Sydney 500
Homebush Street Circuit
Sydney, New South Wales
5-7 December 2014Frosty finishes 19th and 3rd in the championship
Ford Pepsi Max Crew has endured a tough end to its season with a rain-shortened race which finished in the pit lane, under a red flag, with no parc ferme conditions, being declared valid and points awarded, therefore dropping Frosty from second to third in the points.
The contentious finish which was discussed extensively with officials post event was the final nail in a tough end to a campaign which yielded six wins, 19 podiums and a second Bathurst 1000 success.
Frosty was classified 19th after a lap one incident dropped him to the rear of the field.
The shortened race not providing him the chance to recover the necessary positions.
Chaz ended his maiden campaign in seventh after fifth place in the season’s final race.
Bathurst triumph aside, the 22-year-old impressed throughout his first full season in the category and has high expectations for 2015.
Mark Winterbottom - #5 Pepsi Max FPR Ford:
Qualifying: 5th
Shootout: 5th
Race: 19th
“I got stuck at the back after my first corner incident. It turned into a mess after that so I am looking forward to going on holidays and regrouping. The new FG X Falcon should be quicker than the package we have and we finished the year poorly so we’ll enjoy Christmas and go again.”
Chaz Mostert - #6 Pepsi Max FPR Ford:
Qualifying: 8th
Shootout: 8th
Race: 5th
“We were top five in the race when it stopped and while the points situation is being sorted we’ve finished well inside the top 10 which is pretty good given I was right at the tail of the field after Clipsal. From there we’ve just kept improving and wins in Perth and Bathurst were the clear highlights. I can’t wait for next year and the FG X Falcon and we’ll all work hard in the break to come back next year and give it a big shot. I want to be comfortably in the top five next year so I can’t wait to get back for the new season.”
Tim Edwards – Team Principal:
“That was more than a little anti-climactic. The way the race finished was highly-questionable in my opinion and the officials interpreted the rules one way and quite a few of us in the paddock another. The two interpretations had an effect on the overall championship points and final standings and while we debated it heavily, we won’t take any further action. It has put a dampener on the weekend and the year but we’re straight into finishing developing the new FG X Falcon which we believe will bring the gains we need.”
SYDNEY 500 RESULTS
RACE 38
1) Shane van Gisbergen – Tekno
2) Garth Tander – HRT
3) James Courtney – HRT
4) Jamie Whincup – Triple Eight
5) Chaz Mostert – Ford Pepsi Max Crew
19) Mark Winterbottom – Ford Pepsi Max Crew
DRIVER CHAMPIONSHIP POINTS – FINAL
1) Jamie Whincup – Triple Eight: 3364 points
2) Shane van Gisbergen – Tekno: 2778
3) Mark Winterbottom – Ford Pepsi Max Crew: 2763
4) Craig Lowndes – Triple Eight: 2656
5) Scott McLaughlin – Garry Rogers Motorsport: 2509
7) Chaz Mostert – Ford Pepsi Max Crew: 2444
TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP POINTS – FINAL
1) Triple Eight: 6070 points
2) Ford Pepsi Max Crew: 5232