Star Jim Beam Racing recruit James Courtney began his pre-season promise of a V8 Supercar pay day in 2009 by setting the pace in his first full appearance with Dick Johnson’s legendary outfit.
Courtney, with brand new race car and race suit laced in gold, set the quickest time at the official Queensland test day where an estimated 3000 spectators donated $17,870 to the Queensland Premier’s Flood Relief appeal.
Courtney’s old team-mate and sparring partner Russell Ingall was hot on his tail in the Supercheap Auto Commodore on a day when best times were set in the middle part of the day as rain played with any chance of quick times in the afternoon.
TeamVodafone’s Craig Lowndes was next in line from Wilson Security’s Fabian Coulthard with Lowndes’ Champion team-mate Jamie Whincup fifth fastest on a day when fuel testing appeared to be his team’s main goal.
Courtney switched to Jim Beam Racing at the end of last year after a strong but win-shy stretch at Stone Brothers Racing. He has made it clear that 2009 is his year to achieve more winning results.
“Pressure is what you make of it and no-one could put any more pressure on me than I do myself,” Courtney said.
“There are two ways to look at pressure, you either hide from it or use it to your advantage. It was a productive day today that went to plan. To finish on top on your first day for a new team is always a good result.”
Courtney’s team-mate Steve Johnson was solid in sixth with Stone Brother’s Racings new recruit Alex Davison seventh. Supercheap Auto rookie Tim Slade was next in line on his debut in the Championship.
It was also the first hit-out for female driver Leanne Tander who joined her new Wilson Security outfit for the test day. Later this year Tander will become the first female driver at the endurance events in more than a decade.
The wife of 2007 V8 Supercar Champion Garth had a solid day behind the wheel.
“Today is all about spending more time in the car and getting comfortable with it. I’m about where I thought I would be at this point,” Tander said.
“The team is really committed to giving me plenty of laps in the car and they will take all of those opportunities for me to get laps. I’m used to being the female in a man’s world so to me it’s no different but the team has been fantastic. When you go to a new team and they don’t know you and you are a girl they don’t always trust what you are saying but that’s not the case here.”
It was also comeback day for Jim Beam Racing’s Grant Denyer who returns to the Fujitsu Series in 2009 following a major back injury last year.
Denyer was 14th on the time sheets on a day where getting re-adjusted following the severe injury seemed the paramount goal from the test day.
Top 10 Results:
1. Jim Beam Racing; James Courtney; FG Falcon; 1:11.1119
2. Supercheap Auto Racing; Russell Ingall; Commodore VE; 1:11.2424
3. Team Vodafone; Craig Lowndes; FG Falcon; 1:11.2812
4. Wilson Security Racing; Fabian Coulthard; FG Falcon; 1:11.4823
5. Team Vodafone; Jamie Whincup; FG Falcon; 1:11.6609
6. Jim Beam Racing; Steven Johnson; FG Falcon; 1:11.6678
7. Stone Brothers Racing; Alex Davison; FG Falcon; 1:11.8996
8. Supercheap Auto Racing; Tim Slade; Commodore VE; 1:12.0585
9. Stone Brothers Racing; Shane Van Gisbergen; FG Falcon; 1:12.0792
10. Britek Motorsport; Jason Bright; Falcon BF; 1:12.2240
