TeamVodafone drivers Craig Lowndes and Jamie Whincup have won a third straight Bathurst 1000 race breaking a 24 year drought on 3 time successive winners. The duo now equal the record with other legends Peter Brock, Jim Richards and Larry Perkins as 3 time winners.
"This is amazing," Whincup said.
"How good was Lowndesy in that last stint. He just nails it every time. He's unbelievable.
"I'm not a greedy person but I'll take it every time."
All was not lost however for Holden fans as New Zealand pair Greg Murphy and Jason Richards finished second after passing the Ford of Steven Richards in the last remaining laps.
Murphy however was not happy at Lowndes opening lap tactics and clamied Craig should have been penalised for a bump which damaged the Fords wheel but luckly for the blue oval fans, did not slow or keep the car out of the running but however did effect Murphy who ran off the track a number of times with steering problems. "He's got away with knocking us up," said Murphy.
Lowndes and Whincup took the lead after the first round of pitstops and were never threatened from early race leaders Courtney and Besnard in the Stone Bros Ford even during numerous safety car periods.
Lowndes, has now, also moved to equal fifth on the all-time list with four Bathurst wins, behind Brock (9), Richards (7), Perkins (6) and pole sitter Mark Skaife (5).
It was however a terrible day for the Holden Racing Team on Holden's 60th Anniversary weekend. Tander got off to a disastrous start when the clutch slipped, leaving him stranded on the starting line as he dropped from pole position to last by the first corner.
To make matters worse, Tander was given a 10 second penalty for jumping the start as the car propped forward in the chaos.
"I got a penalty for apparently getting too good a start - I was last into the first corner!" Tander said.
The day would not get any better for Holden's flagship outfit as on lap 102 of 161 Skaife hit the wall trying to fend off Lowndes, who was attempting to lap him.
Skaife hit the wall again a few laps later as he battled steering problems and the pair finished 12th in the end.
Provisional Results
Pos Drivers Make Time
1. Lowndes/Whincup Ford 6:26:00.4291
2. Murphy/J Richards Holden + 2.4978
3. Besnard/Courtney Ford + 4.5824
4. Richards/Winterbottom Ford + 5.1888
5. B Jones/Wilson Holden + 10.3239
6. W Davison/Johnson Ford + 10.9588
7. Canto/Youlden Ford + 21.6530
8. Perkins/Pretty Holden + 30.8391
9. Bright/Macrow Ford + 32.6680
10. Coulthard/A Davison Ford + 54.8277
11. Luff/Owen Ford + 1:44.3574
12. Skaife/Tander Holden + 1 lap
13. Noske/Wood Holden + 1 lap
14. Halliday/Marshall Ford + 1 lap
15. Giovanardi/Hynes Ford + 2 laps
16. Ellery/Ritter Holden + 4 laps
17. T Kelly/Price Holden + 4 laps
18. Ingall/Morris Holden + 5 laps
19. Patrizi/Reindler Ford + 5 laps
20. Dumbrell/R Kelly Holden + 34 laps
Not classified/retirements:
Drivers Make Laps
Bargwanna/D'Alberto Holden 159
Baird/Seton Holden 146
Neal/Said Holden 140
Caruso/Holdsworth Holden 139
van Gisbergen/Webb Ford 91
A Jones/McConville Holden 40
Scott/Pither Ford 8
Article and Pictures: Ryan Schembri
Excerpts from: NineMSN and NEWS.com.au
