Ambrose Wins Controversial Race 1

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