Whincup wins Phillip Island V8 pole

Despite a horrendous start and feeling like the team's `B' driver, V8 Supercars
leader Jamie Whincup still managed to secure pole position for Sunday's endurance
race at Phillip Island.
Whincup will line up in top spot with his TeamVodafone teammate Steve Owen, who went
beyond expectations to win his qualifying race on Saturday.
They will be alongside the Holden of Rick Kelly and Owen Kelly while the Ford of
series leader James Courtney and Warren Luff will start from third for the 500km
race.
Another TeamVodafone entry - that of Mark Skaife and Craig Lowndes who are reunited
after 10 years - will start from fourth place.
Rick Kelly won the second sprint race on Saturday while Steve Owen won the first.
The combined points from the first and second sprint races set the grid for Sunday.
Whincup missed out on the race victories and took off like a rookie but he and Owen
still managed to outpoint their rivals.
"I got the worst start of my life and I was back in the pack but then at the end
there it was nuts - there were cars going everywhere," Whincup said.
"I was three-wide going down into Honda (corner) with a couple of - I'll say
co-drivers, no disrespect but they're not usuals in the cars and it was all looking
a bit hairy.
"Somehow we managed to clean it all up and ended up with pole position."
Whincup is attempting to defend his title and catch current leader Courtney and said
the overall series situation would play on his mind as much as surviving the enduro.
"It's certainly a factor, that's what the whole year is all about, trying to
generate more points than anyone else," Whincup said.
"We don't really look at it until after these endurance races but if we can stay in
front of the Jim Beam (Courtney's) car, very good, but if they're too good for us on
the day we just have to put up with that.
"At the moment we've got a quick car but I think Steve's happier in the car than I
am - I feel like I'm the B driver at the moment.
"We all made shocking starts, I think we're pretty rusty after nine weeks off.
"I might put the labels back on the pedals, which one to go and which one to stop."
Whincup said he supported the drawn-out qualifying format which had the two drivers
from each team competing in their own practice run and then each in a sprint race
throughout the day.
"I think it's good, it's a massive challenge," Whincup said.
"Today is a big day, we're not just going out there and trying to do a quick lap.
"I like the format and at the end of the day if our supporter base like it then
probably we should keep it."



Delete & Prev | Delete & Next