Motorsport: Five-car pile-up at V8 Supercars

Jamie Whincup. Photo / Getty Images.

A huge five-car pile-up has marred the third race of the V8 Supercar non-championship round at the Australian Grand Prix today.

Defending V8 champion Jamie Whincup was spun around on the opening lap of the race and was hit in the side by Karl Reindler's Holden.

Then fellow Holden drivers David Wall, Taz Douglas and Russell Ingall ploughed into the prone cars.

Douglas' Commodore was shunted on to its side in the crash, while a ruptured fuel cell from one of the cars leaked ethanol all over the Albert Park track, sparking a lengthy delay.

Holden driver Alex Premat was also caught up on the crash's periphery.

Whincup's Team Vodafone car was able to return to the grid when the race was eventually restarted - reduced to just a 10-minute race plus one lap.

But Reindler, Douglas, Wall and Ingall's cars were all significantly damaged and will need huge work to be ready for Sunday's fourth race at Albert Park, and perhaps for the next championship round in Tasmania starting on March 30.

Ford driver Mark Winterbottom eventually won the race - making it three out of three at Albert Park after his two wins on Friday.

Holden driver Garth Tander was second, with Winterbottom's Ford Performance Racing teammate Will Davison third.

- AAP