Tickford takes blame for costly Waters incident

Tickford Racing Team Manager Matt Roberts has put Cam Waters' shock incident in Darwin down to a team error.

Waters was running 10th in the closing laps of Sunday's betr Darwin Triple Crown finale when he spun with three laps remaining.

Attention turned to Waters dragging his Monster Energy Ford to pit lane, with the left rear wheel missing.

Waters crawled home 24th and last, one lap down. Heading to Townsville, the 30-year-old slumped to 320 points behind Broc Feeney, who won all three races.

Speaking on the broadcast after the race, Roberts admitted the incident stemmed from the second pit stop, with the wheel not completely fastened.

"We weren't quite happy with it, on that second stop," Roberts said.

"Unfortunately that's what happened today, a mistake in the lane, so the team can own that one.

"We'll go back here and regroup, look at it and analyse it. Ultimately, it's ended Cam's day.

"He was looking really good there at one point. We were hoping to get try and get him in top six, between six and 10, he was driving ripper.

"We'll get behind it, and move on."

The mistake could yet inflict more pain on Tickford, with a potential fine and points penalty for the team not out of the question.

Penrite Racing provisionally closed to within 32 points of Tickford in the Teams Championship, however that could close to just two points if a penalty is handed out.

Penrite Racing themselves received a 30-point penalty yesterday after a loose wheel entered the fast lane at a stop for Kai Allen in Race 18.