Rick Kelly and Nissan Motorsport have drawn first blood at the Clipsal 500 Adelaide, topping the opening V8 Supercars practice session of the season.
The 2006 champion was among the pace-setters for the entire 30 minute hit-out, ending up fastest with a 1:21.58s.
As usual, pre-marked tyre condition was the talk of the paddock, with Nissan engineering manager Scott Sinclair noting he was not surprised to see Kelly on top.
“The guys on #15 have gone aggressive with their tyre plan and are pushing pretty hard,” explained Sinclair.
“It’s not a surprise that they’re up there but it’s whether they can stay there that’s the question.”
A late effort from Garth Tander put the lead Holden Racing Team entry just 0.015s adrift in second.
Chaz Mostert was the fastest of the new FG X Ford Falcons in third ahead of Jamie Whincup and Shane van Gisbergen.
Mark Winterbottom survived a late brush with the Turn 8 exit wall to end up sixth fastest.
The session ran green for its duration, with a mid-session spin for James Courtney among few notable incidents.
Courtney lost the rear of the #22 HRT Commodore on the bumps into Turn 4, which have been re-profiled this year due to resurfacing work on Wakefield Road.
Andre Heimgartner also had a minor off-track excursion during his first official V8 Supercars session, pulling his Super Black Ford up short of the Turn 11 tyre barrier after running onto the grass.
The second of three 30 minute practice sessions will get underway at 1050 local time.
VIDEO: V8 Supercars Practice 1 highlights
Result: V8 Supercars Practice 1, Clipsal 500
1 |
Nissan Motorsport |
Rick Kelly |
Nissan Altima |
01:21.59 |
|
2 |
Holden Racing Team |
Garth Tander |
Holden Commodore VF |
01:21.60 |
00:00.02 |
3 |
Pepsi Max Crew |
Chaz Mostert |
Ford Falcon FG/X |
01:21.65 |
00:00.07 |
4 |
Red Bull Racing Australia |
Jamie Whincup |
Holden Commodore VF |
01:21.69 |
00:00.11 |
5 |
Team TEKNO Darrell Lea |
Shane Van Gisbergen |
Holden Commodore VF |
01:21.70 |
00:00.12 |
6 |
Pepsi Max Crew |
Mark Winterbottom |
Ford Falcon FG/X |
01:21.70 |
00:00.12 |
7 |
Erebus Motorsport V8 |
Ashley Walsh |
Mercedes E63 AMG |
01:21.71 |
00:00.12 |
8 |
Wilson Security Racing GRM |
Scott McLaughlin |
Volvo S60 |
01:21.74 |
00:00.16 |
9 |
Nissan Mororsport |
James Moffat |
Nissan Altima |
01:21.88 |
00:00.30 |
10 |
Nissan Motorsport |
Michael Caruso |
Nissan Altima |
01:21.89 |
00:00.30 |
11 |
Walkinshaw Racing |
Lee Holdsworth |
Holden Commodore VF |
01:21.91 |
00:00.33 |
12 |
Red Bull Racing Australia |
Craig Lowndes |
Holden Commodore VF |
01:21.97 |
00:00.38 |
13 |
Team BOC |
Jason Bright |
Holden Commodore VF |
01:22.08 |
00:00.50 |
14 |
Erebus Motorsport V8 |
Will Davison |
Mercedes E63 AMG |
01:22.09 |
00:00.50 |
15 |
DJR Team Penske |
Marcos Ambrose |
Ford Falcon FG/X |
01:22.14 |
00:00.55 |
16 |
Holden Racing Team |
James Courtney |
Holden Commodore VF |
01:22.18 |
00:00.60 |
17 |
Supercheap Auto Racing |
Tim Slade |
Holden Commodore VF |
01:22.27 |
00:00.68 |
18 |
Nissan Motorsport |
Todd Kelly |
Nissan Altima |
01:22.36 |
00:00.77 |
19 |
Freightliner Racing |
Fabian Coulthard |
Holden Commodore VF |
01:22.39 |
00:00.80 |
20 |
The Bottle-O Racing Team |
David Reynolds |
Ford Falcon FG |
01:22.40 |
00:00.82 |
21 |
Wilson Security Racing GRM |
David Wall |
Volvo S60 |
01:22.47 |
00:00.88 |
22 |
Team GB Galvanizing |
Dale Wood |
Holden Commodore VF |
01:22.65 |
00:01.07 |
23 |
Repair Management Aust Racing |
Nick Percat |
Holden Commodore VF |
01:22.71 |
00:01.13 |
24 |
Super Black Racing |
Andre Heimgartner |
Ford Falcon FG |
01:23.51 |
00:01.92 |
25 |
Team Cooldrive |
Tim Blanchard |
Holden Commodore VF |
01:24.19 |
00:02.60 |
Discussion about this post