SVG tops P2 in pit heavy session
Shane van Gisbergen topped his first Gen3 session, finishing over Davison in a session where the pit crews got a solid workout.
P2 started with a full field rollout with Heimgartner resuming his time at the top of the sheets early, with teams also running early pit stop simulations, as permitted for the session.
There were several lockups from Waters and van Gisbergen early, as drivers worked to get their heads around the much livelier Gen3 machinery.
Smith also went in early after a rub with the wall on his rear right, with much of that liveliness generally showing in the rear wheels thus far.
Teams ran a heavy pit simulation session at the second Newcastle 500 practice. EDGE Photography
Under the 30 minute, teams were primarily running pit simulations, with the first refuelling simulations also coming into play, which is also a very different prospect for pit-teams with the higher fuel entry point.
Davison put in a 1:11.792 as a Mustang went top for the first time, over Heimgartner and Mostert.
Van Gisbergen and Feeney started to put in some quick sectors, with SVG taking the #97 Camaro into P1 with 1:11.755 over Davison and his teammate.
With the ten minute mark passing the timing sheet had held solid, with Pye being the only interjector into P5 over Mostert, with teams still running plenty of pit time.
Several drivers started doing race runs late in the session, with SVG having his second off the session, as his 1:11.755 was enough to top Practice 2 over Davison, Feeney, Mostert and Heimgartner.
Practice 3 will most likely see the times tumble all round, as teams will largely run qualification simulations ahead of tomorrow’s real-time stuff.
2023 Newcastle 500 schedule
Friday, March 10
Practice 1 – 1: A. Heimgartner 1:11.9958 2: W. Brown +0.1813 3: D. Reynolds +0.2021
Practice 2 – 1: S. van Gisbergen 1:11.7555 2: W. Davison +0.0374 3: B. Feeney +0.1167
Practice 3 – 15.50-16.35
Saturday, March 11
Qualifying – 11.15-11.35
Top 10 Shootout – 12.35-13.00
Race 1 (95 laps) 15.20-17.20
Sunday, March 12
Qualifying – 11.15-11.35
Top 10 Shootout – 12.35-13.00
Race 2 (95 laps) 15.20-17.20
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