Why retiring Slade was overwhelmed by Adelaide guard of honour

Apprehension quickly turned into emotion for Tim Slade, who along with Mark Winterbottom, was sent off with a special guard of honour before his final full-time Supercars race.

Slade and Winterbottom both farewelled the full-time game after Sunday's Race 24 at the VAILO Adelaide 500, and ironically came together during the race.

A poignant moment was planned for the veteran duo before they made their 645th and 451st respective starts, and the paddock responded in kind to celebrate both drivers.

Before the start, all drivers and teams lined up in pit lane to applaud the duo, before Winterbottom and Slade led the field to the starting grid.

Speaking at Monday night's Supercars Gala Awards in Adelaide, Slade admitted he didn't initially feel he deserved to share the moment with series champion and Bathurst winner Winterbottom.

"I won't lie, I was a little bit against it at the start, when the team first told me about that," the outgoing PremiAir Nulon Racing driver said on Monday night.

"I don't know, I guess I just didn't want the fuss and especially to do it with someone like Mark, who has won the championship and Bathurst, I didn't really feel as though I was worthy of that kind of send-off."

The guard of honour was the brainchild of Supercars Head of Broadcast Nathan Prendergast, with the significance of the moment sinking in for Slade as he carried on towards his car down pit lane.

"But I actually sent Nathan Prendergast a message this morning and said how thankful I was for him putting that together," Slade added.

"That's a memory that will last for a long time. That sportsmanship and support from your peers, there's probably nothing more important than that, so it was pretty cool."

Winterbottom and Slade combined for 1096 starts, 41 wins, 38 pole positions and 137 podiums, and both with transition into co-driving next season.