V8SDS: Dexion Racing Adelaide Saturday notes

DEXION SIXTH OVERALL IN ADELAIDE

Dexion Racing driver Tony Evangelou has finished a career-best sixth overall in the first round of the 2006 Fujitsu V8 Supercar Series at the Adelaide Parklands circuit this weekend.

Evangelou, 40, finished seventh in both Friday evening's twilight event, and Saturday morning's 24 lap heat. The race meeting was Evangelou's debut in the ex-Jason Bright Ford Performance Racing Ford Falcon BA.

The Victorian's sixth outright eclipses his former best round result of seventh, which he also scored on the former Grand Prix street course back in 2004.

After qualifying 13th, Evangelou used perseverance rather than outright speed to make up places in the first race. He was rewarded with seventh when a number of other drivers experienced penalties and mechanical difficulties.

In the second race, the Dexion Falcon stayed with the lead pack for the majority of the race and was rewarded with another solid finish place. Ford driver Adam Macrow won both races from Michael Caruso and the consistent Wayne Wakefield. Bathurst specialist Nathan Pretty was fourth ahead of pole-sitter Mark Porter and Evangelou.

Evangelou on his new FPR BA:

"The car is great. We learned a lot this weekend. "I found it difficult to drive the car on the limit with Bright's set-up. He loves his cars really stiff, and I've always driven soft cars.

"We started the weekend with the car set-up the way we received it from FPR. I tried to adjust my driving to the car but found it difficult, which is why we qualified 13th. We wanted to be higher and didn't really expect to be that low. Obviously, if Jason was driving, it would be at the front of the field, so it's just a matter of time.

"It's a great race car, though. The brakes are fabulous and the engine is amongst the best in the field. It's just a case of finding a set-up that is going to suit my style, without compromising the speed of the car. The car is going to be a serious weapon at Bathurst and Phillip Island. I can't wait to take it to those tracks. I think it will be really quick."

Evangelou on the Adelaide races:

"I love this track. I seem to get my best results here. And after last year, where we crashed in the first practice session and we were out for the weekend, that makes this even sweeter.

"The series is the most competitive its ever been. I can't believe the depth now. I had a good dice with Shane Price, who is a rookie and was very competitive. That shows that there are some serious drivers and serious teams in it now.

"Dexion again had a big support crew at the track. I went up to the corporate box after the race and there was a really good buzz up there. That makes it all worthwhile.

"Dexion actually support John Steffensen (Commonwealth Games gold medallist), as well as Craig Lowndes who won the first leg of the Clipsal 500, so as it turns out, it's been a pretty good week for them!"

Dexion Racing post-Adelaide:
Dexion Racing will conduct a test day at its nominated test track (Winton Raceway) before the next round of the Fujitsu V8 Supercar Series at Wakefield Park on May 28.

-dr-