Championship front-runners receive points penalties

A number of V8 Supercars Championship front-runners were handed substantial points penalties after yesterday's crash-and-bash racing at the SKYCITY Triple Crown.

DefendingChampion Jamie Whincup was docked 25 points, along with Holden Racing Team's James Courtney - who started from ARMOR ALL Pole Position -for the day's first race.

Whincup was handed the penaltyfor the first corner clash with Fabian Coulthard, who was unable to finish the race after a broken steering arm.

While no one involved in the late race incident wanted to take responsibility, Courtney was ultimately penalised for contact with teammate Garth Tander in a clash that also had Shane van Gisbergen involved.

Red Bull's 100 race winner Craig Lowndes was penalised 15 points for contact with Todd Kelly at turn five.

Meanwhile Team BOC's Jason Bright was handed two 25 point penalties after his involvement with David Reynolds at the final corner and rookie Andre Heimgartner at turn one.

Incidents investigated in the race that were not penalised were between David Wall and Will Davison, Davison and Todd Kelly and Whincup and Davison.

The penalties do not affect Lowndes or Whincup's positions in the Championship order, though the margin between leader Mark Winterbottom and Lowndes expands to 44 points.

Yesterday's race winner Chaz Mostert jumps into fourth, with Whincup fifth and Courtney down to sixth.

Bright tumbles three positions in the tight mid-field, falling from 12th to 15th, with Michael Caruso, Will Davison and Tim Slade all elevated.

While the second race at Hidden Valley was action packed, there were no post-race penalties given for the 21-lap run. Incidents between Scott McLaughlin and Todd Kelly, and Will Davison and Andre Heimgartner were deemed racing incidents; while Rick Kelly was shown the black flag during the race for his first lap hit on Coulthard.

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