Tough day for boys in blue

Frosty Finishes 5th after losing time in pit stop

Ford's Pepsi Max Crew endured a tougher second race of the season though Mark Winterbottom and Will Davison both secured important points to kick off their championship campaigns.

Mark finished fifth and Will sixth after a late safety car shook up the order to their benefit.

The pair were recovering from earlier pit stop issues where rear spindle issues cost them both time and dropped them out of podium contention.

Will also had to battle bent steering after contact with Jamie Whincup on lap one and an intermittent gearbox issue but drove around both to score enough points to sit third overall.

Mark challenged for fourth late but was content to open his 2013 account after his non-finish in race one.

DRIVERS' VIEW
Mark Winterbottom - #5 Pepsi Max Crew FPR Ford:
Race result: 5th 
Fastest lap: 1m22.18s
"The car had good speed today but a few issues in the pit stop cost us a lot of time and it was just too much to get back. I then had three kerb strikes trying to pass (Russell) Ingall for fourth so I couldn't be too aggressive in the closing laps. We fought back well which is encouraging but we need to fix a few little things to ensure we are really good everywhere we go. I know where the car needs to improve so we just have to get the work done. Our one lap pace is really good and it is a nice car to drive and if we get on top of those few little new car gremlins we will be in good shape."

Will Davison - #6 Pepsi Max Crew FPR Ford:
Race result: 6th 
Fastest lap: 1m22.41s
"We managed to get some points and that is the main positive from a very tough day from the first corner to the last. I had quite a few issues bent steering at turn one, the pit stop issue with the wheel nut and then a slight gearbox glitch but we pulled through and had a fair bit of pace still at the end of the race. Nothing really worked out but we got the car home which earlier in the race I wasn't certain was going to happen."

Tim Edwards FPR Team Principal:
"Today won't go down as our best ever result but the main thing is we still salvaged decent points. Our pit stop issues were unfortunate and we will certainly be conducting a thorough review as the issue hasn't occurred before on the control rear end. This weekend is really one to see exactly how these cars perform in race conditions and we have learnt a lot. This season will be challenging at different points for all teams but it is how we respond that matters."

CLIPSAL 500 RESULTS RACE 2:
1) Shane van Gisbergen Tekno Autosports
2) Jamie Whincup Triple Eight
3) Craig Lowndes Triple Eight
4) Russell Ingall - Walkinshaw 
5) Mark Winterbottom Pepsi Max Crew FPR 
6) Will Davison Pepsi Max Crew FPR

DRIVER CHAMPIONSHIP POINTS
1) Craig Lowndes Triple Eight: 279 points
2) Jamie Whincup Triple Eight: 267
3) Will Davison Pepsi Max Crew FPR: 240
4) Russell Ingall Walkinshaw: 198
5) James Courtney HRT: 192
15) Mark Winterbottom Pepsi Max Crew FPR: 111