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Uphill climb for Jack

12 Sep 2015
Drama strikes Perkins in qualifying race after a strong start at Sandown.
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What started as a promising day ended in disappointment for Jack Perkins and Russell Ingall, after incidents in Perkins' qualifying race that see the pair start the Wilson Security Sandown 500 24th tomorrow.

Ingall was able to make up six positions in his 60km dash against the other co-drivers, returning from retirement to get behind the wheel of the Holden Racing Team #22.

And while Perkins held steady in the top 10 in the second race that set the grid, contact from Craig Lowndes bumped him off the track and down the order, earning the #888 a pit lane penalty.

Down the back of the pack, Perkins was then caught up in a drama with rookie Andre Heimgartner who had no brakes, resulting in damage to both the Super Black Falcon and the HRT Commodore.

Perkins, 29, was not happy with the outcome - damage, and starting from the rear of the grid - in the post-race interview.

"What do I say? It's just disappointing," he said.

"It's not everyday you're running sixth in a main driver race as a co-driver.

"I thought I was holding my own and just wanted to get going, get the tyre pressures up to speed, just do a good job and start somewhere in the top 10.

"Now we've got damage and I don't know what I did wrong - but I did something wrong..."

Heimgartner described the incident as the "scariest" he'd ever experienced.

"I noticed coming into four that the pedal was a bit long as I was going up the back straight," he said.

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"It felt alright but I really hit it hard it just went through, just went to the floor - so 270km without a brake, definitely the scariest thing I've ever done, so I don't want to repeat that."

Perkins didn't seem sympathetic.

"The Andre thing - the driver wasn't in control of the vehicle, you could tell that, whether it was a mechanical failure or the driver,I'm not sure," he said when informed of Heimgartner's brake issue.

"I've never seen anyone spin onto the dirt on the right - usually you get off the throttle and roll down the hill and consolidate the position, but to spin it like that I'd suggest he kept the boot in it. Or he had a brake drama, whatever, it's done damage unnecessarily.

"It's the first mark I've ever put on a car as a co-driver and I'm disappointed the guys have got a bit of work to do."

Lowndes admitted he deserved the penalty for the contact with Perkins and will do his best to fight back from the rear of the grid tomorrow.

"I made a mistake into Dandenong corner when my tyre locked up and I couldn't clear it," the Red Bull racer said.

"Then I had a run on Jack Perkins who was the innocent party. The drive through penalty was justified and toward the end we showed good pace which was encouraging."

Lowndes, teamed with Steven Richards, starts 23rd, Perkins and Ingall 24th, and Heimgartner and Ant Pedersen 25th after a hard day for all three pairings.

Defending Sandown champs Jamie Whincup and Paul Dumbrell start from ARMOR ALL Pole Position.

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