SVG celebrations muted by 12-car pile-up
THIS was not the way Shane van Gisbergen, Jamie Whincup and Craig Lowndes wanted to scoop the Supercars pool.
The Holden trio claimed the top three positions in yesterday’s race at Symmons Plains which was marred by a 12-car pile-up.
Contact between Cam Waters and Garth Tander appeared to set off a huge crash at the Tasmanian circuit, which suspended the race for almost an hour.
By the time the track was deemed clear enough for racing to resume, only two laps - under safety car conditions - could be completed.
Immediately after the race, sanctioning authority CAMS deemed the race result would stand.
That result - which is likely to be challenged - means van Gisbergen receives the same 150-point haul from the farcical eight-kilometre race yesterday as he did from both of his 250-kilometre victories at the Clipsal 500.
But that doesn’t mean he’ll be handing the points back.
‘‘We’re not here celebrating,’’ he said. ‘‘I don’t really care that I won the race. Maybe I’ll look back on it at the end of the year and be glad I got points ... don’t push me.’’
Van Gisbergen, who continued his perfect start to the Supercars season with the win, is the chief beneficiary of the decision to award points.
Leading into the meet, van Gisbergen led Fabian Coulthard - who finished 10th - and James Courtney - who was in the middle of the pile-up - by 49 points.
The result now means his closest rival is Red Bull Holden team mate Jamie Whincup, some 108 points back.
Lowndes said it was probably the shortest race he’d ever completed.
‘‘To see all the drivers get out GETTY IMAGES of the car and literally walk away ... that’s a good sign. Cars can be replaced, bodies can’t,’’ he said. ‘‘I feel also for the fans on the hill who came to see a good race. It’s a shame it ended that way.’’
Whincup, who saw good friend Will Davison taken from the track in an ambulance with lower back pain, said drivers felt for their colleagues.
‘‘I think he’s in a bit of pain at the moment,’’ Whincup said. ‘‘Our thoughts are with all the teams and mechanics that have a lot of work to do to get down to Phillip Island.’’ – AAP
‘ I don’t really care that I won the race.’ SHANE VAN GISBERGEN