Oran Park: Stone Brothers Racing preview

INTERESTING POINTS FOR ORAN PARK ROUND

* Marcos Ambrose won this round from pole in 2003 and gave Ford its first Oran Park victory since John Bowe in 1995 -- he backed it again last year.

* Despite nine previous attempts Russell Ingall has never finished on a V8 Supercar podium at Oran Park. He considers this year one of his best chances of an outright win.

* At the completion of round eight at Oran Park last season Ambrose and Ingall sat second and fifth respectively in the championship and eventually finished 1-2. Currently they are first and third in this year's title chase.

* Russell Ingall just missed out on a front row start at the last round at Queensland Raceway, qualifying in third position and that equaled his best ever grid position since he switched to Ford (Gold Coast 2003). This weekend will be Ingall's 50th start since his one and only Pole position in the Championship at Winton in 2001.

THOUGHTS ON ORAN PARK RACEWAY--..

MARCOS AMBROSE -- PIRTEK RACING
This is a great venue with a challenging track. With so many directional changes and the hills it is a pretty exciting place. It is also terrific for the fans because of the seating and the mounds around the track.

MOSTMEMOR ABLE MOMENT
That would have to be my first time in a V8 going over the flip flop. You simply cannot see the track in front of you. I wrong guessed it and ended up in the grass on my very first lap in a V8 Supercar. I am sure Ross and Jimmy Stone were thinking we were going to be in for a very short weekend. Hitting Mark Skaife on the out lap of the very first practice session in 2002 would also be up there - both of us were playing silly buggers. It was a nice feeling to collect the winner's trophy for Ford here in 2003 after an eight-year dry spell and then back it up again last year.

RUSSELL INGALL -- CALTEX RACING
I can't say I enjoy the place, it really has not changed since I was racing go-karts. I do have to say the pit facilities are a bit bitter and make it more enjoyable to attend. We have had a bit of speed the last couple of years, but things have not fallen our way, maybe this year we can finally crack a podium.

MOST MEMORABLE MOMENT
Driving up to the start-finish line after the race was red flagged in 2000, when Paul Morris and Mark Larkham decided they were going to have a lunch time barbeque on the main straight. That was massive accident.

-sbr-