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Resurgent Winterbottom grabs first 2009 Podium

Resurgent Winterbottom grabs first 2009 Podium

27 March 2009

Frosty comes 2nd in Race 1 at the Australian Grand Prix

After yesterday's qualifying drama, Mark Winterbottom made a stunning recovery today to get his first V8 Supercar podium of the season.

The Orrcon Steel FPR Falcon had just one chance to set a fast lap in yesterday's qualifying after modifications to a new steering component kept him in the pits for two-thirds of the session.

That one lap got him a spot in today's top-ten shoot out, which put him third for this afternoon's first race.

Frosty rocketed off the grid to snatch the lead from Craig Lowndes only to run wide at turn three and gift it back to the #888 Ford Falcon. Winterbottom then struggled to get heat into his tyres and by the time they were up to temperature Lowndes had built a three-second lead.

Steve Richards struggled with rear grip for the entire race. At half distance, whilst battling closely with Rick Kelly, the Kelly Racing car braked shapely catching the Castrol FPR Falcon out. Richo ran into the back of it and dropped down to 23rd finishing 19th.

Both cars are back in action for tomorrow's second race at 18:15.

Mark Winterbottom - #5 Orrcon Steel FPR Falcon

"We had a great start; it was good to sneak up the inside of Craig and it's just a shame the race didn't finish at turn one! By lap three the tyre temperature was up but Craig was gone; he was too quick on the first few laps and I just watched the back of him from there.

"Will Davison had a similar problem to me I think so I never really came under any pressure. My main pressure was trying to put in clean laps because the car kept wanting to slide everywhere."

Steve Richards - #6 Castrol FPR Falcon

"With the Rick Kelly incident I just couldn't stop and I hit him in the back; it was absolutely my fault, hands up. The tyre pressures were too low; I just had no grip.

"He got on the brakes, I got on the brakes and I just couldn't slow down. I went down the slip road behind him and by the time I got going everyone had gone."