"I'm just trying to win races, and we had the car speed today but that is the story of our year. If he [Ambrose] gets a DNF and we win the race then we win the Championship, it is that simple. And who knows, stranger things have happened in this game. who's have thought that we would have stopped that close to home in Queensland?"
For Murphy this weekend has been tough, the Kmart team struggling to get speed out of its VY Commodore. Earlier in the day he said is car was terrible, and that he simply had to hope for the race to fall his way. it didn't and he is now only an outside chance for the Championship after surrendering second in the series to Skaife.
"Let's just say there were some pretty questionable driving tactics out there today," Murphy said without directly pointing the finger at Seton. "As for the Championship, I am bitterly disappointed."
Jason Bright said he was pleased with his team's return to form, claiming second in the race after jumping Todd Kelly early in the race.
"We are very happy," Bright said after the race. "We missed the whole of the first session yesterday, and with limited practice time that is important, so were we behind the behind on track time to the others right from the start.
"To be third in the shootout and second in the race is very satisfying after that. We've had a great car since Oran Park, but a shocking run of luck, so this is very good for the team."
Todd Kelly also spent much of the weekend struggling, and said his car was far from perfect today when he landed it second on the grid and raced to third during the 39-lapper.
"That is really the first time this weekend we have had the suspension working, but even then the set-up wasn't that good," Kelly said. "Because we didn't have a good set-up, we had to evenly split the race. it was better on the second set of tyres after we played with the tyre pressures."
Russell Ingall had another trademark storming run into fourth, picking off his prey to climb from 18th on the grid.
"That was fun," Ingall said. "It was nice to go out with no pressure and just race hard from the word go. The car was so consistent throughout and didn't wear the tyres at all. To be able to pass other cars that had stopped later than me underlines just how good it was.
"Great to hit back after a shocker in qualifying. After that race result, I can't remember the shootout at all!"
Earlier in the day, Skaife won the first ever full field Shootout from team-mate Todd Kelly, with Jason Bright and Marcos Ambrose next.
