To be honest, I was a bit pissed about the start of the race," the Kiwi fumed, "I've seen the vision of it and was not over-stoked about it. It damaged the front of the car and we ran with a bent steering arm for 161 laps. That's what caused the off and forced us to come in early. The car was definitely fast, and it was an amazing race, full of drama. To get up to second after that start is unbelievable.
Lowndes said that he and Murphy had discussed the incident and then got on with racing.
I got a great tow and one thing you don't want to do is to make contact and jeopardise your race, the eventual winner insisted.
Having started from third on the grid after a 'balls out' Shoot-out effort from Courtney, the Stone Brothers-run Jeld-Wen Ford went on another charge towards the end of the race, picking off cars struggling with their tyres before catching up the Richards/Winterbottom Falcon with just a handful of laps to go.
Richards had earlier had to contend with a badly sliding car while Murphy hounded him, eventually having to give best to the Kiwi. Just when he might have thought a podium was still possible, however, 'Richo' found Courtney all over him, and ultimately ceded third after racing prominently throughout.
Brad Jones and Max Wilson produced perhaps
the performance of the race to keep the WOW Racing Holden in the leading group throughout the 161 laps. Having got a chance to take part in the Shoot-out following Paul Radisich's accident in practice, the veteran duo turned a row five start into a fine fifth at the finish.
Sixth place went to Will Davison and Steven Johnson, despite the pair's Jim Beam Racing Ford suffering more than most with delaminating tyres. Three damaged left rears scuppered the chance of a second consecutive podium for the team, which also had to contend with Johnson having suffered an overnight stomach bug.
