Sydney V8 Supercars: Whincup wins title, van Gisbergen wins race

Following Saturday's dramas, Whincup had a commanding 110-point margin over Triple Eight team-mate Craig Lowndes coming into the decider.

That did not stop Whincup doing his utmost to win the race. Having qualified fourth, he led by the end of the first pit sequence as his tactic of pitting early proved more successful than polesitter and early leader van Gisbergen's strategy of running longer.

While Whincup pitted both during a mid-race safety car, then again for a top-up as soon as it was possible to get to the finish without stopping again, van Gisbergen stayed out during the caution, ran long once more then emerged side by side with Whincup.

On cold tyres, the Tekno Holden lost out on the exit of Turn 1, but van Gisbergen dived back past next time around.

That left van Gisbergen and Whincup behind Jason Bright and David Reynolds, whose totally different strategies paid off beautifully with the timing of safety cars.

Reynolds was quickly pushed back after the final restart, but Bright doggedly held on in the lead as he conserved fuel to make it to the end following an early final stop.

Van Gisbergen finally made it back into the lead with 10 laps to go. Whincup tried to follow him, only to clash with Bright at the final corner, sending both sideways.

Bright then repassed Whincup into Turn 1, and the latter subsequently played it safe in third as van Gisbergen ran away to claim victory.

Reynolds retained fourth, with fifth the best Lowndes could manage.

He was followed home by fellow defeated title contenders Mark Winterbottom and Will Davison.

Russell Ingall came from 24th on the grid to 10th in his V8 Supercars farewell, chasing Alex Davison and Chaz Mostert to the flag.

Results - 74 laps:

Pos  Driver               Team/Car                        Time/Gap
 1.  Shane van Gisbergen  Tekno Holden               1h58m09.0327s
 2.  Jason Bright         Brad Jones Holden               +1.9465s
 3.  Jamie Whincup        Triple Eight Holden             +2.5122s
 4.  David Reynolds       Rod Nash/FPR Ford               +2.8321s
 5.  Craig Lowndes        Triple Eight Holden             +3.6775s
 6.  Mark Winterbottom    FPR Ford                        +4.2235s
 7.  Will Davison         FPR Ford                        +7.3858s
 8.  Alex Davison         Schwerkolt/FPR Ford             +8.2434s
 9.  Chaz Mostert         Dick Johnson Ford               +8.4291s
10.  Russell Ingall       Walkinshaw/HRT Holden           +8.9082s
11.  Tim Slade            Rosenberg/Erebus Mercedes       +9.4868s
12.  Scott McLaughlin     Garry Rogers Holden            +11.9462s
13.  Lee Holdsworth       Erebus Mercedes                +13.1508s
14.  Tony D'Alberto       D'Alberto Holden               +16.4725s
15.  Fabian Coulthard     Brad Jones Holden              +17.0365s
16.  Alexandre Premat     Garry Rogers Holden            +18.8251s
17.  Todd Kelly           Nissan                         +19.4015s
18.  Rick Kelly           Nissan                         +20.4206s
19.  Michael Caruso       Nissan                         +24.6617s
20.  Maro Engel           Erebus Mercedes                +32.5505s
21.  Dean Fiore           Dumbrell Holden              +1m14.0584s
22.  David Wall           Britek/BJR Holden                 +1 lap
23.  Jonathon Webb        Tekno Holden                     +8 laps
24.  Nick Percat          HRT Holden                      +11 laps

Retirements:

     Scott Pye            Dumbrell Holden                  58 laps
     Tim Blanchard        Dick Johnson Ford                53 laps
     Garth Tander         HRT Holden                       39 laps
     James Moffat         Nissan                           30 laps