V8 Supercars: Ingall’s Progress Curtailed After Drive-thru Penalty
May 11, 2008
Russell Ingall
A promising weekend for Supercheap Auto Racing today turned into a disaster for Russell Ingall at Barbagallo Raceway in Perth, while team-mate Paul Morris produced a strong drive to come from 25th to 11th in the final 50 lap race after a difficult Race 2.
Starting 11th this morning, Ingall was delivering what he’s promised all season and running strongly in fifth, but the former V8 champ’s progress was curtailed when he received a drive-thru penalty for speeding in pit lane - the onboard data later showing he was within allowances.
Back on track and with it now raining, Ingall then had a coming together with Ford’s Jamie Whincup, the side on impact breaking the steering on the #39 Supercheap Auto Commodore and putting an end to his race - officials later imposing a $5,000 fine for careless driving.
His luck didn’t improve in Race 3; first Ingall was clipped by Jason Richards’ Commodore in turn one, the damage to the right rear door requiring a longer stop than normal.
To make matters worse, Ingall then received yet another drive-thru for pit lane speeding - the breach again reported by pit lane officials using a hand held radar, with Ingall later venting his frustration.
Morris’ start to the day was equally as frustrating, the #67 SCAR Commodore heading off the track and through the sand on lap 18 and requiring a long pit stop to remove sand from the radiator, eventually finishing down the list in 25th.
Undeterred, Morris made a number of setup changes before bouncing back in the final 50 lap race and charged to 11th by race’s end.
Ford driver Mark Winterbottom clean swept the round, taking pole and winning all three races, while second placed Toll Holden Racing Team driver and reigning champion Garth Tander jumped into the series lead.
Morris finished 14th for the round, with Ingall ten places back in 24th position overall.
The next round of the 2008 V8 Supercar Championship Series takes place at Sandown Raceway in Melbourne next month on the Queen’s Birthday weekend - 7-9 June.
Russell Ingall, #39 Supercheap Auto Racing Holden Commodore VE:
“[The pit lane penalties have] absolutely destroyed our weekend. What potentially could have been an excellent result was thrown out the window by wrong calls of speeding in pit lane, the telemetry saying otherwise and proving how badly we’ve been done by.
It’s not the first time it’s happened either, look at Lowndes and Ambrose at Oran Park a few years back, it potentially cost them the championship. Whether it’s the radar operator or the gun I don’t know, but it’s got to be fixed.
The sport’s not looking at the big picture; we’re an entertainment and by pulling cars out of contention for trivial matters is just wrong. And once you’ve received the penalty there’s no recourse, you can’t get your position back despite the data proving you’re right.
We can’t have sponsors spending millions of dollars to have calls like that. I’m the one that has to go to Supercheap Auto and Holden tomorrow and explain why we were down the back. I promised them a good result, but I now look bad because I didn’t deliver. It’ll annoy them and if we continue to get it wrong it’ll affect the sport.”
