THE CLIPSAL 500

mlittle · Post by **mlittle** » Sat Mar 25, 2006 3:59 am

Julian Mayo wrote:Given that one M Skaife has pole for the Clipsal 500 (250km Saturday race)
it would seem to even the less astute amongst us that the UNCONFIRMED report of him sticking it into the wall was erroneous.
But, by cickey, Brighty did.
Intensive therapy on his right elbow will determine if he starts......IF they can rebuild his car
About now (4:50 am AEST) he will be saying to himself as the pain awakens him from his Sebring dreams..........(imho)......the bloody Aston Martin would have got me thru there on line

Maybe, for a moment, Julian, Bright might have seen one of the Corvette's behind him......could that have led to his visit w/the wall?

Southernman · Post by **Southernman** » Sat Mar 25, 2006 7:34 am

It's good to see eight Holdens in the top ten.

It's also good to see Radisich and Murphy start in the top ten.

I've always enjoyed watching races on this track. I prefer to watch races on tracks that are demanding on drivers.

Southernman · Post by **Southernman** » Sat Mar 25, 2006 7:39 am

If anyone is interested the TV times for NZ are: Saturday live race with coverage beginning at 3pm on tv2. On Sunday again live race with race preview /review beginning at 3pm.

Julian Mayo · Post by **Julian Mayo** » Sat Mar 25, 2006 9:28 am

Southernman wrote:If anyone is interested the TV times for NZ are: Saturday live race with coverage beginning at 3pm on tv2. On Sunday again live race with race preview /review beginning at 3pm.

Thanks Sthnman

Julian Mayo · Post by **Julian Mayo** » Sat Mar 25, 2006 9:32 am

Southernman wrote:It's good to see eight Holdens in the top ten.

It's also good to see Radisich and Murphy start in the top ten.

I've always enjoyed watching races on this track. I prefer to watch races on tracks that are demanding on drivers.

I disagree. Regardless of brand loyalty I would rather see 5 of each dookin it out for line honours.

Julian Mayo · Post by **Julian Mayo** » Sat Mar 25, 2006 9:34 am

Mfer, if he was looking in his mirrors on that particular corner, that would be enough.

mlittle · Post by **mlittle** » Sat Mar 25, 2006 9:40 am

Fair enough.

Julian Mayo · Post by **Julian Mayo** » Sat Mar 25, 2006 1:27 pm

An indicator of the popularity of V8Supercars can be found in the fact that 65.000 people turned up for the friday practice and qualifying session at The Clipsal 500.

Julian Mayo · Post by **Julian Mayo** » Sat Mar 25, 2006 3:52 pm

Unofficial results from a horrendously hot Clipsal 500.
Lowndes
Kelly R
Whincup
McConville
Murphy
Kelly T
Richards S
Tander
Ingall
Johnson

That is three in a row for Ford.
Lowneds went fron strength to strength thru the race while some notables did their best to move the concrete wall.
That included
Skaife &
Courtney.
The track temperature exceeded 45degC, the in car temp, climbed in to the high 50s.
Steve Owen succumbed to heat exhaustion and had to be removed from the car on track by medical staff.
Russel Ingall wrestled with a bent shock absorber from lap 1.
Paul Dumbrell spun himself out of 6th late in the race, his boss Larry Perkins will be grumpier than normal. Steve Richards had a steering problem and did well to finish where he did.
Tod Kelly was caught out by the safety car, and dropped from 1st to eighth.
Many crews will be doing overnighters to get cars to the startline tomorrow.
A notable drive from McConville, 21st to 4th, and finished with a straight car.

Southernman · Post by **Southernman** » Sat Mar 25, 2006 4:08 pm

Brilliant win for Lowndes in the first race of the year. He looked to be a class above all the other drivers.

I don't know how anybody could drive in that heat.

I wonder why so many drivers take such big risks in the first few corners of a 78 lap race.

Julian Mayo · Post by **Julian Mayo** » Sat Mar 25, 2006 4:16 pm

All the planning and strategy goes out the window for some blokes when the flag drops and the red mist rises. Some team managers must feel like committing murder/suicide. And we see it in all forms of motor racing.

Julian Mayo · Post by **Julian Mayo** » Sun Mar 26, 2006 12:49 pm

Steve Owen is still in hospital this morning, with kidney problems caused by dehydration. Steve actually passed out on-track before the car came to rest nose first into the wall.
Our best wishes to go to Steve, with hopes for a speedy recovery.
A number of officials were treated for geat exhaustion, with one also taken to hospital.
In car temperatures were in excess of 60degC.
The surface metal of the brake pedal in one car was measured at 90degC !!!! The driver suffered a burned foot.
Craig Lowndes looked as fresh as a daisy at the finish.
Winners are grinners.

Julian Mayo · Post by **Julian Mayo** » Sun Mar 26, 2006 4:04 pm

Well Jamie Whincup has had a pretty good weekend for his new team, and first race weekend in a Ford. Third on Saturday and The Winner today.
A new star? Time will tell.

Unofficial results
Whincup
R Kelly
T Kelly
Tander
S Richards
P Dumbrell
Ingall
M Wilson
S Johnson
J Richards.

Max Wilson had a good drive for WPS, egged on by his close friend Rhubino Barrichello who spent the weekend at the Clipsal prior to his commitment in Melbourne next weekend. He was one of more than 270,000 people at the Clipsal over the last 4 days. They are now calling it the biggest touring car race in the WORLD.

Full report tomorrow.
Hopefully.

rah · Post by **rah** » Mon Mar 27, 2006 9:04 am

Was a good race to watch, I had heard good things about wincup, but was waiting to see if he actually had the pace. I think this is a fair indication that he might. Shame about lowndsey. There was a lot of expertise in the 888 race camp this weekend. I am sure that helped them out.

It was also good to see that WPS are getting their engines done by cosworth. We will have to watch their progress through the year.

Julian Mayo · Post by **Julian Mayo** » Mon Mar 27, 2006 9:24 am

What excites me for the upcoming season is the time spread for the top 25 cars in the field.
The fastest race lap time spread for those was from
1:22:9054
to
1:23:1461.
It is going to be a cracker of a season if they keep this up on all the circuits.
The reverse grid races are going to be very "interesting". It might be a good time to buy shares in carbon fibre and kevlar companies.