Burgess: "The right person stood on the podium"

Walkinshaw Racing team boss Adrian Burgess has endorsed the decision to elevate the Supercheap Auto Commodore onto the podium - where he insists it belongs.

Burgess praised both the V8 Stewards and driver Tim Slade after a 'bump and run' pass from Mark Winterbottom on the final corner of the last lap was redressed, elevating Slade to third place in today's Race 31 at the Castrol EDGE Gold Coast 600.

"We've said it all along, we don't unload people and expect to gain from it," Burgess told v8supercars.com.au.

"So it was clear - if it'd been lap one or two or something and you've still got a hundred lap race in front of you, you probably might get tolerated, moan about it later on and be investigated. But if it's the last corner, last lap - the rear wheels were off the deck.

"And is that the way you go and get yourself on a podium? I don't think it is.

"If they would have been happy standing up there it shows who they are.

"I wouldn't have been happy standing up there if that was us. I think the right person was up there.

"Next thing we're going to be running people off the road and saying that's fine, I'm on the podium. It's not how we go racing ... if we'd been fourth we would've been all pissed off, so it's very pleasing seeing a right decision being made by the V8 Supercars.

"The right person stood on the podium - because he deserved that result today."

Driving Standards Observer Jason Bargwanna backed up the decision awarding Slade third place, despite Ford Performance Racing's Tim Edwards' disappointment.

The podium for Slade, and co-driver Tony D'Alberto, comes at a welcome time for the 29-year old driver, who has endured a run of hard luck with two heavy accidents across the past three rounds.

Burgess emphasised his belief in the Supercheap Auto Racing driver, despite the difficult results that see him sitting 19th in the Championship this season.

"We all knew that it'd take one weekend of everything running smoothly and it would deliver the results we know he can," Burgess said.

"In 2012 he was fifth in the Championship behind the four quicker cars so we know he can do the job and we've never had any doubt of that."