When the Race Director calls "Grid set" tomorrow for the first endurance race of 2009, Jim Beam Racing will be the only Team in pit lane to have both cars in the Top Ten with Johnson/Courtney in P5 and Luff/Webb in P10. While the final result was a top effort for the Team, there were moments during the day where it looked as if the weekend could be all over.

But this is (as many people keep on reminding us), is motorsport.

The day started with a Practice Session for the drivers who had a chance to fine tune some changes made to the car set up the night before. Results in practice were strong, but it would be the Qualifying sessions where Steven Johnson, James Courtney, Warren Luff and Jonathon Webb would get down to business and post some fast times on green tyres. Qualifying A saw Johnson and Luff take out #17 and #18 for the twenty minute session. Johnson put his car in P4 for Race A with Luff right behind him in P5. Both drivers were pretty comfortable with their cars and seemed quietly confident heading into the 14 lap race later in the afternoon.
The remaining Qualifying B session gave Courtney and Webb a chance to get on their own set of greens with Courtney matching Johnsons result in P4 and Webb completing the session in P10. That meant that all four drivers would start their Races in the Top Ten, with both Luff and Webb being the fastest "non-regular" drivers in each race, with a few "main game" drivers sitting behind them on the Grid.

Speaking to the drivers after their respective sessions, it was clear that they had all become a lot more comfortable with their cars.

The Qualifying Races in the afternoon would sort the endurance contenders with a compulsory pit stop for tyres for one of the two driver team. Johnson was on the second row for Qual A and was positioned well to take the race up to the front runners. But just as the race started, Car 17 stalled and he was stationery for almost two seconds, as the back of the field fired past him. While he managed to escape any carnage, it was a close situation for those watching the Qual Race and Johnson managed to get the car going to be back at the end of the field.

Johnson then played catch up for most of the Qual Race and eventually ended up in P19, even after taking the pit stop for tyres.

"The car just stopped as I went to get off the line", said a confused Johnson after the Qual Race.

"I did nothing different for my starts to normal, but when I went to fire off there was nothing... I don’t understand it."
The car's reaction on the grid baffled not only Johnson, but the entire Team but Johnson's reaction was to put his head down and get on with working his way back through the field which he did.

Luff in Car 18 was also trapped by the start and lost a couple of places off the line. While he was still in the race, Luff was called in to pit lane for tyres and dropped back to 17th at the chequered flag. The decision meant that both Courtney and Webb would be able to race from start to finish as their co-drivers had taken the compulsory pit stop.

“I saw Steven stall and for a split second I took my mind off the ball which meant that I lost a few places on the start.” said Luff post race. “It was only a split second, but that can make a big difference.”

With the combined results from both drivers in each car determining starting positions for the 500km race, Jim Beam Racing were still in with a good chance as half the field in Race A elected not to pit meaning that the co-driver would have to pit at some point in Qualifying Race B.

Courtney was well aware of what his co-driver Johnson had to contend with, and took measures in an attempt to counter any repeat off the grid. While it was not his cleanest start, he managed to stay with the pack knowing that 2-3 cars ahead of him would have to pit at some point.

Webb also managed to get off the start line without incident and settled into a good rhythm for the 14 lap dash.

With a safety car bringing the field back into line mid race, Courtney held onto 4th position for the Qualifying Race putting himself and Johnson in P5 for tomorrows start.  Webb also drove well to finish in 9th putting Webb/Luff in P10 tomorrow.

“It was a tough day for The Team at times but it could have been worse” said Courtney after the Race.
“Motorsport can be cruel as you can’t control everything. We were hoping for a better result, but hey - a lot can happen in a 500km race, and it’s about making sure you are on the pace and in a position to strike when it counts… Bring on tomorrow.”

Having both cars in the Top Ten was a good result for the Team.

“I am pretty happy with where both cars ended up today” said Sporting Director Adrian Burgess.

“We have some homework to do tonight, but overall The Team has put in a great performance today to be in P5 and P10. I think we have the capability to improve on that tomorrow. Let’s just wait and see”

The L& H 500 at Phillip Island will roar around Phillip Island at 1.35pm tomorrow and as is normally the case; anything can happen.