Track limits timing loop at Turn 7 for Sandown 500
Kerb strikes could be another costly variable for drivers
Anton De Pasquale among drivers stung on Friday
What seems to be somewhat of a blurry form guide for the Penrite Oil Sandown 500 could be made even more blurry by track limits in Boost Mobile Qualifying.
Though it wasn't a major issue throughout an uneventful Friday of practice, track limits can be breached through the high-speed esses at the end of Sandown's back straight.
After the run-off at the notorious Turn 6 being expanded and paved in 2019, a timing loop was installed at the right-hander at Turn 7, should drivers get too greedy.
Deleted laps could become a big talking point in Boost Mobile Qualifying across the weekend, especially on Saturday, where the less durable Super Soft tyre will be in use.
Drivers could manage two fast timed laps on the Super Soft through Friday, however no one could manage a third push lap, which would be required should anyone trigger a kerb strike.
However, cooler temperatures could assist with tyre life, while forecast rain could also make the whole Super Soft qualifying situation a moot point.
"I think if you've only got one run and you get a shortcut on lap two or whatever it is, lap three is probably not going to be as good," said Team 18's Anton De Pasquale following Practice 2.
"But, it's probably a bit cooler tomorrow, so could be alright, but today lap three was pretty hard I reckon, for us anyway.
"You don't wanna get a shortcut, for sure."
De Pasquale had a ropey end to Friday himself, fixed to the bottom of the timesheets for a large part of Practice 2 on a time four seconds adrift of first.
However, the last remaining Chevrolet in Finals ended the day in seventh after a late flyer, with De Pasquale not giving too much away: "We were just not completing any laps, some by choice, some not by choice.
"The tyre drops off so much, so you're trying to maximise your changes, and we were doing a lot of them.
"And then obviously the tyre was a long way out of its age limit. The new tyre, obviously it was a lot better, we'll tune up the Cub Cadet Chevy Camaro tomorrow."
