Whincup wins V8 opener

The Triple Eight Holden driver is unbeaten in three V8 races under the lights at Yas Marina, and he was never really challenged this time. The poleman, Whincup's team-mate Craig Lowndes, was caught napping at the start, and from third on the grid Alex Davison shot his Ford into the lead.

But under braking at the end of the long back straight, Whincup made his move and was untouchable at the front thereafter. Davison held on for second, ahead of FPR team-mate Mark Winterbottom.

In a race of tension rather than excitement, it was Shane van Gisbergen who made the most moves, dragging his Falcon up from 15th on the grid to an excellent fourth. Tim Slade had to fend off Garth Tander for almost the whole race, but held his nerve to secure fifth.

It was a woeful debut for Tander's HRT team-mate James Courtney. The reigning champion tangled with Jason Bargwanna early in the race, and spent an age in the pits as his Holden was repaired. He set a series of stunning fast laps as he fought a lost cause way back in 27th.

Lowndes also faced a tough day after his poor start, and he took seventh after ruining his tyres during his fightback.

Pos  Driver               Car          Time/Gap
 1.  Jamie Whincup        Holden  1h27m01.6780s
 2.  Alex Davison         Ford        + 13.202s
 3.  Mark Winterbottom    Ford        + 15.282s
 4.  Shane van Gisbergen  Ford        + 19.901s
 5.  Tim Slade            Ford        + 20.984s
 6.  Garth Tander         Holden      + 30.989s
 7.  Craig Lowndes        Holden      + 37.346s
 8.  Fabian Coulthard     Holden      + 38.428s
 9.  Lee Holdsworth       Holden      + 57.995s
10.  Todd Kelly           Holden   + 1m01.3760s
11.  Steven Johnson       Ford     + 1m03.3490s
12.  Will Davison         Ford     + 1m10.5760s
13.  Rick Kelly           Holden   + 1m16.4220s
14.  Steve Owen           Holden   + 1m17.2540s
15.  Michael Caruso       Holden   + 1m19.8020s
16.  James Moffat         Ford     + 1m22.0620s
17.  David Reynolds       Holden   + 1m27.4590s
18.  Tony D'Alberto       Holden   + 1m29.4390s
19.  Jason Bargwanna      Holden   + 1m32.8470s
20.  Jonathon Webb        Ford     + 1m35.2330s
21.  Greg Murphy          Holden   + 1m40.0830s
22.  Dean Fiore           Ford     + 1m57.9790s
23.  Warren Luff          Holden        + 1 lap
24.  Russell Ingall       Holden        + 1 lap
25.  Paul Dumbrell        Ford         + 4 laps
26.  James Courtney       Holden       + 4 laps

Retirements:

     Karl Reindler        Holden        41 laps
     Jason Bright         Holden        20 laps