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Ambrose completes Darwin laps

19 Jun 2015
Back behind the wheel in practice for the first time since March: "No, I don't [feel comfortable] to be honest with you."
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Returning two-time Champion Marcos Ambrose has been back behind the wheel of the DJR Team Penske V8 Supercar for the first time since March.

And he admitted he's not comfortable behind the wheel, expressing just how difficult the race cars are to handle.

Ambrose completed 14 laps in the Ford Falcon FG X -running a Shell Helix livery this weekend at the SKYCITY Triple Crown Darwin at Hidden Valley Raceway - and ended the run 24th before handing over to Scott Pye.

Ambrose stepped back as the main driver after the Australian Grand Prix, with Pye taking overwhen the former NASCAR driver failed to adjust to the new generation race car.

"No, I don't [feel comfortable behind the wheel] to be honest with you," Ambrose said during practice.

"They're just tricky cars, they're very sensitive to the brake pedal. I guess you've got to be in them all the time, and you've got to have grown up with these [new] generation cars to really understand them - because the stuff I've always done to drive a car fast doesn't seem to work in these."

Ambrose will join Pye for the Pirtek Enduro Cup, beginning this September at Sandown, and because the team has used its one independent test day allocated this season, Friday practice sessions offer his only opportunities to get more time in the driver's seat.

"For me it' s just [about] getting back behind the wheel again," he said of today's quick run.

"It was a lot of fun and I had to keep it straight for young Scott ...he's doing the business end this weekend."

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He also reflected on the recently resurfaced circuit.

"The track surface is very smooth, but doesn't have as much grip as you think!

"Walking around the place yesterday it looked like it was going to have a tonne of grip but you still slip and slide around a bit.

"It's typical Darwin here - but great racetrack, great fans, we really have a great time up here at the Top End."

Penske Racing boss Tim Cindric joins DJR Team Penske for the weekend, after remaining in the USA during the Winton event, when Pye recorded the team's first top 10 finish.

"To follow up with a top 10 finish here would be really good for us," Cindric said.

"We're just trying to get some consistency and ... back to our goal of being in the top 10."

Ambrose has recorded two race wins at the circuit in previous years.

Pye has elevated the car from 24th to 18th, with Nissan's Michael Caruso leading Ford's Mark Winterbottom with 10 minutes remaining in the first practice session. Stay tuned for results.

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