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BUSCH: Phoenix II: Marcos Ambrose Friday notes

AMBROSE PROGESSES UNDER THE HOT ARIZONA SUN Marcos Ambrose has made progress under the hot Arizona sun in practice for the Arizona Travel 200 at Phoenix International Raceway in Phoenix, Arizona today. The Australian worked hard on improving the ...

Edited: Apr 16, 2008, 12:40 AM

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AMBROSE PROGESSES UNDER THE HOT ARIZONA SUN

Marcos Ambrose has made progress under the hot Arizona sun in practice for the Arizona Travel 200 at Phoenix International Raceway in Phoenix, Arizona today.

The Australian worked hard on improving the set-up of the Aussie Vineyards-backed #59 Kingsford Charcoal Ford Fusion in the hot conditions at the unique one-mile oval.

Ambrose and the #59 crew from Wood Brothers/JTG Racing toiled away on car set-up through all three sessions and are confident of a stronger showing tomorrow, when qualifying and the 200-lap race will be staged.

The final practice session of the day was dedicated to finding a strong race set-up, with a qualifying run on new tyres to follow in the closing stages of the session. While others set their fast times earlier in the session, Ambrose was denied a final run at a quicker time when practice was ended early due to a spin by team-mate Kelly Bires as a result of a flat tyre.

The early end to the session left Ambrose in 30th position, but the 31-year-old is confident of a better run in qualifying tomorrow as he searches for a sixth top 10 finish in his rookie season in the NASCAR Busch Series.

Earlier in the day Ambrose was seventh fastest in Rookie Practice and 29th in the opening practice session of the weekend for the NASCAR Busch Series, which hosts it's penultimate event for the season this weekend in Phoenix.

Ambrose currently sits ninth in the NASCAR Busch Series standings and is only 31 points behind eighth-placed Greg Biffle, with seventh placed Stephen Leicht only 112 points ahead of Ambrose.

David Ragan topped final practice today ahead of fellow Ford driver Greg Biffle and Brian Vickers.

Marcos Ambrose -- Aussie Vineyards-backed #59 Kingsford Charcoal Ford Fusion

"We would like to have run a little better but tomorrow is the day that counts," said Ambrose.

"I had to fight the car a bit through the corners. We changed some things and found some things that got us heading in the right direction.

"Traditionally this year we have been able to gain some speed between practice and qualifying so let's hope that is the case tomorrow.

"I think we can get a consistent race car for Phoenix, so the better we can qualify the easier it will make the early part of the race.

"This track is very unique and it can certainly throw some tricks at the teams in terms of set-up. I'm confident we can turn out a better performance tomorrow."

-credit: team australia

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