Supercars Townsville: McLaughlin, Reynolds argue over their clash

The pair locked wheels on the opening lap of today's 200-kilometre (124.27-mile) race while battling over second place and the contact came as McLaughlin tried to cover a fast-approaching Reynolds.

Both cars sustained damage with McLaughlin needing a new right-rear tyre due to a puncture and Reynolds forced to have a new steering arm fitted to his Erebus Holden.

Relations are frosty between the two drivers and immediately after the race, McLaughlin headed to the Erebus garage to confront Reynolds after the race.

He then labelled Reynolds a "desperado" during a Fox Sports TV interview.

"Everybody's battling for visibility and traction and it's risk management on days like today, especially when you're up at the front and in a [strong] championship position like he is," said McLaughlin.

"Dave was just a desperado. He can say what he wants, I went down and saw him and he said I turned in or whatever.

"But personally, if I turned in it was by a millimetre and he's just clipped me up the rear so whatever."

McLaughlin then paid Reynolds a second visit and the two debriefed the footage in the Erebus transporter.

According to Reynolds, there was no peaceful outcome to either interaction and the 2017 Bathurst winner is adamant that McLaughlin moved over on him.

"I went for a move, I lunged at him because he braked early, and it looks he jinked right a bit under brakes," said Reynolds.

"We touched wheels and it's day done. I should be going down to see him, not the other way around.

"He's leading the championship, you don't have to crash into people, do you? I didn't really say anything, everyone else was yelling at him."

McLaughlin recovered to finish 11th and it means he still holds a very comfortable 292-point championship lead.

Reynolds could only recover to 20th and has slipped to fifth in the standings.