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Rick Kelly tops opening Clipsal 500 practice

By Stefan Bartholomaeus

Friday 27th February, 2015 - 10:21am
RIck Kelly on the way to the fastest time in Practice 1

Rick Kelly on the way to the fastest time in Practice 1

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

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