Ingall's views on old teammate Ambrose

While Marcos Ambrose's old teammate Russell Ingall believes the return of the two-time Champ is good for the V8 Supercars Championship, he can't help but be sad that his mate's run in NASCAR is over.

Ingall credits Ambrose's decision to head to the States as one of the most gutsy he has seen, and believes that had he progressed to one of the topline teams, he would undoubtedly have won on both oval and road courses.

The two drove alongside one another at Stone Brothers Racing in the team's heyday, when Ambrose won his 2003-04 back-to-back Championships and Ingall followed with the 2005 title.

So it could be said that Ingall knows better than anyone in V8 Supercars how Ambrose approaches racing - and how he will find the return to the category.

"I think, everyone's pumping his tyres up, but I think it's actually sad in a lot of ways," Ingall told v8supercars.com.au of Ambrose's return.

"I'm sad to see him leaving NASCAR because I think it was one of the bravest moves of any driver that has competed in this series.

"[V8 Supercars] would've had a lifetime - when I say a lifetime, a racing driver's lifetime - of stability driving here, as long as he wanted to. So to go away from that security and go to another country and category where no one else has succeeded before - I reckon that was pretty ballsy."

The Repair Management Australia racer described Ambrose as "so competitive" and believed he would have felt frustrated not having the best equipment to compete with overseas.

"I think it's just a shame he didn't get the opportunity to go with one of those teams... a Hendrix or a Penske. Unless you're in one of those cars it thins out your proposition of winning races," The Enforcer explained.

"It's sad he's leaving something he's worked so hard for - and in my opinion, if he was in a top team, he would've been winning races both on ovals and road courses."

Ingall has never been one to shy away from speaking his mind and believes controversy is an important element in sport. The fact that fans are already passionately debating expectations for Ambrose and DJR Team Penske can only be a good thing.

"It's definitely great for the Championship, because already it's started much controversy amongst the punters, as far as likes and dislikes, and that's what you want in a category. You need a bit of controversy ... and then there's the matter and question always asked - how good he's going to be.

"It makes me laugh some of the comments from some of the drivers, 'he might struggle with the new generation car'. Give me a break.

"One test day and he'll be up to speed. Because he only has to learn the car - as far as match fitness goes, he's more match fit than any driver up and down the pit lane in V8s by a long shot, because he races every single weekend, just about.

"So to have that much seat time in a category where their drivers are just as fierce as ours - if not more - and there's a lot more of them. Here we're talking a handful - they're talking 25 or 30 in kill mode all the time. So in terms of match fitness he's going to be way better ... all he has to do is get up the speed of the car."

Ingall is confident Ambrose - who was able to steer his Ford Falcon to pole position at his first V8 Supercars event, the Australian Grand Prix in 2002, as well as at Bathurst on first attempt - will be one to watch.

"I can't see any reason he won't come out swinging, pretty well straight away," Ingall said.

"Race-wise he's going to be very sharp, he won't be shy rubbing door handles - they do that consistently over 300-400 laps. Power won't worry him, they've got more power than we have - these will feel like a four-cylinder when he comes back to these cars!

"I reckon he'll be straight back on the money - 2015 will be an interesting year."

Ambrose's return officially kicks off today, with DJR unveiling his Ford Falcon FG he will run as a wild card entry at the Sydney NRMA 500 from December 5-7.

Ambrose has some time behind the wheel at a ride day today at Lakeside in Queensland, followed by two test days on November 23 and 27.