Chris Pither’s day ended after crashing at the Clipsal 500

CHRIS Pither’s car suffered some serious damage after a “catastrophic” crash in race two at the Clipsal 500 in Adelaide.

ADELAIDE, AUSTRALIA - MARCH 04: Chris Pither drives the #111 Super Black Racing Ford during practice for the V8 Supercars Clipsal 500 at Adelaide Street Circuit on March 4, 2016 in Adelaide, Australia. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)

CHRIS Pither’s day at the Clipsal 500 is over after he suffered a “catastrophic” crash on a turn during race two.

Just a few laps into the second V8 race of the day in Adelaide, the Super Black Racing driver hit the wall at turn eight, before sliding out of control and crashing head on into the concrete about 50 metres down on the other side of the track.

Crunch! #V8SC https://t.co/nmOUrzBFQh

— V8 Supercars (@v8supercars) March 5, 2016

Prodrive Racing Australia boss Tim Edwards said it was a terrible incident for the 29-year-old from New Zealand.

“I was wincing at that secondary impact. The glance on eight wasn’t too bad but the hit on the right was catastrophic,” Edwards said.

The crash left Pither’s Ice Break Racing Falcon with significant damage to its front, and the safety car came out onto the track while the mess was sorted out.

Medical crew came out to attend to Pither, but he has reportedly suffered no serious injuries.

Chris has big contact with the wall which puts him out for race 2. #ChrisPither #V8SC #Clipsal500

— Super Black Racing (@SuperBlackNZ) March 5, 2016

That's a big secondary hit at 8 for @ChrisPither.. Hope he's alright 😯😯 #V8SC

— Troy Ridgley (@troyridgley) March 5, 2016

Man hard hit for Chris Pither #V8SC #Adelaide

— Jonathan Thiebaud (@Jtbaud24) March 5, 2016

Big hit for Pither! #V8SC

— Nick Welch (@welchyyyyyy) March 5, 2016

Jeez hope @ChrisPither is all good there... Ouch. #V8SC #Clipsal500

— J.O.D.Y (ジョディ ロバーツ) (@J_Robzz) March 5, 2016

That pither car looks pretty second hand now. That second impact was nasty too! #V8SC

— V8SC Opinion (@V8SCopinion) March 5, 2016

He was clearly disappointed by the crash, apologising to race engineer Dilan Talabani.

“Sorry guys, I just screwed up,” he said, before explaining what happened.

“It’s disappointing. I feel sorry for the guys.

“I just came unstuck there and broke a steering wheel, and it sent us into the wall.”

Racing proper resumed when the safety car exited shortly before the eighth lap.

RACE TWO

Courtney had a great finish to the day.

JAMES Courtney has withstood enormous pressure to deny Jamie Whincup a Clipsal 500 clean sweep.

The pair have shared the opening races of the V8 Supercars season.

Whincup breezed to victory in race one around the Adelaide street circuit and was hunting a hurt Courtney in the final stages of the second 125 kilometre race.

But a steely performance allowed the reigning Clipsal champ to hold steady, reversing the finishing order from race one.

On a day where the temperature soared past 38 degrees, the racing was hotter still.

A three-car battle emerged between polesitter Chaz Mostert, Courtney and Whincup.

The Ford man battled admirably despite a gulf in speed, giving way on lap 21, when Courtney picked his moment and leap-frogged Mostert, allowing Whincup to slip through as well.

The race became a two-way shootout and the six-time champ turned the screws.

With five laps to go, Courtney took damage after cutting the barrier at turn one too fine, providing a most dramatic ending to the 125 kilometre race.

A last-lap wobble around the fastest turn at the circuit sent Courtney sideways but he held on in tremendous style, celebrating with his “Frank the Tank” dance on top of the car.

Mostert rounded out the race two podium.

RACE ONE

Whincup was all smiles after race one.

JAMIE Whincup got his quest to regain the V8 Supercars title off to a good start, claiming a season-opening victory at the Clipsal 500.

The six-time champ leads the series once more after relinquishing his title last year to Mark Winterbottom.

Whincup leapt from the grid to overtake pole sitter Scott Pye and never lost effective control of the race despite a safety car called for Tim Slade’s retirement.

In temperatures above 35 degrees — and in-car heat around 20 degrees hotter — Whincup’s superior pace showed.

Reigning Clipsal 500 champ James Courtney improved off the grid to be second, with his Holden Racing Team partner Garth Tander racing through the field to grab fifth.

Shane Van Gisbergen rounded out the podium in third on his debut for Red Bull Racing.

Scott McLaughlin was fourth with Nissan man Todd Kelly placing sixth.

Pye, who stunned the field to win his first pole position in front of his home crowd, managed just 12th after a pit-lane bungle cost him several places.

His slip contributed to a miserable opener for Ford drivers, with Winterbottom dropping several places to be eighth, the highest-placing Falcon.

— with AAP