R13 HOUR 8 - Tander/Bargwanna win FAI 1000; Skaife wins Championship
19/11/2000 17:47 (Shane Rogers) - Valvoline Cummins Repco Team drivers Garth Tander and Jason Bargwanna have won their first Bathurst 1000, holding on to cross the line 2.41 seconds ahead of Jason Bright and Paul Radisich. Holden Racing Team Mark Skaife clinched his third Shell Championship Series title after finishing in sixth position.
Hour 8 heartbreak for Tony Longhurst only 10 laps before the end of the FAI 1000 after a collision with John Faulkner at Forrest's Elbow, bending the front wheel to a 30 degree angle. Faulkner's car hit the inside wall, but continued.
Tander inherited the lead, 6.6 seconds ahead of Radisich who had passed Murphy on lap 151 going down Conrod Straight. By lap 153, the gap was only 3.2 seconds.
With 6 laps to go, Radisich was 3.1 behind, no cars between himself and the Valvoline Commodore. With four laps to go, Tander extends the gap to 3.9 seconds.
Three laps to go, 3.9 seconds still. Only a mistake would deny Tander victory. Meanwhile, Johnson was right behind Murphy challenging for third with two laps remaining.
Tander crossed the finish line 2.41 seconds ahead of Radisich, with Murphy finishing third ahead of Johnson. Mark Skaife finished in 6th position, taking the 2000 Shell Series title.
**UNOFFICIAL FINAL RESULTS**
1st BARGWANNA/TANDER (Valvoline-Cummins Team) - VT Commodore
2nd BRIGHT/RADISICH (Shell Helix Racing) - AU Falcon
3rd MURPHY/RICHARDS (Kmart Racing) - VT Commodore
4th JOHNSON/McLEAN (Shell Helix Racing) - AU Falcon
5th KELLY/PRETTY (Holden Young Lions) - VT Commodore
6th LOWNDES/SKAIFE (Holden Racing Team) - VT Commodore
7th BAIRD/WILLS (Pirtek Racing) - AU Falcon
8th McDOUGALL/MIEDECKE (Pepsi) - VT Commodore
9th HOSSACK/PARSONS (Kmart Racing) - VT Commodore
10th MULLER/PLATO (Holden Racing Team) - VT Commodore
| |
