Ambrose class of field in Montreal
On Saturday, Ambrose drove his Armor All Toyota Camry to his second NASCAR Nationwide Series career pole at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve for today's NAPA AUTO PARTS 200. His first pole award occurred at Memphis Motorsports Park on October 27, 2007. With the top spot for the 74-lap event, he's a fan favorite for his second victory of the season at a site where it has eluded him twice.
"I'm just pleased to finish qualifying in one piece," Ambrose said. "We haven't got a back-up (car) here and it was nasty conditions out there. I guess we're trying something new here and it's entertaining for the fans and it sure is entertaining to drive. We're doing it and we put in a couple of decent laps, not great laps, just solid laps."
Having no grip during qualifying took on a whole new meaning while drivers experienced wet conditions on the 2.709-mile road course.
"It's not good driving in the rain because the cars don't have a lot of grip and they're heavy," Ambrose said. "If you lock a tire up you tend to slide for an extra 100 or 200 feet than what you really want to. It's the same for everybody."
Mother Nature did not seem to impede Ambrose's progress.
"I had a great draw and went out first in my group, which helped me get clean track," Ambrose said. "I was able to really focus on my lines and the rain and the rest was history. We've been really close to some pole positions and this one, the conditions worked in our favor. The track deteriorated, the daylight disappeared and we got lucky. We'll take it." Actually, Ambrose is used to the conditions.
"I grew up in the rain," Ambrose said. "I've lived half my life from one of the wettest places in the world. In Tasmania (Australia), we get about 200 days of rain, probably scattered throughout. I'm used to running in the rain. I've raced go karts in the snow and all those things. I'm just used to it, racing Europe in Formula cars in the rain.
I've raced in some really bad conditions and I guess its experience in these conditions that helps you not make mistakes and get the most out of your car without making errors. Â
"That's what I did today," continued Ambrose. "I didn't necessarily have the fastest lap I could have put together. That's not what it was about, we didn't have a back up to rely on so I had to be very careful out there and just put in a solid lap and hope the conditions would go my way, which they did. Live coverage of the NAPA Auto Parts 200 on Sunday, August 30th begins at 2 p.m. Eastern at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve.