Jamie Whincup gives Red Bull Holden Racing Team successful Saturday at Superloop Adelaide 500
Red Bull Holden Racing Team driver Jamie Whincup has sailed to a five-second win over Shell V-Power rival Scott McLaughlin in the first race at the Superloop Adelaide 500.
V8
Don't miss out on the headlines from V8. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Red Bull Holden Racing Team driver Jamie Whincup has sailed to a five-second win over Shell V-Power rival Scott McLaughlin in the first race at the Superloop Adelaide 500.
McLaughlin made huge ground from his seventh starting position and held off Shane van Gisbergen, who finished third for Red Bull Holden, in the closing stages of the race.
Earlier, Whincup - fresh from announcing his decision to race on next year - claimed pole position.
The 37-year-old, who turned his back on thoughts of retirement to sign on again with Triple Eight for 2021, put Holden on the front of the grid for Saturday's 78-lap race after a smoking top-10 shootout lap.
After an emotional week following the announcement the Holden brand would cease to exist in Australian after this year, it was a front row lock-out for Holden after David Reynolds defied a smoke-filled car to put himself second on the grid.
A 10-time winner at the event, it was Whincup’s eighth pole position at the Adelaide 500.
“It’s a good feeling, I don’t know if there was a little bit in going out with a hot car straight after qualy or not, or the engineers did a good job,” Whincup said.
“But the car felt great and we got the most out of it and very happy to get P1.
“Interesting format not being in Q1 and then just having 10 minutes and then, boom, straight into shootout.
"It’s crazy close, 78 laps this afternoon is going to be intense, but I’m looking forward to it.”
It was a brilliant effort from Reynolds to put his car in second place on the grid after smoke billowed from his Holden during his shootout lap.
“That is so strange, I have no idea what is going on,” Reynolds said after his lap.
“I started my lap and smoke started to come inside the cabin.”
Ford’s Will Davison, new Walkinshaw Andretti United driver Chaz Mostert and his former Tickford racing teammate Cameron Waters rounded out the top five.
Defending champion Scott McLaughlin will start from seventh on the grid after complaining about his car’s handling during the shootout.
“It’s loose as a goose, we need to tune her up,” McLaughlin said.
Originally published as Jamie Whincup gives Red Bull Holden Racing Team successful Saturday at Superloop Adelaide 500