Oran Park: Caltex Racing preview

INGALLS WANTS TO END ORAN PARK HOODOO

Caltex Racing's Russell Ingall is aware that if he is to keep his maiden V8 Supercar Championship hopes alive he needs to overcome an Oran Park "hoodoo" this weekend.

In an amazing record, Ingall has won or finished second on every Australian and New Zealand race track he has raced on since joining the V8 Supercar ranks on a full-time basis in 1996.

The only exception to that record is Oran Park, where the closest he has come to a podium finish was last year when he finished fourth on a count back to Jason Bright.

Since 1996 the V8 Supercar Championship Series has raced at 16 Tran-Tasman venues and Ingall has won on 12 of them outright (Calder Park, Winton, Phillip Island, Bathurst, Barbagallo, Lakeside, Mallala, Darwin, Queensland Raceway, Gold Coast, Symmons Plains, Sandown) and finished second on a further three (Eastern Creek, Adelaide, Pukekohe).

The only other event the V8 Supercars have competed in was the inaugural race in Shanghai China this year where Ingall had a podium finish in his sights before being hit from behind by Mark Skaife and eventually finishing 13th outright.

The V8 Supercars have also run non-championship events at the Foster's Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne which Ingall has also won.

"Considering the amount of racing I have done at Oran Park you would have thought I would have cracked a trophy somewhere," said Ingall.

"I used to race karts at the place and I think we have been there every year since I began in the series, so I guess it is about time this weekend in the Caltex Ford.

"The way the championship is positioned, obviously a big result is going to be important for all the front runners if they want to stay in the championship race.

"I have had car speed there the last couple of years, but things just have not fallen our way. We need to capitalize this weekend."

Ingall has been runner-up in the V8 Supercar Championship Series four times and rates this season as his best chance of claiming his first title.

Ingall currently sits in third place in the title chase on 1051 points behind his Stone Brothers Racing team mate Marcos Ambrose (1166) and Holden's Steve Richards (1061).

"There is no doubt that we have to go for race wins at every outing, starting this weekend," said Ingall.

"We said before the last race that the gloves are off and let me tell you they are still in the cupboard:"

The V8 Supercars will have practice and qualifying tomorrow before two 54-lap races on Sunday.

-cr-