Speaking briefly....
19/2/2000 0:30 (Jason Whittaker) - There was plenty of news to come out of Round 1 of the Championship at Phillip Island last weekend. Anything that didn't hit the headlines, you'll find in 'Speaking briefly'.
**Mike Conway will retire his aging EL Falcon after sustaining irreparable damaged to the vehicle in an incident with Mike Donaher at Phillip Island on the weekend. The team declared the Falcon a write-off after the accident on the back section of the circuit, leaving Conway without a machine to race for the rest of the year. Mike Donaher received a $5000 fine for the altercation.
**In other disciplinary news, five drivers were fined for passing under yellow or red flag conditions over the Phillip Island weekend. Meanwhile the hearing into the John Bowe/Russell Ingall altercation will be held at the Australian Grand Prix meeting in Melbourne early March.
**AVESCO's strict testing regulations almost had Garry Dumbrell's newly-acquired K-Mart Racing operation in hot water. On January 12, the team tested at a circuit not nominated as one of the two K-Mart Racing official test tracks. With the new testing restrictions beginning on the 1st of January, the test day held at Mangalore Airport was deemed illegal under the new rules implemented by AVESCO this year. AVESCO later discovered Dumbrell was unaware of the new regulations, as the Official Operations Manual was not sent out until January 11. Teams were allowed 12 testing days, and had to inform TEGA in advance of any testing.
**AVESCO chairman Tony Cochrane is said to be furious over the scheduling of the Adelaide Davis Cup tie, to be held on the same weekend as the Clipsal Adelaide 500. The clash was unavoidable according to Tennis Australia, with all second-round Davis Cup ties around the world to be held on the same weekend. With two major events to take place in the city on the one weekend, 500 organisers warn those planning to attend the event to book accommodation early to avoid disappointment.
**1999 Shell Series champion, Craig Lowndes, was last week named the Australian Motorsportsman of the Year at the Australian Motorsport Awards in Melbourne. The ceremony, held at the Melbourne Park Convention Centre, also saw Lowndes take home the Circuit Racer of the Year award.
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