Lap by Lap: Race 17
The Bottle-O Racing FPR's David Reynolds starts on pole with Jamie Whincup alongside for Race 17 of the V8 Supercars Championship.
This race is a 60/60 Super Sprint, meaning it will run with two 21-lap halves. There is a 15-minute break between the two halves, and the second is started with a double filing rolling restart.
Whincup has a great start and monsters Reynolds for first. He runs wide at turn six though, and Reynolds gets back around. Bad start for Jason Bright.
Looks like a problem for Rick Kelly.
L2 and Coulthard is already up three spots into eighth. HRT cars two wide battling for fifth.
After the first lap it's Reynolds, Whincup, Will Davison, Winterbottom, Tander, Courtney, Coulthard, Kelly, Lowndes, van Gisbergen.
L3 Problem for Slade in the hairpin.
Lowndes has recorded the fastest lap, a 1min11.6615 on lap 3 – he's down in eighth.
Under investigation an incident between Webb and Slade at turn five.
Bright has set the fastest lap of the race on lap 6. He's in tenth and currently holds both the qualifying and race records at this circuit – though they were set in 2002 and 1999, respectively.
Pepsi Max Crew FPR Falcons of Winterbottom and Davison battling for third. L9 and it's Reynolds, Whincup, Will Davison, Winterbottom, Tander, Courtney, Coulthard, Lowndes, van Gisbergen, Bright.
Incident under investigation between Holdsworth and Mostert at turn five on lap two.
Incident under investigation between Slade, Premat and Webb at turn five.
L11 and Jason Bright overtakes the two battling Kiwis van Gisbergen and Coulthard, for eighth.
Incident under investigation between Todd Kelly and Alex Davison, from lap one.
L13 Van Gisbergen up the inside of Bright for ninth.
L17 – just four laps away from the half-time race – and Reynolds still leads from Whincup and Winterbottom.
L18 Lowndes up the inside of Tander at turn one, which means he will start from P5 for the second half – he'll be on the inside for the restart if he remains in the position.
Last lap of the first half – Reynolds leads from Whincup, Winterbottom, Will Davison, Lowndes, Tander, Courtney, van Gisbergen, Bright, Coulthard.
Lowndes says the car has been great and likes the rolling restarts. "It's an entertaining part of the whole package... it's exciting for us... Who knows what's going to happen out there." He will start the second half from fifth.
Less than five minutes to go in half time.
Drivers are back in the cars, getting ready for the double file rolling restart.
Whincup passes Reynolds for the lead on the restart and there's plenty of damage down the field – Will Davison, Tander, Lowndes – Blanchard is parked. Both Fujitsu GRM cars were off track and have dropped to the back.
Safety Car.
L25 still under Safety Car and the top 10 is Whincup, Reynolds, Winterbottom, van Gisbergen, Courtney, Bright, Webb, Rick Kelly, Coulthard, Slade.
Post race investigation Lowndes and Tander.
Slade started 23rd and is now 10th in his Mercedes.
Race restarted on lap 28 and Whincup has developed a huge gap from Reynolds. Winterbottom battles Reynolds for second.
Whincup records the fastest lap on lap 28 – a 1min11.3132.
L30 Will Davison in pit lane.
L29 Whincup was faster again, with a 1min11.0253.
Post race investigation Rick Kelly and Coulthard, turn one, lap 28.
L36 it's tight between Reynolds and Winterbottom. Van Gisbergen is trying to buy into this battle for second.
L37 Winterbottom into Reynolds, Reynolds on the side of the track. Van Gisbergen through for second. Reynolds now recorded as 15.
L39 Winterbottom in pit lane. Pit lane penalty for Winterbottom for careless driving, involving Reynolds at turn six.
L40 Reynolds is in behind Tander. Top 10 is now Whincup, van Gisbergen, Courtney, Bright, Webb, Rick Kelly, Slade, Mostert, D'Alberto, Caruso.
Final lap and Whincup will take the win from van Gisbergen and Courtney.
