Craig Lowndes penalised for contact with Todd Kelly

Triple Eight’s Craig Lowndes has been docked 25 championship points after late race contact with Kelly Racing’s Todd Kelly in the first round of the season at Adelaide.

Lowndes, who had started from pole, was battling his way up the order after a puncture in the race, but was deemed by the stewards as too heavy handed when passing Todd Kelly’s Holden Commodore in the final laps.

“It was shaping up alright there towards the end,” said Todd Kelly after the race.

“With only a couple of laps to go I was in fifth place and was hoping I would stay there, but I came together with Lowndes at the hairpin and ended up off the track. I lost a heap of spots, which is a bit of a shame because I should have been around the top five, which would have been a strong start to the year.”

Lowndes’ penalty drops him from fourth to seventh in the standings, six points behind the other Kelly brother Rick, and five points ahead of Todd.