Marcos Ambrose scored pole position for the NAPA Auto Parts 200 at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Montreal, Canada but missed his debut Grand-Am Daytona prototype race.
The morning got off to bad start the Tasmanian when his co-driver, Carl Edwards, wrecked their 77 Aflac/iRacing.com Dallara of Doran Racing before the race. Edwards spun the car into a wall while driving around the track park the car on the starting grid ready for the start.
“I just feel really bad for Kevin Doran and his whole team because we’ve destroyed that car for them,” said Ambrose.
“That car is finished. It crimpled the tub inside the cockpit, so that car is junk.”
Ambrose displayed his mastery of wet conditions by scoring pole position in the first ever NASCAR qualifying session run in wet conditions. Ambrose was over a second quicker in the #47 Armor All entry of JTG Daugherty Racing than second-placed Edwards, ahead of Canadian and last year’s winner, Ron Fellows in third place.
Ambrose in the wet qualifying session (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
“I’m just pleased to finish in one piece,” said Ambrose.
“We haven’t got a back-up car here and it’s just really nasty conditions out there. I guess we’re trying something new here today and it’s entertaining for the fans and it sure is entertaining to drive.”
RESULTS: Nationwide Qualifying
1. #47 Marcos Ambrose 2:00.542
2. #60 Carl Edwards 2:01.728
3. #5 Ron Fellows 2:02.338
4. #09 Boris Said 2:03.601
5. #20 Brad Coleman 2:03.703
6. #32 Jacques Villeneuve 2:03.725
7. #10 Justin Marks 2:04.572
8. #86 Antonio Perez 2:04.613
9. #11 Andrew Ranger 2:04.620
10. #98 Paul Menard 2:04.701
THE RACE:
NAPA Auto Parts 200
First race staged in 2007
74 laps (200 miles/321.9 kilometres)
FORM GUIDE:
2008 Nationwide Race Winner: Ron Fellows
2008 Nationwde Polesitter: Scott Pruett
THE TRACK:
Circuit Giles Villeneuve
Circuit Gilles Villeneuve
Montreal, Canada
2.71-mile temporary road course
15 corners
MARCOS AT MONTREAL:
Overall NASCAR Starts: Two (Both Nationwide)
Best NASCAR Qualifying: Third (2008)
Best NASCAR Finish: Third (2008)
UNITED STATES TV SCHEDULE:
Nationwide – NAPA Auto Parts 200
Sunday 30 August 2009
ESPN2
2:00pm US Eastern
AUSTRALIAN TV SCHEDULE
Nationwide – NAPA Auto Parts 200
Monday 31 August 2009
ONE
6:15am AEST
Please check local television guides to confirm times and see scheduled replays.
ON-TRACK SCHEDULE:
Nationwide – NAPA Auto Parts 200
Sunday 30 August 2009
2:30pm US Eastern
4:30am AEST on Monday
