Send in the Clowns: Whincup lashes back

Jamie Whincup suggested Bathurst winner Mark Winterbottom was a “clown” for accusing the Red Bull Holden team and its owner Roland Dane of being “arrogant”.

The Championship leader and Friday fast-man at the ARMOR ALL Gold Coast 600 was clearly unimpressed by the FPR Pepsi-Max Falcon driver’s comments earlier in the week, although he said they did not affect his attitude to this weekend’s racing.

Without naming Winterbottom, it was crystal clear to the assembled media who he was referring to.

“I only know of one clown who made a few comments early,” said Whincup, when asked if he thought there were mind games going on. “I have disregarded them.”

Whincup and Winterbottom waged a no-holds barred battle for the win in the Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000 two weeks ago and displayed respect for each other on the track and during presentations afterwards.

However, they do have a long-standing rivalry that goes back to their karting days and are not friends.

Winterbottom has had two cracks at the Red Bull operation this week, first labelling the team arrogant and then clarifying his comments to focus on Dane.

Whincup said Winterbottom was getting carried away by his Bathurst win.

“Talk about bragging rights, or winning a race and making the most of it. I think that is what was going on there, getting a little bit carried away with a big win.

“The Championship is a long year. I have nothing but praise for car five (the Winterbottom/Steve Richards Falcon) at Bathurst, they did a great job and deserved the win. I am looking forward to the battle right through to Sunday in Sydney.”

Whincup leads the championship on 2423 points with three events, including this weekend’s final round of the Pirtek Enduro Cup, to be contested.

Winterbottom is third on 2281 points, Whincup’s team-mate Craig Lowndes is second on 2309 points and Winterbottom’s team-mate Will Davison fourth on 2242 points.

While Whincup was fastest today, Davison was sixth, Lowndes only 18th after suffering a double puncture in the final session, and Winterbottom 22nd.