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Lap by Lap: Race 15

19 May 2013
The first of the final two races at the Austin 400 is about to begin. Jamie Whincup starts from pole, with teammate Craig Lowndes alongside.
3 mins by James Pavey
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The first of the final two races at the Austin 400 is about to begin. Jamie Whincup starts from pole, with teammate Craig Lowndes alongside. Can the pair take another 1-2?

Fabian Coulthard and Mark Winterbottom fill the second row, with Rick Kelly in fifth – a best performance for his Nissan Altima.

After Qualifying, Kelly said it would be important to capitalise on the strengths of the cars here.

“This track’s very unique – we knewwe’d have a better shot here because it’s 20 corners and a short track," Kelly said after both qualifying sessions. "We’regoing to go to Darwin – less corners and one massive straight and a lot of fullthrottle – so it’s going to be a little tougher there for us and that’s whytoday we really need to maximise this opportunity and get some solid resultsand points.”

Rounding out the top 10 starts are Jonathon Webb, Shane van Gisbergen, Jason Bright, Todd Kelly and Garth Tander.

Whincup gets a good start but Winterbottom the best of the front cars. Lowndes in down to fourth, with Coulthard and Winterbottom arguing over seecond.

Coulthard recorded the quickest time on lap 2, a 1:36.3412.

Top 10 is Whincup, Wintebottom, Coulthard, Lowndes, Rick Kelly, Webb, Tander, Bright, Van Gisbergen, Courtney. Will Davison in 11.

L4 and Winterbottom is the new race leader, with a big move on Whincup. Coulthard also through, Whincup and Lowndes now back in 3 and 4.

It's been one year since Winterbottom's last race win.

Cars 7 and 34 under investigation – Todd Kelly and Premat.

McLaughlin in 13th is the quickest car out there.

Lowndes passes Whincup for third.

L7 Lowndes records fastest lap time in third.

L8 Webb is up to fifth. Top 10 is Winterbottom, Coulthard, Lowndes, Whincup, Webb, Rick Kelly, Tander, Bright, van Gisbergen, Will Davison.

Under investigation contact between 3 and 34; and cars 21 and 80. So that's D'Alberto and Premat, Wall and Pye.

L11 Winterbottom, Whincup, Tander, McLaughlin, Caruso, Wall in pitlane. Shocking stop for Winterbottom – he's come out behind Tander. 

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L12 Coulthard and Lowndes also in.

No further action will be taken with the incident between Wall and Pye.

Coulthard and Lowndes out in front of Whincup. Rick Kelly has tucked in between Whincup and Tander.

L13 Webb and Courtney pitting. Webb out between Rick Kelly and Tander - 11th.

L13 and Safety Car deployed. Debris on the race track.

L14 and Bright, Mostert, Todd Kelly, Fiore, Engel, D'Alberto and Pye in pitlane – that's the rest of the field who hadn't previously pitted.

Top 10 is Coulthard, Lowndes, Whincup, Rick Kelly, Tander (fifth after starting 10th), Webb, Winterbottom (was leading, now 7th), Bright, McLaughlin, Will Davison.

Restart on L16. Battle between Tander, Rick Kelly and Winterbottom down in 5-7.

L18 Rick Kelly seems to be slipping back after an average restart – he's now being pressured by Bright, behind in ninth.

And Rck Kelly has been shown the bad sportsmanship flag for blocking.

Car 14 post race investigation not maintaining speed - Coulthard, the race leader.

Coulthard has recorded the fastest lap time on L20 with a 1min34.0483.

L24 Black flag and pit lane penalty for Premat spinning wheels at pit stop. He's running 21st.

L25 van Gisbergen up to fifth, passing Tander.

Final lap and there's plenty going on between Mostert, Todd Kelly and Caruso back in 13-15.

Coulthard takes the chequered flag in first, ahead of Lowndes, Whincup, Webb, van Gisbergen, Tander, Winterbottom, Bright, Rick Kelly, Courtney. Just one Ford and one Nissan in the top 10.

Second in the Championship Will Davison home in 12th.

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