Coates Hire Ipswich 360 Queensland – Post Race

Hi Guys and Girls

On the weekend of the 26th to the 28^th of July 2013 was the Coates Hire Ipswich 360.

In race 22 it was the 60/60 Supersprint format, Jamie Whincup started on pole position, alongside him was Scott McLaughlin. Craig Lowndes, Mark Winterbottom and Fabain Coulthard all came together on lap 1 down at turn 3. Scott was hunting down the championship leader Jamie Whincup, in the 1^st half of the race which was 20 laps.

Shane Van Gisbergen passed David Reynolds. Chaz Mostert was battling with Tim Slade, Fabain gave Chaz a bump on the exit of turn 3, and Chaz was a bit upset with going off the road.

After the first 20 laps Jamie still had the race lead at half time, after the 15 minute halftime break Mark Dutton, who is Jamie’s race engineer had to remind him to maintain the restart speed. On the restart Jamie timed it perfectly. In the middle of the race Craig got passed Mark Winterbottom at turn 1. Towards the end of the race David Wall and Todd Kelly came together inbetween turns 4 and 5.

Dean Fiore came together with Lee Holdsworth also Michael Caruso had a lot of damage on the rear wing of his Nissan Altima, Lee had a right front tyre that was bent.

Fabain ran off the track on the exit of turn 6. Mark passed Craig for position number 3; in the end nobody could catch the race winner for race 22 Jamie Whincup.

Results for race 22

1^st Jamie Whincup – Red Bull Racing Australia.
2^nd Scott McLaughlin – Garry Rogers Motorsport.
3^rd Mark Winterbottom – Pepsi Max Crew FPR

In race 23, Jamie Whincup started from pole position alongside him again was Scott McLaughlin. Chaz Mostert ran wide at turn 3 and Dean Fiore went out through the sandtrap.

Then David Reynolds had a massive brake lockup inbetween turns 4 and 5, which hurt him during the race. James Moffat ran off the racetrack down at turn 1. Lee Holdsworth, Scott Pye and Shane Van Gisbergen were 3 abreast and did not go into turn 6 the Safety car was deployed to remove the debris from car 4, on the restart Scott was still the race leader with Jamie hunting him down.

In the middle of the race Garth passed Will Davison with a bump and run, in the end he had to give the spot back. Jason Bright passed Alex Davison, towards the end of the race.

Russell Ingall and Todd Kelly came together at turn 6. In the end Scott held on to claim his 2^nd race win of this season.

Results for race 23

1^st Scott McLaughlin – Garry Rogers Motorsport.
2^nd Jamie Whincup – Red Bull Racing Australia.
3^rd James Courtney – Toll Holden Racing team.

 

In race 24 Will Davison started on pole position alongside him was Chaz Mostert,  Chaz led the field through turn 1 for the 1^st of 32 times.  Scott Pye ran into Alex Premat and as a result of that Russell Ingall couldn’t continue because his car was too badly damaged to keep going.

Jonathan Webb ran into the side of Rick Kelly. Tim Slade ran wide down at turn 3. Tim Blanchard had an engine fail. James Courtney and Lee Holdsworth ran wide due to the oil leak from the DJR Ford Falcon, Jamie Whincup had 2 flat tyres, and then another 5 cars had flat tyres as well.

In the middle of the race Mark Winterbottom got passed David Reynolds at turn 1. Towards the end of the race nobody could catch Chaz Mostert. Chaz gave DJR their first race win in 3 long years.  The last time that DJR won a race at Queensland raceway before last weekend was way back in 2001 VIP Petfoods, Queensland 500. I was shaking my head when I saw the Red Bull Racing Australia Commodore come into the pits with a flat tyre. Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.

Results for race 24

1^st Chaz Mostert – Dick Johnson racing
2^nd Will Davison – Pepsi Max crew FPR,
3^rd Mark Winterbottom – Pepsi Max Crew FPR.

 

Due to Jamie finishing way down in 25^th spot his championship lead has been reduced from 177 points to 129 points over his teammate Craig Lowndes, the next event is in Winton Victoria on the 23^rd to the 25^th of August 2013.