Whincup dominates race one at Sandown

Jamie Whincup in his 888 Team Vodafone Falcon dominated the first race with a lights to flag victory in the Midas 400 at Sandown Raceway today.
Whincup lead a Ford 1-2-3 across the line with Mark Winterbottom in his FPR Falcon in second follwed by the second 888 Team Vodafone Falcon driver Craig Lowndes in third.

Although Jamie Whincup dominated the first race of the Holiday weekend, it was Mark Winterbottom that impressed as he contuined his quest for the 2008 crown.

Second place for ‘Frosty’ has moved him to within four points of the leader Garth Tander in his Toll HRT Holden who could only manage a fifth place which under normal circumstances would have been a great finishing position as Tander could only start form the twelfth grid slot.

“If you can get second, grab 92 points and move from third to second in the championship, that’s a pretty good day,” Winterbottom said ahead of the weekend’s final two rounds on Monday, “I’m only a few points shy of Garth so, if we leave here leading the championship and finishing second for the event, we will be happy. Having said that, we are still going to try to win it and there’s no reason at the moment why we can’t.”

Third pace was Craig Lowndes in the second 888 Team Vodafone Falcon making his way thorugh the pack from ninth on th grid.

Russell Ingall in his Supercheap Auto Racing’s Commodore finished in fourth from sixth on the grid. making it his best result since returning to the Holden marque.

Garth Tander had James Courtney following him across the line at the end. Both having a bad qualifying session earlier in the day.
There was a long gap back to Rick Kelly, who finished seventh followed by the two Fords of Fabien Coulthard and youngster Shane va Gisbergen. And filling the top ten spot was Mark Skaife who was able to make up a few places as he started from 13th place.