The second race of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season ended in heartbreak for Australian Marcos Ambrose as mechanical problems cruelled his hopes of a podium finish.

The former V8 Supercars driver had worked his way into third late in the race in Phoenix, Arizona on Sunday only for his Stanley Ford Fusion car to be struck down with 17 laps remaining of the 312-lap race to finish 32nd.

“I’m absolutely gutted. To come so close to picking up a big result this early in the year and trip over at the final hurdle like that is very frustrating,” said Ambrose, who finished 13th in the season-opening Daytona 500.

“… We’ve proven that our speed from Daytona was no fluke. We’ll bounce back from this.”

The series moves to Las Vegas this weekend.