Photo: Jim Beam Racing

Courtney wins at Sandown and extends lead

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James Courtney has won the second race at Sandown and extended his championship lead going into the final round of the season at Sydney.

Paul Dumbrell had taken pole position and maintained his lead through the first part of the strategy intensive race.

A poor strategy call from Bottle-O Racing saw Dumbrell drop down the order, and Mark Winterbottom assume the lead.

A crash on lap 35, when Michael Caruso hit the back of Will Davison’s HRT sending the two into the tyre wall caused a red flag which held the race up for 25 minutes.

When the race resumed, James Courtney chased down title rivals Jamie Whincup and then Mark Winterbottom to take his first win since May, and increase his championship lead to 53 points.

Mathematically, four drivers can win the title at the final meeting in Sydney – with the fight between Ford’s James Courtney and Mark Winterbottom, both fighting for their first title, and the two TeamVodafone Holden drivers Jamie Whincup & Craig Lowndes.