R13 HOUR 1 - Gardner leads as rain continues at Bathurst
19/11/2000 11:30 (Shane Rogers) - Wayne Gardner is the surprise leader of the FAI 1000 classic after the first hour at Bathurst today. Gardner, who started from pole position, has led all but the first two laps on a wet day at Mount Panorama.
The drama started on Sunday in the warm-up session, with the Castrol Commodore of Larry Perkins/Russell Ingall requiring a last minute engine change after a broken pushrod.
The warm-up was completed in drying conditions, but soon after the weather turned back to its past form of the previous week and begun to rain. Drivers expressed their concerns about a standing start in the treacherous conditions. Colin Bond, AVESCO's driving standards observer, considered a rolling start, but deemed that it was not required
Steven Johnson got better traction off the line and led Gardner into the first corner, followed by Craig Lowndes, Mark Larkham, Paul Radisich, and Jason Bargwanna, Glenn Seton, and Russell Ingall. All cars made it through the first lap without incident.
On lap 2, Ingall overtook Seton for seventh position into Murrays Corner, while Bargwanna passed Larkham on the inside at Forrest's Elbow for fifth. The second Big Kev Commodore of Owen Kelly/Aaron McGill retired on lap 3 with a vibration in the rear of the car.
Ingall gained another place on lap three, taking Larkham for sixth, while Gardner took the lead from Steven Johnson, and has never been challenged since.
In incidents in the first hour, Steven Ellery spun his car at the Chase, and then beached the car on the kerbing trying to re-enter the circuit. This brought out the first safety car period on lap 6.
Tony Longhurst spun on lap 11 coming out of the Chase, under the Dunlop Bridge. A light contact with the wall resulted, slightly bending a steering arm, but not changing the handling of the car.
Rod Nash caused the second safety car period when he stopped on the inside into the entry to the cutting. Nash spun at the Chase on the lap before, sliding across the now muddied ground back onto the circuit.
V8Lites champion Dean Canto was another one striking trouble, with power steering failure bringing his campaign to a halt.
Backmarkers were also causing problems, Radisich hitting Shane Howison gently just after the Reid Park gates. Radisich only looks to have suffered superficial damage to the left front of his car.
On lap 13, constant pressure applied by Lowndes forced Steven Johnson to give way at Murrays Corner, Lowndes taking third position.
With only 20 laps completed after the first hour, it is unlikely that the full race distance will be completed in the allotted time unless the weather clears up.
**POSITIONS AFTER HOUR ONE**
1st BATES/GARDNER (Ford Tickford Racing) - AU Falcon
2nd BRIGHT/RADISICH (Shell Helix Racing) - AU Falcon
3rd LOWNDES/SKAIFE (Mobil-Holden Racing) - VT Commodore
4th JOHNSON/McLEAN (Shell Helix Racing) - AU Falcon
5th BARGWANNA/TANDER (Team Valvoline-Cummins) - VT Commodore
6th INGALL/PERKINS (Castrol Perkins Racing) - VT Commodore
7th MURPHY/RICHARDS (Kmart Racing) - VT Commodore
8th CROMPTON/SETON (Ford Tickford Racing) - AU Falcon
9th LARKHAM/MENU (Mitre 10 Racing) - AU Falcon
10th KELLY/PRETTY (Holden Young Lions) - VT Commodore
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