With the safety car coming in at the end of lap 30, there was a mere two laps to be completed by Ambrose for the title to be his, and these he intended to complete as rapidly as possible. Having no fear or contemplation for cold tyres or debris remaining on the circuit from the off-track action of the retired trio, Ambrose was soon back to his fastest lap setting ways. He was in the lead on track by the end of lap 31 and fastest laps on lap 35 and 36 seemed the best way to celebrate the title he gained by completing over half race distance.
As a marked contrast of fortunes, outgoing champion Mark Skaife was left by the trackside laps later after an incident with Russell Ingall out of turn nine and coming into turn ten. Skaife had the advantage on the inside of turn nine but Ingall remained resolute in keeping position. As they powered alongside each other to turn ten so Inghall's rear tyre took some dust and the Ford man steered back on track, and then some.
Ingall steered into the rear quarter panel of Skaife once then twice and the outgoing champion was soon exiting the race and making close acquaintance with the off-track concrete. Attempting to regain the circuit, it was soon apparent that the Holden's steering didn't and Mark drove off the track, parked the car and waited.
The Holden man was clearly aggrieved at the coming together, and remained at trackside to express his displeasure. Ingall, on track, drove as close as possible to Skaife as he passed, all the better to understand exactly what the 2002 champ was saying. Anyone watching on TV was left in no doubt what exactly Skaife was mouthing, and it looked like he was contemplating the remainder of the 64 lap race shouting at the Ford going past.
From the sublime to the ridiculous. As the safety car from the Skaife / Ingall incident returned to the pits so the rain started. And then some. Lightening was soon seen behind the start / finish grandstand and this lighting soon took out the electricity at the circuit and for a good number of blocks in the vicinity of the Sydney circuit.
