James Courtney, Mark Winterbottom tangle in bizarre clash
Courtney hits Winterbottom, who slowed for double waved yellows
Both cars consigned to the garage after big hit on Conrod
James Courtney and Mark Winterbottom have collided in a bizarre start to final practice at Mount Panorama.
Practice 6 is traditionally set aside for systems checks, pit stop rehearsals and driver changes.
However, Tickford Racing and Team 18's run plans were completely thrown into disarray when Courtney and Winterbottom clashed on Conrod Straight.
Winterbottom, Courtney and Chaz Mostert were running down the back straight, before they met yellow flags. Winterbottom slowed in response, but was hit by Courtney.
"He just got on the brakes hard and I hit the back of him," Courtney radioed to his team.
Winterbottom radioed in that he was braking for yellow flags, which were deployed for an errant family of ducks on Conrod Straight.
"How funny is it, two commentary blokes crashing into each other," Winterbottom told the broadcast.
"Double waved yellow, I obviously backed off there, and he's hit me full noise. It's done a fair bit of damage.
"You're not sure if a kangaroo's going to jump out, there's limited comms, a double waved yellow there. He hit me hard."
The ducks were retrieved by officials and safely removed from the circuit.
It was an awkward moment, given the two veterans are colleagues on the Supercars broadcast team.
After returning to the garage, Courtney told the broadcast: "It was definitely strange.
"Mark and I were going, then all of a sudden he just jumped on the brake halfway down the straight.
"It was either the wall of the back of him. Something I wasn't anticipating to happen, very surprising."
David Reynolds will contest the Boost Mobile Top Ten Shootout in the #48 Snowy River Caravans Camaro, while the Cam Waters/Winterbottom car will start 14th.
Waters and Reynolds returned to the circuit with 38 minutes remaining.
