Gold Coast 600: Shane van Gisbergen comes to aid of Scott McLaughlin after massive crash
Scott McLaughlin was taken to the Gold Coast University hospital in an ambulance after a force sensor revealed the impact of the collision that flipped his car was 42.7G.
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Scott McLaughlin has been released from hospital after the shocking Gold Coast 600 crash that rocked the Surfers Paradise Supercars street race.
In a major scare for the sport’s biggest star, the Ford flyer was taken to the Gold Coast University hospital in an ambulance after a force sensor revealed the impact of the collision that flipped his car was 42.7G.
Originally given the all-clear by on-track medical staff, McLaughlin was taken to hospital for head scans after the full impact of the collision was revealed by a sensor strapped into his race car.
He was given the all clear on Sunday night.
“The (force) in Car 17 recorded at an initial 31.5Gs impact followed by a second 42.7G impact,’’ V8 medical boss Dr Carl Le said.
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“Scott was thoroughly examined by the medical team and a SCAT-5 concussion test was completed.
“Scott passed the test and was released from the medical centre back to his team.
“After further observation, I have recommended that Scott be admitted to hospital for closer observation’’
McLaughlin spoke of his terror at hanging suspended in his upturned car.
“I was more worried about people hitting my roof,” he said.
“Then I saw the fluid and I thought ‘I don’t know what that is, so I better get out’.”
The crash denied McLaughlin his chance at becoming the first driver to win the championship with three rounds left to go.
The Kiwi only had to finish in front of Shane van Gisbergen to win the crown in record time.
“I’m just terribly sorry for everyone at the team,’’ McLaughlin said.
“They gave me a great car. We tried to do a Shootout lap there, just practicing for the Shootout, and I just clipped the wall, the concrete there.
“I’ve done it all weekend, but I clipped it further around the corner. It surprised me. When it hit, by the time I was on my side, I was like jeez... it all happened really quick.
“I’ve given myself a clip around the ear.”
In a stirring act of sportsmanship from a V8 iceman, van Gisbergen earlier abandoned his Gold Coast 600 qualifying lap to help his championship nemesis.
The only man that can stop McLaughlin from winning this year’s title, van Gisbergen parked his Supercar in the middle of the track, unbuckled and rushed to help McLaughlin from his wreck.
“It’s not a nice feeling coming around the corner and seeing one of your mates on their side,’’ said van Gisbergen.
“It was way after the corner, meaning it must’ve been a big shunt. I Helped him out, but the medical team were there fast. Thanks to them and saw him get out, he was pretty shaken but he’s okay, he’ll be fine, but not nice
“It’s irrelevant who it was, when I first saw it I just wanted to get there and help, you’d do it for anyone in the field.
“It wasn’t a good thing. It was shocking.”
SUPERCARS CHAMPIONSHIP RACE STILL ALIVE
Van Gisbergen kept the Supercars championship alive, surviving a late attack from Jamie Whincup to take his title fight with Ford to another round.
The only man that can stop McLaughlin from winning the V8 crown, the Red Bull Holden Racing team driver blitzed the field to win the second instalment of the Gold Coast 600 that McLaughlin failed to make after his bone-shaking qualifying crash.
Van Gisbergen and his co-driver Garth Tander led from start to finish for the win that gave him a glimmer of championship hope.
“Our cars were good,’’ van Gisbergen said.
“But it would have been nice to fight Scotty. That was a shame that it wasn’t to be but our cars were fast.”
After allowing Whincup to win race one by refusing to attack at the end, van Gisbergen was helped to his victory by a return of favour from his teammate.
“It is an awesome weekend for the team,’’ van Gisbergen said.
“Two one-twos for the team. It doesn’t get any better. It is really special to be a part if it. I think we got paid back today for yesterday but it is all for the team. It is awesome to see all this people here.”
Whincup made it a day of celebration for Holden when he followed his teammate home to make it another Gold Coast 600 one-two for Red Bull.
“It was all about the team today,” Whincup said.
“I am really proud of everyone. Shane was quick. He was managing his car and there was probably no way we were getting through anyway. He was too good today.”
With McLaughlin out of the shoot-out following his qualifying crash, van Gisbergen beat Whincup in the first battle of the bulls to score pole.
Clocking a 1:10.20 to edge out his teammate, van Gisbergen made no mistakes as he struck in McLaughlin’s absence to make it an all Holden front row.
“I locked the front there yesterday so we had a bit more rear bias today,” van Gisbergen said.
“And I almost did the opposite today, but it worked out pretty good. I had some crazy emotions this morning with Scotty’s crash and seeing what can happen when it goes wrong.
“You’ve got to put it on the line here, but when you get it right it does reward you.”
Van Gisbergen’s co-driver Tander beat Craig Lowndes in a drag race of the line to set-up the win.
“It is a great team result,’’ Tander said.
“I can thank this team enough and Shane is just awesome. I can’t thank the team enough for the opportunity. I have had a couple of podiums and now a win.
“The car is awesome and everyone has really welcomed me in.”
CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS
1. Scott McLaughlin (Ford) 3437
2. Shane Van Gisbergen (Holden) 2974
3. Jamie Whincup (Holden) 2668
4. Fabian Coulthard (Ford) 2557
5. David Reynolds (Holden) 2474
6. Chaz Mostert (Ford) 2447
7. Cameron Waters (Ford) 2296
8. Nick Percat (Holden) 2161
9. Will Davison (Ford) 2159
10. Lee Holdsworth (Ford) 2076
Originally published as Gold Coast 600: Shane van Gisbergen comes to aid of Scott McLaughlin after massive crash