Aus Utes: Series Adelaide qualifying report

Sideway and Slick too quick in V8 Utes Qualifying

David "Sideways" Sieders claimed the Armor All Pole Award in a spectacular opening day debut at Round One of the 2010 Yokohama V8 Ute Racing Series – protected by Armor All – steering his One Steel #8 XR8 Falcon around the Clipsal 500 street course today to best a classy field Former V8 Ute frontrunner and now NASCAR Development Series driver George "Slick" Miedecke also claimed his third pole in a row in a V8 Ute in the alternate "Legends" Qualifying session at the first day of Clipsal 500 action.

Former V8 Supercar driver, Sieders, displayed his obvious skill from start to finish setting the fastest time early in the 20 minute session with a 1.38.2718s lap.

It looked for much of the session like being a Ford 1-2 when reigning champion Jack "The Hustler" Elsegood was running second in the time sheets behind Sieders in his Coopers Clear Ale Ford BF Falcon, until West Aussie Holden driver Grant "Grunta" Johnson flew through the field in the last two and a half minutes of the session to claim second only one tenth of a second behind Sieders.

Johnson, who is paired with legendary former Touring Car star Tony Longhurst this weekend, might well be racing his last V8 Ute round in the foreseeable future as he attempts to source sponsorship to allow him to compete in further rounds.

South Aussie Holden Hero Gary "Chuckie" Baxter (Sage Automation Racing) gave it his all on the last lap but it wasn't quite enough to crack the top three and he was forced to settle for fourth ahead of Jesus Racing's Andrew "Fishtail" Fisher in fifth and Ice-Break Racing's Gary "The Boss" MacDonald in sixth.

2009 Clipsal podium-getter Ryal "The Kid" Harris pushed over the line in seventh in his Holden just ahead of the ever-improving Brad "Packers" Patton (DC Shoes Falcon) in eighth, the Bob Jane T-Marts SS Holden of Kim Jane in ninth and impressive newcomer Jeremy "Shades of" Gray in the ex George Miedecke XR8 Falcon who rounded out the top ten.

In the legends qualifying session it was a battle of the former V8 Ute drivers with George "Slick" Miedecke and New Zealander Chris Pither (CNW XR8 Falcon) battling it out for top spot.

Pither, the current New Zealand V8 Ute Series points leader, sat on top of the timing sheets until the final minutes when "Slick" Miedecke worked his magic and snatched away the #1 spot with a sizzling 1.38.3707 lap.

George Miedecke and Pither were trailed by a veritable who's who of V8 Supercars with "Lucky" Luke Youlden, Steve "the Ox" Owen, Marcus "Mayhem" Zukanovic, Cameron "Conkers" McConville, Ric "The Disciple" Bates, Paul "the Dude" Morris, Tim "Payday" Leahey and "Mad Andy" Miedecke.

There were some disappointments in qualifying with "Captain Rob" Jarvis missing the session altogether due to the crew narrowly running out of time to repair gearbox damage from the previous outing.

The #72 entry of Pedro "Skater" Marusic was black flagged for a window net infringement whilst 2008 V8 Ute Series Champion Layton Crambrook has suffered wiring issues in his Ice-Break Racing Holden since the start of proceedings preventing the hard charging Territorian from having an impact on the event thus far.

South Aussie hard charger Craig "Thirsty" Dontas and gritty Sydney veteran George "Hollywood" Elliot share the dubious honour of similar mechanical woes in their respective Holdens.

The second day of the 2010 Clipsal 500 will see Race One of the Series contested at 5pm South Australian time.

Race 2 and 3 will be televised LIVE on Network Seven. Race 2 Saturday, 13th March at 1:00pm (EDST) and Race 3 in a 1 hour live program on Sunday, 14th March also at 1:00pm (ESDT).

-source: aus utes