Ambrose Wins Controversial Race 1
Marcos Ambrose won a controversial race one at Eastern Creek in New South Wales after he made contact with another car during the race
Contact between Ambrose and Holden rival Mark Skaife saw Skaife spin down the order as Ambrose took another race win. Skaife recovered from the incident to finish in seventh place. A stewards' hearing after the race saw no action taken.
Craig Lowndes won the start as Ambrose moved past a slow-starting Skaife, with Steven Richards and Russell Ingall next.
An early safety car period for a bunkered Simon Wills kept the field close together before the field made their compulsory stops. Ambrose was the first of the leaders to stop on lap eleven.
Skaife was the next of the leaders to pit, resuming alongside Ambrose. They went side by side through the turn two left hand hairpin, before Skaife tried to close the door through the following right hander at turn three.
Unfortunately Skaife wasn't quite clear of Ambrose, while Ambrose unwilling to give ground. Contact followed, dropping Skaife several places. Lowndes pitted soon after but dropped behind Ambrose after leading the early part of the race.
A tight battle after the pit stops between Greg Murphy and Steven Richards was eventually resolved in favour of Richards, Murphy having to fend off Ingall in the closing laps.
Up front Ambrose held on to win ahead of Lowndes, both well clear of Richards, Murphy and Ingall.
Result of Race One, Eastern Creek, New South Wales:
Pos Driver Car 1. Marcos Ambrose Ford Falcon BA 2. Craig Lowndes Ford Falcon BA 3. Steven Richards Holden Commodore VY 4. Greg Murphy Holden Commodore VZ 5. Russell Ingall Ford Falcon BA 6. Todd Kelly Holden Commodore VZ 7. Mark Skaife Holden Commodore VZ 8. Steve Ellery Ford Falcon BA 9. Garth Tander Holden Commodore VZ 10. Jason Richards Holden Commodore VZ 11. Paul Morris Holden Commodore VZ 12. John Bowe Ford Falcon BA 13. Steven Johnson Ford Falcon BA 14. Brad Jones Ford Falcon BA 15. Cameron McConville Holden Commodore VZ 16. Paul Dumbrell Holden Commodore VY 17. Jason Bargwanna Ford Falcon BA 18. Greg Ritter Ford Falcon BA 19. Steve Owen Ford Falcon BA 20. Glenn Seton Ford Falcon BA 21. Craig Baird Ford Falcon BA 22. Matthew White Ford Falcon BA 23. Mark Winterbottom Ford Falcon BA 24. Jamie Whincup Holden Commodore VZ 25. Anthony Tratt Holden Commodore VY 26. Max Wilson Holden Commodore VZ 27. Paul Weel Holden Commodore VZ 28. Andrew Jones Holden Commodore VZ 29. Alex Davison Holden Commodore VZ 30. David Besnard Ford Falcon BA 31. Rick Kelly Holden Commodore VZ 32. Paul Radisich Holden Commodore VZ 33. Jason Bright Ford Falcon BA 34. Simon Wills Holden Commodore VZ
About this article
| Series | Supercars |
| Author | David Wright |
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