ID :
169370
Sat, 03/19/2011 - 13:32
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http://m.oananews.org//node/169370
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Garth Tander triumphs at Clipsal 500
Golden Racing Team's Garth Tander emerged victorious from a smash-strewn opening race at the Clipsal 500 on Saturday.
Tander added to his wins in last year's two V8 Supercar races in Adelaide with victory in the first 250km race this weekend.
The Holden driver started from pole position, leading home a full Holden podium with Jamie Whincup second and Craig Lowndes third.
Whincup maintained his overall championship lead.
The race became an exciting dash to the finish after both Tander and Whincup followed similar fuel strategies to survive the gruelling 75 laps around Adelaide's street circuit.
Three late race safety car periods - as Steve Owen, James Moffat and veteran Russell Ingall turned their cars into smoking wrecks - ensured Tander and Whincup could engaging in a thrilling battle to the end.
Whincup had a few nervous moments in the dying laps with his left front wheel rubbing on the paintwork.
He pushed Tander hard, but the HRT man held him off to win a race shortened by three laps because of time constraints.
Tander's HRT teammate James Courtney had a disastrous day as he continued his championship defence.
Ford defector Courtney put his new Commodore deep into a tyre wall on lap 20 of the 78-lap race, sustaining extensive damage to the left front of the car.
It left him trundling around at the rear of the field several laps down and he also picked up a black flag for cutting a chicane to put him further adrift.
He eventually finished 25th.
Courtney also failed to figure in the opening round in Abu Dhabi.
He will need a huge performance in qualifying for Sunday's race and a good finish to keep in touch with the leaders.
Tander added to his wins in last year's two V8 Supercar races in Adelaide with victory in the first 250km race this weekend.
The Holden driver started from pole position, leading home a full Holden podium with Jamie Whincup second and Craig Lowndes third.
Whincup maintained his overall championship lead.
The race became an exciting dash to the finish after both Tander and Whincup followed similar fuel strategies to survive the gruelling 75 laps around Adelaide's street circuit.
Three late race safety car periods - as Steve Owen, James Moffat and veteran Russell Ingall turned their cars into smoking wrecks - ensured Tander and Whincup could engaging in a thrilling battle to the end.
Whincup had a few nervous moments in the dying laps with his left front wheel rubbing on the paintwork.
He pushed Tander hard, but the HRT man held him off to win a race shortened by three laps because of time constraints.
Tander's HRT teammate James Courtney had a disastrous day as he continued his championship defence.
Ford defector Courtney put his new Commodore deep into a tyre wall on lap 20 of the 78-lap race, sustaining extensive damage to the left front of the car.
It left him trundling around at the rear of the field several laps down and he also picked up a black flag for cutting a chicane to put him further adrift.
He eventually finished 25th.
Courtney also failed to figure in the opening round in Abu Dhabi.
He will need a huge performance in qualifying for Sunday's race and a good finish to keep in touch with the leaders.