Jamie Whincup fails to finish first race since 2013 as title defence receives horror start

JAMIE Whincup’s incredible run of good luck on track ended on Sunday when the Red Bull Holden Racing Team driver failed to finish his first race since 2013.

Jamie Whincup’s 136 race streak without a DNF ended in the Adelaide 500

JAMIE Whincup’s incredible run of good luck on track ended on Sunday when the Red Bull Holden Racing Team driver failed to finish his first race since 2013.

In another action packed instalment of the Adelaide 500, Whincup’s bid to win his first race this year was cruelly crashed when he was struck down by a transmission fault while leading.

Incredibly, it was Whincup’s first DNF in his last 136 race starts.

Jamie Whincup’s 136 race streak without a DNF ended in the Adelaide 500

The reigning champion was leading the 250km Adelaide finale by 10 seconds when he race went up in smoke on lap 34.

“We had a really fast car,’’ Whincup said.

“And we had it all under control. And then the gearbox temperature kept on going up and up.

“And then bang.’’

Whincup's team worked through the night to get his car ready for race one

Whincup handed the lead of the race to his Red Bull teammate Shane van Gisbergen after being struck down by the mechanical fault.

“It is only early days,’’ Whincup said.

“We are not thinking championship yet it is all about getting race wins.’’

Originally published as Jamie Whincup fails to finish first race since 2013 as title defence receives horror start