SBR Pukekohe race one report

Stone Brothers Racing's Marcos Ambrose played a "conservative" role and finished sixth in the opening wet leg of the PlaceMakers V8 International at Pukekohe Raceway in New Zealand today.

Ambrose actually led the 36-lap race at one stage in his Pirtek Falcon, but found he did not have the car set-up to go on with the job in what were consistently wet conditions.

Ambrose leads the V8 Supercar Championship Series and can clinch the title this weekend -- to do that he needs to score at least 121 points for the round and beat Murphy by seven overall at the same time.

That will job will be a little tougher after Murphy clinched today's race from Todd Kelly and Garth Tander.

Ambrose's SBR team mate Russell Ingall started 17th in his Caltex Havoline Ford and had made up several spots when he was hit from behind and spun by Paul Morris on lap 17.

Ambrose, who qualified sixth yesterday, actually lost a couple of spots after being caught out in changing conditions in this morning's top 10 shootout.

A decision was made to scrap the shootout results because changing weather conditions had disadvantaged several drivers and yesterday's qualifying results stood.

MARCOS AMBROSE -- 6TH

"We had a chance to win the race at one stage, but it was not to be," said Ambrose.

"I had no confidence in my braking or cornering and it was a case of bringing it home in one piece.

"We adopted a conservative approach and lost a few spots, but to finish sixth is a pleasing result considering the car in the conditions.

"We were hoping to pick up a couple of spots in the shootout with the changes we made overnight, but that got cancelled.

"We had a great pit stop to get out in front of Murphy, but we did not have the car set-up to go on with the job

"Obviously we have gathered some ideas from today, but hopefully tomorrow it will be dry and we can go back to our original plan."

RUSSELL INGALL -- 19TH

"I had a reasonable start and had a great pit stop, but then I had to sit and wait to get a clear run out of pit lane," said Ingall.

"We picked up three spots in the stop, but with a little luck it could have been a heap more.

"I was motoring on when Paul Morris hit me from behind and turned me around, from that point on it was always going to be a long second half.

"I then got clipped in the left hand front when Steve Richards had half a loose in front of me. It didn't do any major damage, but certainly didn't help things.

"Marcos and I both struggled for grip and we will have a good look overnight."

-sbr-