on the weekend."
 
Co Drivers Quotes

Tony D’Alberto Quote: "Today has been really good for me in the Shell Helix Ford. For Luke and me it was really the first time we have been able to get into our own session on track and have a good crack at it. The team has done great job giving me as many miles as possible starting right back at the very first test day."

"We made some good progress on set up today and I hope Scotty can capitalise on his qualifying tomorrow. It will make my job easier to start nearer the front and get away cleanly. I am feeling very comfortable in the car but we can't get ahead of ourselves as it is only practice day."  

Luke Youlden Quote: "We had a good plan today and it finished off well. 'Fabs' went out to set a time then my first session we ran on full tanks. We knew we would be down a few tenths down with the heavy fuel load but the car responded well."

"The second session for me was on a different set of tyres and lighter fuel so we ended up in a pretty good spot. The team has really hit the track today very well and it should set us up for Qualifying and the two races tomorrow."