Qualifying lap record broken
Jamie Whincup has lowered the qualifying record around Symmons Plains Raceway, recording a 50.9676 second flyer in the closing minutes of today’s 20-minute session.
"It was really cool!” the Red Bull racer said getting out of the car.
“I got a really good run.
“The tyres take forever to come up but I knew this was a lap, this is what it's all about ... I got a really good run in the last sector and to see a 50 pop up on the dash is a really cool feeling.”
Whincup said RBRA would put the dramas of yesterday's intra-team clash behind them today.
“We've got really good management and Lowndesy's a really good bloke as well.
“As I said the situation's difficult – I didn't feel like I did anything wrong... Hopefully keep it a bit cleaner today.”
Lowndes was right behind Whincup, by 0.11sec – and in fact, it was his lap record from 2012, a 51.0254, that was broken.
Scott McLaughlin (Volvo) was third and will start alongside Will Davison, fourth a great result for Erebus Motorsport.
Holden Racing Team’s James Courtney rounds out the top five, with Shane van Gisbergen, Tim Slade, David Wall, Nick Percat and Lee Holdsworth in the 10.
Last year’s winners from Brad Jones Racing were 11 (Fabian Coulthard) and 16 (Bright). The first of the Nissans was Michael Caruso in 12th.
Drama struck for Jack Perkins, who hit stablemate Mark Winterbottom exiting pit lane, as the #5 Falcon ran wide around turn two. He will start from 25th, with bent suspension after the contact. HRT’s Garth Tander will be alongside in 24th after suffering a power steering issue.
Click here for full results.
Race Six begins at 3.55pm AEDT today from the Tyrepower Tasmania 400.
