Whilst this had been happening, Craig Lowndes had found the extra pace relative to Radisich and was closing the Kiwi down, with the Castrol Racing Holden of Steve Johnson dropped from behind him. Lowndes and Radisich were soon right together.
Far behind this, Bright was still charging, with new rubber on the front, and had plenty of fun with Murph on lap 29, the two Holdens running side by side for a number of corners before Bright's extra pace meant he could go around the outside. Murphy must be looking forward to jumping into the PWR Commodore next season.
With the race nearing its end Lowndes had eaten massive chunks into Radisich's lead and was hassling the Kiwi big time. He wasn't as aggressive as he had been with Rick Kelly, but he wasn't far off, as Radisich soaked up the pressure and kept his car perfectly placed for Lowndes to remain behind.
Behind this there was movement going on with Steven Richards taking Steven Johnson, and the move allowing Jason Richards through too in the Tasman car on lap 36. It wasn't long before Steven Richards then made a mistake of his own, and the Tasman car took that place too. Ambrose by this point was a near twenty seconds ahead of all this.
Ambrose took the chequered flag amidst the Richards, Richards, Johnson battle, and with his good friend Greg Murphy just ahead of being lapped for good measure, whilst Radisich stayed ahead of Lowndes for the all-Ford podium.
With plenty of time left until the start of the 2005 season, Eastern Creek's final race has plenty of scope for some quality panel-bashing action.
Top ten
1.
Marcos Ambrose
2.
Paul Radisich
3.
Craig Lowndes
4.
Steven Richards
5.
Jason Richards
6.
Steven Johnson
7.
Mark Skaife
8.
Max Wilson
9.
Russell Ingall
10.
Cameron McConville
