'Fantastic' podium overshadows pit stop drama: Brown

Will Brown has downplayed another bungled pit stop that could have cost him a second career podium.

The Erebus Motorsport rookie got the better of Jamie Whincup in the closing laps of the BP Ultimate Sydney SuperSprint opener, which was won by Anton De Pasquale.

Assisted by teammate Brodie Kostecki, Brown was able to recover from a slow stop to record his second podium finish in Sydney.

“It was awesome,” Brown said of the closing laps battle.

“The start wasn't too bad, but those last couple of laps, thanks to my teammate; I have the best teammate in the world, so that was awesome.

“To get past Jamie and get on the podium is fantastic. I wish the race was a few laps longer.”

Brown launched from fifth for the 32-lap sprint, and was swallowed by a speedy Chaz Mostert into Turn 1.

He managed to stay with the lead pack as Kostecki came under fire from Todd Hazelwood and Nick Percat.

Brown came in for four new Dunlop Softs on lap 16; however, for the third week running, Erebus struck trouble in pit lane.

Mechanics stopped Brown from leaving the last lane to check his front left wheel was secure, costing him five seconds.

It marks the third pit stop error for Erebus in as many weeks, with Brown missing out on his maiden win in the Bunnings Trade Sydney SuperNight.

Whincup stopped for new rubber on lap 11, with Red Bull Ampol Racing trying to maximise its undercut strategy by opting for just two right tyres.

However, it wasn’t enough to stop Brown, who on fresher tyres, charged to third.

Kostecki caught up to Whincup first and encouraged Brown into the battle.

The Erebus entries swapped hands and Brown quickly cleared Whincup for third in the closing laps, but Kostecki was unable to demote Whincup further.

“Oh, forget it,” Brown said of the pit stop.

“Now that we're on the podium, it's a bit disappointing, but it is what it is.

“We kept racing and pressed on, so on the podium, we can't be unhappy.

“You can see we're doing it as a team, Brodie and the whole team was fantastic.

“They've worked tirelessly, and I'm just pumped. Erebus is in a really happy place right now.”

Brown sits sixth in the Beaurepaires Sydney Cup, just 91 points behind Shane van Gisbergen.

Cars will return to the track on Sunday for consecutive qualifying sessions from 11:45am AEDT.

Race 27 will commence at 1:30pm, followed by Race 28 at 4:45pm.