A dramatic final day of racing in Adelaide has seen a loose body part cost TeamVodafone the chance of a win at the Clipsal 500.
Reigning champion Jamie Whincup had been battling for the lead throughout the 78-lap race when disaster struck on lap 72. Contact with James Courtney dislodged Car #1’s rear undertray, which then controversially fell off just as Jamie was shown the mechanical black flag.
Despite the offending piece of his Holden Commodore becoming dislodged Whincup was still forced into pit lane so officials could inspect the damage. He rejoined the race on lap 73 in 18th position.
Team mate Craig Lowndes also had an eventful race and after starting twelve places behind Whincup on the grid, he crossed the finish line two cars ahead.
“Obviously we have both had another tough day at the office” Lowndes explained.
“At the end of the day you have to think about Championship points, especially after a long 250km session like Clipsal. In these situations, you just have to look at the bigger picture and think long term.
“We live to fight another day” he said.
As leader of the overall Championship standings, Jamie Whincup is disappointed to leave this year’s first race meet on Australian soil without a visit to the podium.
“I really don’t know what to say to be honest. It’s extremely painful to come away from this weekend with no real result after all the hard work we put in.
“For the 20 of us to go through two hours of torture and to get so close, but to have it all taken away by something completely out of our control is very difficult to accept.
“To finish in that fashion is something I will remember for a long time, but I have no choice other than to use this as a motivation to work harder and achieve the results we have worked so hard for,” he said.
TeamVodafone will head home to prepare for the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne on March 25-28.
Top Ten Results V8 Supercar Championship Series Race 6 – Clipsal 500 Adelaide
1. Garth Tander, 150pts
2. James Courtney, 138pts
3. Mark Winterbottom, 129pts
4. Shane Van Gisbergen, 120pts
5. Paul Dumbrell, 111pts
6. Rick Kelly, 102pts
7. Tony D’Alberto, 96pts
8. Steven Johnson, 90pts
9. Jason Richards, 84pts
10. Michael Caruso, 78pts
16. Craig Lowndes, 57pts
18. Jamie Whincup, 48pts
