Jaime Whincup started his V8 Supercar title defense with a comfortable victory in this evening's season opener in Abu Dhabi. The double champion led a one-two for his Triple Eight-run Team Vodafone Holden squad, ahead of teammate Craig Lowndes, whose pit strategy helped him recover from a qualifying error.
Mark Winterbottom briefly led Whincup in the early stages and ultimately took third for Ford Performance Racing, despite a penalty.
Holden Racing Team's Garth Tander and Will Davison both had troubled races, with Tander put to the back of the grid after qualifying and then delayed by incidents, and Davison halted by an engine issue.
Pos Driver Team Car Time/Gap
1. Jamie Whincup Triple Eight Holden 1h28m04.434s
2. Craig Lowndes Triple Eight Holden + 0.939s
3. Mark Winterbottom Ford Performance Ford + 1.952s
4. James Courtney Dick Johnson Ford + 11.878s
5. Lee Holdsworth Garry Rogers Holden + 13.021s
6. Shane van Gisbergen Stone Brothers Ford + 22.231s
7. Paul Dumbrell Rod Nash Ford + 23.664s
8. Jonathon Webb Tekno Autosports Ford + 31.270s
9. Alex Davison Stone Brothers Ford + 35.300s
10. Rick Kelly Kelly Holden + 37.590s
11. Steven Johnson Dick Johnson Ford + 38.272s
12. Jason Richards Brad Jones Holden + 40.993s
13. Jason Bargwanna Kelly Holden + 42.733s
14. Tim Slade James Rosenberg Ford + 43.909s
15. Michael Caruso Garry Rogers Holden + 45.779s
16. Steven Richards Ford Performance Ford + 1m00.078s
17. Fabian Coulthard Walkinshaw Holden + 1m01.301s
18. Tony D'Alberto Tony D'Alberto Holden + 1m18.450s
19. Andrew Thompson Walkinshaw Holden + 1m22.548s
20. Dean Fiore Triple F Ford + 1m36.729s
21. Jason Bright Brad Jones Holden + 1m50.239s
22. Daniel Gaunt Lucas Dumbrell Holden + 1m51.668s
23. Paul Morris Paul Morris Holden + 1 lap
24. Tony Ricciardello Kelly Holden + 1 lap
25. Todd Kelly Kelly Holden + 3 laps
26. Garth Tander HRT Holden + 7 laps
27. Russell Ingall Paul Morris Holden + 9 laps
Retirements:
Will Davison HRT Holden 28 laps
Karl Reindler Birtek Holden 23 laps