Matt Payne still against pit entry rethink despite defeat
Payne missed out on Saturday sweep in bizarre incident
Aaron Cameron baulked Payne at pit entry, Broc Feeney got past
Matt Payne won’t change his tune on Perth’s tricky pit entry despite losing Saturday’s second race win over an incident with backmarker Aaron Cameron.
Payne was among three drivers asked after Friday practice if the pit entry needed a rethink. Brodie Kostecki and Feeney both preached common sense, while Payne was diplomatic.
After Saturday’s action, when asked by Supercars.com if he’d change his mind, Payne said: “No, I don't think so.
“Like, to be honest with you, short track, you're always gonna get caught out with traffic.
“Yeah, I was probably surprised at how many cars were around us at the time, which I thought was okay. You know, it's not the first time it's happened this year.
“Literally, I don't think the timing could've been worse, you know? Like, coming into the last corner, I didn't quite get close enough to pass him out of [Turn] 6.
“I don't know about Broc, but I didn't really have any idea that he was [pitting]. He didn't bother to indicate. So yeah, like what can you do?
“It’s a characteristic of the track and that's how it is, I think you've gotta race around that, and we were just on the wrong side of it.”
The discussion began after Andre Heimgartner was turned by Jack Le Brocq in Friday practice, before Rylan Gray was hit by Cooper Murray.
When asked if there was an unwritten code on indicating, Payne continued: “It is said in the drivers' briefing, especially in practice or something like that, just to avoid people spinning out.
“Although, I think this year I feel like there's been more people spinning out than ever, even in practice.”
Sunday Supercars action begins with Boost Mobile Qualifying at 11:00am local time/1:00pm AEST.
