Second Fastest In Final Nationwide Series Practice

Marcos Ambrose has qualified fourth for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at the Watkins Glen International road course this Sunday (Monday morning Australian time) after a strong performance in qualifying in New York state today.

Ambrose set the fourth fastest time in qualifying aboard his #47 JTG Daugherty Racing entry, earning his fifth top 10 qualifying result for the season.

Earlier in the day, Ambrose was 13th fastest in the sole Sprint Cup practice session held at the 2.45-mile road course today, with two further practice sessions to be staged tomorrow in preparation for the all-important 90-lap race, the 22nd race in this year’s Sprint Cup Series.

Ambrose is also racing in the second-tier Nationwide Series this weekend at Watkins Glen, seeking to defend his Zippo 200 crown after the Australian won his first ever NASCAR event in the Nationwide Series race at Watkins Glen last season.

Ambrose was second in final practice for the Nationwide Series at Watkins Glen today, reunited with the colours of STP for this weekend’s race defence, after running in 21st place in the opening Nationwide practice session of the day in what is Ambrose’s first Nationwide Series appearance this season.

Defending Sprint Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson won pole in qualifying today for this weekend’s Heluva Good! Sour Cream Dips at The Glen ahead of Kurt Busch, Denny Hamlin and Ambrose.

What Marcos Has To Say …

“We just didn’t have enough practice time here,” said Ambrose.

“We started off a little slower than what we wanted to, but it was a good lap for us.

“We’ll start somewhere in the front half of the field and we can try to win the race from there.

“We have to stay out of trouble and have to run fast here and try to make some good choices on pit strategy and we’ll be fine.”

NB: Further quotes available from audio grabs …

RESULTS: Sprint Cup Qualifying
1. #48 Jimmie Johnson 1:11.340
2. #2 Kurt Busch 1:11.348
3. #11 Denny Hamlin 1:11.653
4. #47 Marcos Ambrose 1:11.681
5. #12 David Stremme 1:11.810
6. #39 Ryan Newman 1:11.911
7. #16 Greg Biffle 1:11.989
8. #18 Kyle Busch 1:11.992
9. #08 Boris Said 1:12.003
10. #42 Juan Pablo Montoya 1:12.247

RESULTS: Sprint Cup Practice 1
1. #2 Kurt Busch 1:10.922
2. #11 Denny Hamlin 1:11.397
3. #29 Kevin Harvick 1:11.483
4. #18 Kyle Busch 1:11.492
5. #07 Casey Mears 1:11.554
6. #12 David Stremme 1:11573
7. #48 Jimmie Johnson 1:11.589
8. #77 Sam Hornish Jr 1:11.766
9. #83 Brian Vickers 1:11.826
10. #1 Martin Truex Jr 1:11.832
13. #47 Marcos Ambrose 1:11.923

RESULTS: Nationwide Final Practice
1. #5 Ron Fellows 1:13.082
2. #47 Marcos Ambrose 1:13.194
3. #55 Robby Gordon 1:13.330
4. #60 Carl Edwards 1:13.336
5. #33 Kevin Harvick 1:13.370
6. #18 Kyle Busch 1:13.385
7. #11 Denny Hamlin 1:13.537
8. #16 Greg Biffle 1:13.760
9. #6 David Ragan 1:13.807
10. #32 Brian Vickers 1:13.834

RESULTS: Nationwide Practice 1
1. #18 Kyle Busch 1:13.371
2. #11 Denny Hamlin 1:13.447
3. #55 Robby Gordon 1:13.510
4. #16 Greg Biffle 1:13.561
5. #33 Kevin Harvick 1.13.636
6. #20 Joey Logano 1:13.737
7. #5 Ron Fellows 1:13.746
8. #99 Scott Speed 1:14.075
9. #98 Paul Menard 1:14.093
10. #10 Justin Marks 1:14.182
21. #47 Marcos Ambrose 1:14.872

2009 NASCAR Sprint Cup Driver’s Standings – After Race 21 of 36
1. Tony Stewart 3188
2. Jimmie Johnson 2991
3. Jeff Gordon 2989
4. Kurt Busch 2751
5. Denny Hamlin 2713
6. Carl Edwards 2665
7. Kasey Kahne 2642
8. Juan Pablo Montoya 2631
9. Ryan Newman 2627
10. Mark Martin 2622
11. Matt Kenseth 2564
12. Greg Biffle 2563
13. Kyle Busch 2462
14. Brian Vickers 2459
15. Clint Bowyer 2448
16. David Reutimann 2442
17. Jeff Burton 2301
18. Marcos Ambrose 2241