DJR’s team players tipped to fight fair
DJR Team Penske have ensured a no-holds-barred fight for the Supercars drivers’ championship, claiming there will be no team orders issued to their stars Fabian Coulthard and Scott McLaughlin, currently first and second in the title race.
Heading into this weekend’s Townsville 400 with Coulthard 10 points clear of McLaughlin, DJR Team Penske boss Ryan Story was adamant neither would be given preferential treatment – a tactic often used in motorsport to help secure the maximum championship for the team.
“There will be no team orders,’’ Story said.
“We are not the type of team to do that. But we are certainly after the best result for DJR Team Penske. ‘‘That is our mentality.’’ In one of the most infamous examples of team orders in motorsport, Ferrari were fined $US100,000 in 2010 for telling race leader Felipe Massa to pull over and let teammate Fernando Alonso pass at the German Grand Prix so he could close the gap on Sebastian Vettel in the Formula One drivers’ points championship. After a slow start to the Supercars season, young gun McLaughlin has turned up the heat on Coulthard in recent rounds.
Story predicted the pair would keep the fight clean.
“Right now we have the wise old hand in Fabian Coulthard leading the championship since the second round and now Scott is starting to deliver the goods after finding his feet,’’ Story said.
“You couldn’t ask better scenario.
“The drivers are naturally competitive against each other, but above all they are working hard to try to push for a the entire team forward. They know they need to work together to help develop a better car. They know they will get the rewards from that.’’
Story said Penske were focused on their battle against Red Bull Racing Australia, with the Holden team’s sixtime Supercars champ Jamie Whincup trailing Coulthard by 16 points.
“It is more a fight between two teams at the moment,’’ Story said.
“The Red Bulls are constantly working their way to the top of the pecking order and that has been the focus for everyone back at the workshop. And the Red Bull guys have more experience at this than we do. We are under no illusions about how difficult it will be.
“For us it is about putting the team first and not compromising a good result for the team. The guys understand that and play within the rules.’’
DJR Team Penske are chasing a first win at Townsville as a merged outfit.
Dick Johnson Racing claimed victory at the inaugural event in 2009.
The Townsville begins with tomorrow. SuperSprint practice
“You’re not going to be a champion if you don’t win races throughout the year. The field is too competitive so you can’t rest on your laurels and think being the conservative guy is going to win you the championship.
“You need to take those opportunities as they come and get as many points as you can every weekend.”
With that philosophy, the 34-year-old Kiwi hopes to be “there or thereabouts come November”. The series finale is on November 24-26 at the inaugural Newcastle 500.
Former Supercars champion Russell Ingall said Coulthard had surprised many during the opening 12 races.
“Everyone thought that when Scott McLaughlin was announced there that he (Coulthard) would get steamrolled because McLaughlin showed his talent in the Volvos,” Ingall said.
“But Fabian to his credit, he has lifted and he is leading the championship and has done for a few races so he is definitely not out of the game.”
The Townsville 400 will be another chance for Coulthard and his crew to extend their advantage. Red Bull have been typically strong at the street circuit whereas DJR Team Penske have struggled.