Whincup hits the wall

JAMIE Whincup’s championship defence began poorly yesterday with the Red Bull Holden Racing Team driver crashing out of qualifying in a blow that could deny him a spot in the top-10 shootout.

On a day of V8 carnage at the Supercars season-starting Adelaide 500, Whincup smashed into a concrete wall at more than 200km/h to end a heartstopping qualifying session won by his Red Bull teammate Shane van Gisbergen.

Resuming last year’s war with DJR Penske driver Scott McLaughlin, seven-time champ Whincup’s hopes of winning a first-round fight against his Ford rival took a hammering. A dejected Whincup admitted his car could be wrecked.

“I am OK physically,’’ he said. “But I am not quite sure how the car is. I made a rare error on one of the fastest parts of the track and paid the price. It was a big impact and unfortunately it is going to be a very long night for the team.’’

Going toe-to-toe with McLaughlin for most of the 20-minute session, Whincup was safely in the top 10 when he collected the infamous concrete at turn eight. Whincup’s early time of 1.20.47 was good enough to put him in today’s top-10 shootout, but only if his team can save his car.

McLaughlin powered his way to second, almost matching van Gisbergen’s sessionwinning time of 1.20.24. James Courtney pounced to claim third for newly merged team Walkinshaw Andretti United.

Big names Chaz Mostert (12th), Craig Lowndes (15th) and Fabian Coulthard (18th) all failed to book a spot in the grid setting top-10 shootout.