.jpg)
One of V8 Supercars’ lesser lights illuminated the brightest when second year rookie Michael Caruso grabbed a remarkable victory for Garry Rogers Motorsport at the latest round of the championship in Darwin today.
Caruso upset his more fancied rivals with a brilliant drive, holding off the fast finishing Alex Davison from Stone Brothers Racing and Craig Lowndes from Team Vodafone, who was celebrating his 35th birthday.
Caruso matched the feat of his team-mate Lee Holdsworth who pulled off an equally unlikely win for the same owner two years ago while Davison grabbed his best finish in his comeback year with SBR, having been unceremoniously dumped by Larry Perkins a few years ago.
The 200km race in the blazing heat at Hidden Valley brought up a raft of different strategies, but Caruso reigned supreme as Davison and Lowndes loomed late, both saving the super-fast soft tyres until the final stint of the 69-lap race.
“I knew that the guys behind had their sticky tyres,” Caruso said. “(With) eight laps to go it was always going to be hard staying in front of them, not to mention having a guy like Craig Lowndes in your mirrors which is always intimidating.
“I’m at the pinnacle of Australian motor racing and I probably haven’t come to terms with just how big this is. It’s been a long time coming, I’ve been in motorsport since I was 12 years old.”
The best of the Kiwis today was Shane Van Gisbergen, who also prospered saving his soft tyes until last, finishing ninth after being off the pace on Saturday. It proved an excellent double for Strone Brothers Racing.
Jason Richards (Team BOC Holden), denied a podium finish from pole with a bent shock just two laps from the finish, managed 11th today to complete an excellent weekend.
Steven Richards (Ford Performance) was 14th, Fabian Coulthard (Wilson Security) 20th and Greg Murphy (Sprint Gas Racing) 21st.
After his win on Saturday, defending champion Jamie Whincup (Team Vodafone) increased his lead in the championship, despite finishing 10th today. He is now 144 points clear of Will Davison (Holden Racing) who is on 1128 with team-mate Garth Tander third on 954, and Whincup’s team-mate Craig Lowndes on 906.
Best of the New Zealanders is Van Gisbergen in ninth, with Coulthard 11th, Jason Richards 12th, Steven Richards 17th and Murphy 22nd.
It was also a celebratory day for New Zealand owners Ross and Jimmy Stone to be back on the podium with Davison’s storming finish, pushing through from 15th to second in the final stint.
“I was written off and it’s a hard deal to get back into when you get booted out once. It’s a little bit emotional. It took half a lap before I realised. Today was just a great day,” Davison said.
“It’s been difficult for me coming from a completely different car. It’s starting to click now. We are starting to gel more and I’m beginning to learn what I can get out of the car.”
The next leg of the championships is the new street race in Townsville from July 10-12.
See also
- Whincup first at Hidden Valley
- Kiwi Richards grabs first pole in V8 Supercars
Race 2 results
1. Michael Caruso Holden Commodore VE
2. Alex Davison Ford Falcon FG
3. Craig Lowndes Ford Falcon FG
4. Rick Kelly Holden Commodore VE
5. Garth Tander Holden Commodore VE
6. Paul Dumbrell Holden Commodore VE
7. Lee Holdsworth Holden Commodore VE
8. Russell Ingall Holden Commodore VE
9. Shane Van Gisbergen Ford Falcon FG
10. Jamie Whincup Ford Falcon FG
11. Jason Richards Holden Commodore VE
12. James Courtney Ford Falcon FG
13. Steven Johnson Ford Falcon FG
14. Steven Richards Ford Falcon FG
15. Michael Patrizi Ford Falcon BF
16. Marcus Marshall Ford Falcon BF
17. Mark Winterbottom Ford Falcon FG
18. Will Davison Holden Commodore VE
19. Jason Bright Ford Falcon BF
20. Fabian Coulthard Ford Falcon FG
21. Greg Murphy Holden Commodore VE
22. Dale Wood Holden Commodore VE
23. Cameron McConville Holden Commodore VE
24. Jack Perkins Holden Commodore VE
25. Tim Slade Holden Commodore VE
26. Dean Fiore Holden Commodore VE
27. David Reynolds Holden Commodore VE
28. Todd Kelly Holden Commodore VE
DNF Tony D'Alberto Holden Commodore VE
DNF Jason Bargwanna Holden Commodore VE
Drivers Championship Points
(Top 15 - After completion of SKYCITY Triple Crown, Race 10 19 - 21 Jun 2009)
1. Jamie Whincup 1272
2. Will Davison 1128
3. Garth Tander 954
4. Craig Lowndes 906
5. Lee Holdsworth 897
6. Steven Johnson 873
7. Rick Kelly 807
8. Mark Winterbottom 765
9. Shane Van Gisbergen 729
10. Russell Ingall 728
11. Fabian Coulthard 720
12. Jason Richards 672
13. Alex Davison 666
14. Michael Caruso 639
15. Cameron McConville 630
