Luck deserts Tasman Motorsport in second leg of Clipsal 500
13/4/2005 18:54 (Press Release) -
Richards innocent victim in accident, Whincup luckless in quick Dodo Commodore
KIWI ace Jason Richards has been eliminated from the second leg of the Clipsal 500 while team-mate Jamie Whincup was involved in an earlier drama that delayed the team’s other Dodo Commodore.
Richards took a turn at running in second spot in the race’s early stages, having started 20th and making up four spots after just two laps. Having elected not to make one of his compulsory pit stops under an early Safety Car period, the #3 Dodo Commodore driver elected a different strategy to that of the leaders and was sitting in a good position until drama on lap 54.
Ford driver Greg Ritter understeered into the tyre wall entering the racecourse section of the Adelaide street circuit, leaving the hapless Richards nowhere to go. He steered left but couldn’t avoid the stricken Falcon, launching into the air and into retirement.
“It was a big sort of an impact,” said Richards, who finished 20th in the opening leg.
“Ritter had gone too deep under brakes. I had been carving through the field on newer tyres than the rest due to making my tyre stop late, and I had pace and would have been able to pass him anyway.
“When we ran in the lead pack Ingall wasn’t that much faster than us so that gives me a little positive to take from the weekend. I needed a Safety Car right at the time I was involved in the incident to put me in a better position, but that’s life.”
Whincup’s #23 Commodore proved to be a fast race package, the young gun setting the second fastest lap of the race, second only to winner Marcos Ambrose.
After starting conservatively from 10th on the grid, Whincup was playing himself into the race when a multiple car incident at the hairpin on lap 14 of 78 stacked the field up just as he was passing Andrew Jones.
He suffered damage to the car that required a pitstop and a change of the front spoiler, dropping the 22-year-old down three laps.
“The car was an absolute jet,” said Whincup.
“I sat behind Ingall after I re-joined from the long pitstop and I caught him up. It’s such a shame we got involved in someone else’s incident. It’s really frustrating but I can’t get over how fast the car was.
“We’re still 13th in the series so there’s still plenty to be upbeat about.”
The V8 Supercar Championship Series will head to New Zealand’s Pukekohe circuit for round two in a month’s time.
Race 2 Results, Rd 1 Clipsal 500, Adelaide
1. Marcos Ambrose, #1 Pirtek Falcon BA, 78 laps
2. Craig Lowndes, #888 Betta Falcon BA, 78 laps
3. Mark Skaife, #2 HRT Commodore VZ, 78 laps
4. Todd Kelly, #22 HRT Commodore VZ, 78 laps
5. Paul Dumbrell, #24 Castrol Commodore VZ, 78 laps
6. Cameron McConville, #33 Valvoline Commodore VZ, 78 laps
7. Max Wilson, #45 WOW Commodore VZ, 78 laps
8. Paul Weel, #50 Super Cheap Auto Commodore VZ, 78 laps
9. Rick Kelly, #15 HSV Dealer Team Commodore VZ, 78 laps
10. Paul Radisich, #021 Team Kiwi Commodore VZ, 78 laps
22. Jamie Whincup, #23 Dodo Commodore VZ, 75 laps
DNF. Jason Richards, #3 Dodo Commodore VZ, 52 laps
Championship Positions After Round 1
1. Marcos Ambrose, #1 Pirtek Falcon BA, 192 pts
2. Craig Lowndes, #888 Betta Falcon BA, 183 pts
3. Todd Kelly, #22 HRT Commodore VZ, 162 pts
4. Paul Weel, #50 Super Cheap Auto Commodore VZ, 141 pts
5. Steven Johnson, #17 Westpoint Falcon BA, 141 pts
6. Russell Ingall, #9 Caltex Falcon BA, 138 pts
7. Paul Dumbrell, #24 Castrol Commodore VZ, 135 pts
8. Cameron McConville, #33 Valvoline Commodore VZ, 129 pts
9. Rick Kelly, #15 HSV Dealer Team Commodore VZ, 126 pts
10. Jason Bright, #6 CAT Falcon BA, 108 pts
13. Jamie Whincup, #23 Dodo Commodore VZ, 102 pts
30. Jason Richards, #3 Dodo Commodore VZ, 39 pts
Release Date: 20/03/2005
Tasman Motorsport
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