KEY POINTS:
Team Kiwi Racing's Ford was bashed and beaten up in a brutal opening race of the fourth round of the V8 Supercar Championship near Melbourne today.
TKR, who had a disappointing qualifying session to start 21st in the first of three races at their test track at Winton Motor Raceway, twice pushed up close to the top-10 in the open race. But they were taken out on both occasions and this, coupled with a problem with a tyre change, meant they finished near the tail of the field in 24th place.
There was plenty of carnage today with top qualifier Todd Kelly (Holden Racing Team) finishing 27th, third qualifier Jason Richards (Tasman Motorsport) 23rd and fourth qualifier Mark Winterbottom (Ford Performance Racing) 26th.
Despite extremely close qualifying times, the winners came through from the back half of the field with Jamie Whincup (Team Vodafone Ford) winning from 20th on the grid ahead of Steven Richards (Ford Performance Racing) who started from position 17.
Rick Kelly finished third ahead of his Toll HSV teammate Garth Tander as the pair continue to lead the championship.
"We had a great run through like Whincup and Steven Richards and at one stage had got through to 12th place. But we were taken out," TKR owner David John said.
Leading placings race 1:
Jamie Whincup (Ford) 1:11.43, 1; Steven Richards (Ford) 1:11.45, 2; Rick Kelly (Holden) 1:11.50, 3; Garth Tander (Holden) 1:11.51, 4; Lee Holdsworth (Holden) 1:11.52, 5; Steven Johnson (ford) 1:11.57, 6; Jason Bright (Ford) 1:12.03, 7; Paul Morris (Holden) 1:12.04, 8; Max Wilson (Ford) 1:12. 05, 9; Shane Price (Holden) 1:12.06, 10.
Other New Zealanders: Simon Wills (Ford) 1:12.11, 16; Fabian Coulthard (Holden) 1:12.31, 20; Jason Richards (Holden) 1:12.58, 23; Paul Radisich (Team Kiwi Ford) 1 lap, 24; Greg Murphy (Holden) dnf.
- NZPA
