Almost perfect weekend for TeamVodafone in Perth

Press Release:
1st May, 2011.

On an action packed final day of the Trading Post Perth Challenge, TeamVodafone managed to execute an almost perfect weekend with Jamie Whincup securing pole position for today’s two races before taking the chequered flag second and first respectively.

 
Craig Lowndes also enjoyed a successful day of racing, qualifying third for today’s two 121km races and finishing an impressive fourth in both. The #888 pilot has also moved to second in the championship standings.

While fans were ready for an action-packed Sunday with Race 8 and 9 of the V8 Supercar Championship to be contested on the one day, no one expected to witness the fireball explosion that resulted when Karl Reindler’s stalled Commodore was collected Steve Owen at the start of Race 8.

Both drivers came out of the collision safely but the race re-start was delayed as event crew  worked frantically to clear the track of debris.

Team’s returned to the grid for the restart and Whincup soon became embroiled in a battle with Jason Bright for the top spot.

Teammate Craig Lowndes joined the battle group but tyre wear got the better of the #888 Commodore and he eventually finished fourth.

While Whincup pushed hard but couldn’t close the gap to Bright it was a different story in the final race of the day.

The two-time V8 Supercar Champion fought back and took the lead off Bright after both drivers made a pitstop after Lap 23, a position he fiercely defended over the closing laps of the race.

Lowndes again battled with tyre degradation and finished fourth.

While Lowndes and Whincup will depart Perth for a whirlwind tour of Port Headland and Karratha the TeamVodafone crew will head home to prepare for the next event at Winton Motor Raceway on May 20 – 22.

For regular news and updates, head to www.teamvodafone.com.au

Top Ten Results V8 Supercar Championship Series Race 8 – Barbagallo Raceway

1: Jason Bright            
2: Jamie Whincup           
3: Jason Bargwanna         
4: Craig Lowndes           
5: Tim Slade               
6: Alex Davison            
7: Garth Tander            
8: Will Davison
9: Lee Holdsworth
10: Shane Van Gisbergen

Top Ten Results V8 Supercar Championship Series Race 9 – Barbagallo Raceway

1: Jamie Whincup           
2: Jason Bright           
3: Garth Tander            
4: Craig Lowndes           
5: James Courtney          
6: Steven Johnson         
7: Shane Van Gisbergen
8: Jason Bargwanna    
9: Tim Slade              
10: Greg Murphy

Top Ten V8 Supercar Championship Series Standings after Races 8 & 9 of 27

1: Jamie Whincup, 946 pts.
2: Craig Lowndes, 804 pts.
3: Garth Tander, 737 pts.
4: Shane Van Gisbergen, 730 pts.
5: Will Davison, 714 pts.
6: Rick Kelly, 713 pts.
7: Jason Bright, 674 pts.
8: Alex Davison, 666 pts.
9: Mark Winterbottom, 665 pts.
10: Steven Johnson, 639 pts.