Ambrose Eighth in the Telcel Motorola Mexico 200
Marcos Ambrose has risen to fifth in the NASCAR Busch Series standings after a remarkable comeback to finish eighth in the Telcel Motorola Mexico 200 in Mexico City today.
Ambrose had the chance for an even better result slip away on lap 64 when he was spun while racing within the lead pack in sixth position, dropping him to 24th position and setting the scene for a remarkable comeback, culminating in Ambrose passing seven cars in the final two laps.
Ambrose collected US$53,820 (A$68,674) in prizemoney for his efforts in today’s Telcel-Motorola Mexico 200 out of a total prize pool of US$2,512,372 (A$3,169,785).
Ambrose got off to a strong start in the #59 Kingsford Charcoal Ford Fusion, muscling his way to seventh by the end of the first lap after qualifying in 12th position.
The two-time Australian V8 Supercar Champion made his first of two pit stops on lap 12 and from there on ran in about sixth or seventh position as he diced with NASCAR Nextel Cup drivers and fellow Ford stars Greg Biffle, Carl Edwards and Boris Said.
Ambrose was as high as fifth shortly after his second pit stop and was comfortably with the lead pack in sixth position when his chances of a top five result were taken away.
Ambrose was hit from behind by JJ Yeley in Turn Three on lap 64, Ambrose pointing out after the race that the car of Biffle directly ahead of him had slowed slightly, resulting in Ambrose checking up and that Yeley had little time to react and was not to blame – it was just one of those things that happens in NASCAR road course racing.
Both Ambrose and Yeley spun in front of almost the entire field, and the Australian dropped back to 24th, his #59 Kingsford Charcoal Ford Fusion lucky not to be hit by another car as the field streamed past.
His progress back through the pack was sensational as his road racing talents shone, but a series of caution periods for late-race incidents thwarted his efforts.
Ambrose had reached 15th when the caution flag flew on the final lap, creating a ‘green-white-chequered’ finish, NASCAR giving the field an opportunity at two clear laps of racing before the finish.
In those two laps Ambrose passed an amazing seven cars to finish in eighth, gain his first NASCAR Busch Series top 10 result and finish as the second-highest Raybestos Rookie of the Year contender behind race winner Juan Pablo Montoya.
Ambrose rises to an outstanding fifth in the NASCAR Busch Series standings, equal with defending series champ Kevin Harvick who did not race in Mexico, as well as maintaining his lead in the Raybestos Rookie of the Year standings.
It was a strong road course result for Wood Brothers/JTG Racing, with both Ford Fusions in the top 10 as Jon Wood drove a smart and consistent race to finish 10th.
Today’s Telcel Motorola Mexico 200 was won by former Formula 1 driver Juan Pablo Montoya in front of an estimated crowd of 72,971 after a controversial incident with his team-mate Scott Pruett, with defending race winner Denny Hamlin second and noted NASCAR road racer Boris Said in third.
Marcos Ambrose – #59 Kingsford Charcoal Ford Fusion
“Today was a really long day,” said Ambrose.
“We fought all day. When we had clear track the worked nicely but when we went back into the pack after being spun the car couldn’t quite do what I needed it to do.
“Eighth is still a really good result for us but we had a better result in us today and unfortunately we didn’t get it.
“It was just one of those deals when we got turned around. Greg Biffle was just in front of us and he checked up through Turn Three. I checked up slightly and Yeley got into the back of me at just the wrong moment and we both went around in front of the almost whole field.
“The Ganassi cars were fast this weekend so we have a little bit of work to do on our road course program but we can definitely be proud of what we achieved today.
“We got our first top 10 in the Busch Series, we’re still well inside the top 10 in points and we are still the leading rookie. So life is definitely good at the moment.
“Those last two laps were just a mess. It’s just what you get in those green-white-chequered situations. We just had to try and finish as well as trying to pass as many cars as possible.
“There were people bumping and bashing into each other all over the track.
“We got up to 15th from 24th on merit there, which shows the car had some really good pace. In those last two laps we just had to go for it without doing anything that would put us out and we got to eighth.
“I think we passed more cars than anyone out there today.
“Now we can move on to Las Vegas. We tested there in the pre-season so we are hoping that it is another strong weekend for the Kingsford team.
“It was good to get back on a road course where I’ve got a better idea of what I’m doing. But, I love the ovals. The ovals, to me, are the best thing that I’ve ever done in my life. “I’m glad that I can run a couple of road courses, but my passion is with the ovals.”
Results – Telcel Motorola Mexico 200 at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez
Race 3 of the 2007 NASCAR Busch Series
1. #42 Juan Pablo Montoya – 82 laps
2. #20 Denny Hamlin
3. #9 Boris Said
4. #60 Carl Edwards
5. #41 Scott Pruett
6. #38 Jason Leffler
7. #27 Jorge Goeters
8. #59 Marcos Ambrose
9. #5 Adrian Fernandez
10. #47 Jon Wood
2007 NASCAR Busch Series Points Standings – After Race 3
1. Carl Edwards 495
2. Denny Hamlin 455
3. Dave Blaney 433
4. Greg Biffle 397
=5. Marcos Ambrose 345
=5. Kevin Harvick 345
7. Matt Kenseth 327
8. David Reutimann 324
9. Jon Wood 322
10. Brent Sherman 310
Race Results for Raybestos Rookie of the Year Contenders at Mexico City
1. (1st) #42 Juan Pablo Montoya
2. (8th) #59 Marcos Ambrose
3. (14th) #6 David Ragan
4. (16th) #14 Kyle Krisiloff
5. (34th) #98 Alex Garcia
6. (38th) #18 Brad Coleman
7. (43rd) #23 Brad Keselowski
Raybestos Rookie of the Race Tally
Marcos Ambrose 1
Timothy Peters 1
Juan Pablo Montoya 1
RACE STATISTICS
Laps: 82
Time Elapsed: 2hr 46min 18secs
Leaders: 10
Lead Changes: 14
Cautions: 8
Caution Laps: 14
Race Prize Pool: US$1,626,139 (A$2,068,090)
AUSTRALIAN TV VIEWERS – RACE REPLAY
Monday 5 March 2007
FOX Sports Three
9:00pm EDST
8:30pm SA time
8:00pm Queensland time
7:30pm NT time
7:00pm WA time
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