R1 RACE 2 - Tander triumphs and a new Craig shines
13/2/2000 22:56 (Jason Whittaker) - Holden's Garth Tander has taken the honours in the opening round of the Shell Championship Series at Phillip Island while a new Craig has sparkled on debut for a resurgent Ford camp.
Tander's two second places in the two-race format secured the round win for the Valvoline Cummins youngster, ahead of Holden Racing Team's Mark Skaife. Tander has started the year on a great note.
"I had a plan when I started out to win the title in my third year which is this year. This is the perfect start but it would be silly to start talking titles. At the moment I am really pleased to be going to my home round in Perth next month as the Shell Series leader. That should be a great buzz," said Tander.
The star of the day was Kiwi, Craig Baird, who scored a great race victory in his first solo outing in the Pirtek Ford. Both weekend races were won by a Craig, only yesterday it was Lowndes and today, Baird.
Baird stormed home in the closing stages of the second race to charge past a slowing Tander who was battling with worn tyres. New Zealand fans were thrilled for their home grown rookie as they were taking live telecasts of the Shell Series for the first time this weekend.
"I'm rapt," said Baird. "This is a dream start for me. I'd never raced here before so I was gradually learning the circuit and today, I got a good start and was able to finish strongly to take the win."
Baird shared driving duties with Jason Bright in the Stone Brothers' Ford in last year's enduros, but this was his first round as the new full time pilot.
Reigning champion, Craig Lowndes limped off the track with a rare engine failure in race two leaving Skaife to fly the HRT flag.
Skaife's third place today gave him second overall. He acknowledged the difficulties most drivers had with the regulations which gave each car just ten tyres for the whole weekend on the hot, high-speed circuit.
"It was tough for everyone out there. It really hurt your rear tyres and I think we all had to nurse our cars along at some stage," said Skaife.
Larry Perkins revelled in the sunshine in his Castrol Holden, using his experience to finish fifth in the second race after starting well back on the grid while others had no joy at all.
Russell Ingall and John Bowe were called to the steward's room after exchanging paint in weekends they would rather forget. Neil Crompton and newcomer, Paul Morris also had a miserable second race.
Tickford Ford's Glenn Seton missed yet another start but charged hard to finish fourth overall. Paul Radisich, Mark Larkham and Tony Longhurst performed well in their Fords.
Radisich struggled with just seven cylinders in his Shell Helix Ford in race two but still managed fifth overall.
"It just got worse and worse as the race wore on so I am really surprised with the result. Baird showed that the race was there for the taking so the Ford boys have reason to feel pretty good," said Radisich.
The Ford camp have been talking up their chances this year and the results here have justified that. After claiming just two race wins to Holden's 32 in 1999, they leave the Island at one all and with four of the top six drivers.
The V8 Supercars will be on show at the Qantas Australian Grand Prix before heading west for round two of the Shell Championship Series at the Barbagallo Raceway on March 17-19.
**TOP 10**
1. CRAIG BAIRD (Pirtek Racing) - AU Falcon
2. GARTH TANDER (Team Valvoline-Cummins) - VT Commodore
3. MARK SKAIFE (Mobil-Holden Racing) - VT Commodore
4. GLENN SETON (Ford-Tickford Racing) - AU Falcon
5. LARRY PERKINS (Castrol Perkins Racing) - VT Commodore
6. PAUL RADISICH (Shell Helix Racing) - AU Falcon
7. MARK LARKHAM (Mitre 10 Racing) - AU Falcon
8. TONY LONGHURST (Caltex Havoline Racing) - AU Falcon
9. TODD KELLY (Holden Young Lions) - VT Commodore
10. STEVEN RICHARDS (K-Mart Racing) - VT Commodore
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