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2004 V8 SUPERCAR: EASTERN CREEK

• Ambrose became the first Ford driver since Dick Johnson to win back to back title. Last year Marcos Ambrose won both races to clinch his first V8 title. He then led Murphy by just 24 points going into the final round. This year the equation was easier. He just needed to finish 15th or better. He did that convincingly by taking pole and winning Saturday's night race to clinch the series.
  AMBROSE after Saturday race: ".... I wanted to finish the deal tonight. We’ve made a concerted effort all year to go hard and it has shown in my driving all year. I’ve maintained that right to the finish ... I’m aiming for 3, I would love to get a hat-trick ...I’m with the best team in pit lane, the synergy is there and there’s no reason we can’t get three in a row. I am really proud to be V8 Supercar champion and that I have backed that up from last year.”
• On Sunday he won both races - a clean sweep. His team-mate Russel Ingall finished championship runner-up ahead of Bright and Murphy.

R13 of 13, DEC 4-5, EASTERN CREEK: 2004 V8 SUPERCAR

RACE FORMAT & SCHEDULE

• SAT: Top 10 Shoot-out 4pm
• RACE 1, SAT, 6.15pm 100km *** night race ***
• RACE 2, SUN, 12.30pm 150km
• RACE 3, SUN, 3.30pm 150km

RACE RESULT:

A clean sweep by Ambrose - he won all 3 races. Stone Brothers Racing finish 1 and 2 for 2004 season.

AMBROSE (FORD): "... This is just a magnificent achievement for Ross and Jimmy Stone and the entire SBR organisation ... A 1-2 is an awesome result and testimony to how hard this team works and how well it works together ... This really is the icing on the cake after clinching the title yesterday ... I really have enjoyed the last two years with Russell and if I was going to achieve this with another driver, then I am glad it was with him ... He did a fantastic job this weekend to make up two spots in the championship and overcome the couple of problems he had ... We are more determined than ever to make it three in a row next season."

RACE 3, DEC 5, 2004

• 1 Marcos Ambrose, Ford

RACE 2, DEC 5, 2004

• 1 Marcos Ambrose, Ford
• 2 Paul Radisich, Ford
• 3 Craig Lowndes, Ford
• 4 Steven Richards, Holden
• 5 Jason Richards, Holden
• 6 Steven Johnson, Ford
• 7 Skaife 8 Wilson 9 Ingall 10 McConville

RACE 1, DEC 4, 2004

• 1 Marcos Ambrose, Ford *** WINS CHAMPIONSHIP ***
• 2 Craig Lowndes, Ford
• 3Jason Bright, Holden
• 4 Rick Kelly, Holden
• 5 Rick Kelly, Holden
• 6 Paul Radisich, Ford
• 7 Ingall 8 S Richards 9 Johnson 10 Bargwanna

QUALIFYNG:

GRID, TOP 10 SHOOT-OUT, DEC 4, 2004

• 1 Marcos Ambrose, Ford, 1m 32.434
• 2 Mark Skaife, Holden +0.44s
• 3 Todd Kelly, Holden +0.74
• 4 Craig Lowndes, Ford +1.22
• 5BRIGHT +1.83
• 6 INGALL +1.87
• 7 WILSON
• 8 RADISICH
• 9TANDER
• 10 BESNARD
• 11 BARGWANNA 12 JOHNSON 13 MORRIS 14 S RICHARDS 15 LUFF 16 ELLERY

FRI PRAC

• 1 Marcos Ambrose Ford 1m 33.129
• 2 Mark Skaife Holden 1m 33.41
• 3 Russell Ingall Ford 1m 33.71
• 4 Paul Morris Holden
• 5 Warren Luff Ford
• 6 Johnson 7 Murphy 8 Wills 9 Besnard 10 Bright

CIRCUIT:

• Eastern Creek, NSW
• 40 km from Sydney
• 3.93 km circuit
• Main straight speed: 270 kph
• 2003 winner: Ambrose/Ford - both race 1 & 2
• 2003 pole: MARK SKAIFE, HOLDEN 1m 32.487
• 2002 winner: M Skaife/Holden - all 3 races
• 2001 winner: G Murphy, Holden - race 1; M Skaife, Holden - Race 2
• 2000 winner: M Skaife/Holden - overall winner

PRE RACE QUOTES:

• AMBROSE (FORD) championship leader: "... Ford fans have waited far too long for back-to-back championships ... Dick Johnson is one of Ford's great names. To have the opportunity to be the first driver since him to give the Blue Oval two-straight titles has me even more determined to get the job done at Eastern Creek ... The best place to be is up front, both in the race and the championship ... I want to win the round, but for sure I need to be aware of the championship situation and that's the priority ... I don't expect any of the other teams to simply give it to us and we wouldn't expect it any other way ... Our Eastern Creek form has been good, but this is motor racing, anything can happen, just look at the previous round in Tasmania.”
• MURPHY (HOLDEN), 2ND IN STANDING: ".... If you can’t win the championship, the next best thing is to finish second and that’s really what our aim is this weekend ... It will be a little sad at the end of the weekend to know that this will be the last time I will work with the great people that have worked so hard at our team. I really would like to continue our late-season burst and go out on a high ... It’s no secret that Eastern Creek hasn’t been our happiest of hunting grounds over the last few years, but we’ve developed our cars immensely since the round there in April and that will put us in with a show.”

FINAL RACE WITH FORD PERFORMANCE RACING - LOWNDES & SETON

• CRAIG LOWNDES:"Heading into the final round of the season and my final round with FPR, I would love nothing more than to end the season with a great result for the team and our sponsors. I really love racing at Eastern Creek and I have had some great results there. I am particularly looking forward to the twilight race - it will be a real spectacle for our fans with red hot brakes and flaming exhausts coming to the fore. The team has prepared well for this final round and we all share the goal of ending the season on the highest note possible."
• GLEN SETON: "Being my last round with the team, there is no doubt that it will be a sad occasion at Eastern Creek this weekend. Considering that FPR was set up from my own team and there are guys working there who were with me before FPR, it will be tough parting ways on Sunday night. This also marks the completion of nine years with Ford Credit who have been fantastic to be involved with. While there is a disappointing part to it, there is also a lot of excitement within the team following the potential that we have displayed at the last three rounds. Being originally from Sydney, I have done a lot of racing at Eastern Creek and I have had some great times there, so it is definitely one of my favourites. I am looking forward to it with a mixture of feelings - but nothing would please me more than to end my time with FPR with a great result."

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