Tander takes race one

Tander pressured Richards in the opening laps before jumping Richards at the pit stops, to take the win. The top three was all Holden, with Tander's teammate Rick Kelly completing the podium.

The championship battle changed little, apart from a slight tightening of the gaps, apart from Mark Skaife whose late race spin dropped him just behind teammate Todd Kelly in the standings.

The start of the race saw Richards lead Tander into turn one ahead of Marcos Ambrose, Rick Kelly and Todd Kelly. Ingall made a good start from tenth to finish lap one in eighth place.

Despite threatening skies, most drivers took their pit stops early. During these stops, Tander moved ahead of Richards, and Rick Kelly moved ahead of Ambrose as the top four drivers swapped around, with Todd Kelly close behind Ambrose.

Lap 24 saw Todd Kelly drop back after making an ambitious dive inside Ambrose at the hairpin and spinning as he avoided contact. He spun again at the hairpin a few laps later to finish the race in fifteenth.

The only major development in the closing laps, apart from the continuing threat of rain, was Kelly's teammate Mark Skaife spinning at the hairpin while being followed by Lowndes.

Skaife suffered major airdam damage as Lowndes squeezed past as he tried to avoid the spun Skaife. Fifth before the spin on lap 35 of 42, Skaife ended the race in 26th.

Up at the front Tander took the win just ahead of Steven Richards, with Rick Kelly a couple of seconds behind, just ahead of Marcos Ambrose. Craig Lowndes completed the top five.

Result of race one:

Pos  Driver              Car
 1.  Garth Tander        Holden Commodore VZ
 2.  Steven Richards     Holden Commodore VY
 3.  Rick Kelly          Holden Commodore VZ
 4.  Marcos Ambrose      Ford Falcon BA
 5.  Craig Lowndes       Ford Falcon BA
 6.  Paul Dumbrell       Holden Commodore VY
 7.  Jason Bright        Ford Falcon BA
 8.  Russell Ingall      Ford Falcon BA
 9.  Steve Ellery        Ford Falcon BA
10.  Steven Johnson      Ford Falcon BA
11.  Jason Richards      Holden Commodore VZ
12.  Paul Radisich       Holden Commodore VZ
13.  Paul Weel           Holden Commodore VZ
14.  Cameron McConville  Holden Commodore VZ
15.  Todd Kelly          Holden Commodore VZ
16.  Max Wilson          Holden Commodore VZ
17.  Brad Jones          Ford Falcon BA
18.  Jamie Whincup       Holden Commodore VZ
19.  Jason Bargwanna     Ford Falcon BA
20.  Greg Murphy         Holden Commodore VZ
21.  Mark Winterbottom   Ford Falcon BA
22.  Glenn Seton         Ford Falcon BA
23.  David Brabham       Ford Falcon BA
24.  John Bowe           Ford Falcon BA
25.  David Besnard       Ford Falcon BA
26.  Mark Skaife         Holden Commodore VZ
27.  Craig Baird         Ford Falcon BA
28.  Matthew White       Ford Falcon BA
29.  Anthony Tratt       Holden Commodore VY
30.  Dean Canto          Holden Commodore VZ
31.  Owen Kelly          Holden Commodore VZ
DNF  Paul Morris         Holden Commodore VZ