Team Vodafone's Craig Lowndes wins race one of V8 Supercars' Sydney 500 in Homebush today. Picture: Gregg Porteous Source: The Daily Telegraph
UPDATE: HOLDEN veteran Craig Lowndes won a drama-filled first race of the Sydney 500 V8 Supercars event in sweltering heat today.
The 38-year-old claimed the victory by just 1.105 sec over Ford driver and pole sitter Tim Slade, with Holden's James Courtney more than 20 seconds further back in third.
Lowndes raced through the field after starting 16th on the grid to become the only repeat winner in the fourth year of the event.
Temperatures of 38 degrees and the tight 3.42km Sydney Olympic Park street circuit combined to take a big toll on the field as seven drivers failed to finish.
With the mercury getting up to 65C in the cabins of the cars, Frenchman Alex Premat was forced to abandon the race three-quarters of the way through due to severe dehydration while David Reynolds was forced to make a bizarre pit stop.
While the safety car was out, the Ford driver took the opportunity to change his boots after the excessive heat burnt a hole in his soles.
Source: The Daily Telegraph
Shane van Gisbergen earlier had race fans shaking their heads when his steering failed and he swerved left and crashed into the approaching medical car.
Lee Holdsworth, Steve Johnson and Greg Murphy pulled out due to mechanical problems, with the aggressive profile of the kerbs and tricky corners taking a big toll on steering, suspension and brakes.
Holden trio Jonathon Webb, Jamie Whincup and Rick Kelly finished fourth, fifth and sixth respectively.
Earlier, Ford driver Tim Slade edged out Will Davison to score his first ever pole position, and celebrated with family and team members in his garage in emotional scenes.
"I have been in this sport for a couple of years and haven't had a win or a pole," Slade said.
"I now have a pole and it is a pretty special moment."
The V8 Supercars season will conclude on Sunday with another 250km race after which Whincup will be crowned as the championship winner for the fourth time.
Source: The Daily Telegraph
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