The #18 Jim Beam Racing Falcon at the Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000.
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By Briar Gunther 3:34 PM Mon 11 October, 2010
Source: BigPond Sport
James Courtney is not concerned that Jamie Whincup chewed into his Championship lead at the Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000.
Whincup’s part in the TeamVodafone one-two finish at the Great Race has narrowed Courtney’s Championship lead to 125 points but the Jim Beam racer – who eventually finished fifth in the Great Race – only had praise for his rivals.
“They did a great job,” Courtney said of TeamVodafone.
“They had awesome car speed all weekend, those guys.
“We had it and lost it and through the race we were up and down a little bit.”
Courtney was thankful that it didn’t turn out worse at the biggest race of the V8 Supercar Championship.
“We were just off a lap down and to get back into contention with no safety car help, we pulled I think 20-something seconds on the lead group so it was a pretty amazing effort from all of the boys here and the car was on fire,” he said.
“It’s just a shame in that last little bit that the sun came out and warmed everything up.
“It sort of turned our car from a jet to an average sort of beast so it made the end of the race a little bit annoying for me but it was a good day.
“There was plenty of passing, plenty of action in the end and to get fifth from where we were was good but when I could see first and to come fifth it was a little annoying.”
Courtney noted that his team, including co-driver Warren Luff, put in a flawless effort.
“The good thing is that no one here made any mistakes, the boys did their job perfectly, Warren didn’t put a foot wrong and I didn’t go off at all.
“Just in the end we didn’t have the car speed when we needed it,” he shrugged.
“We had it through the day but not at the end but a long way to go yet.”
Courtney said the media speculation surrounding the future ownership of the team was no distraction to him.
“It’s the last thing I’m thinking about when I’m chipping in at the Chase at three hundred kilometres and hour,” he said.
“It’s good in the car because there’s nothing else to think about. Outside for sure it caused a few headaches but in the end I kept my head down and focused on the Championship.”
Courtney is confident that whichever driver pairs with him for the Armor All Gold Coast 600 will do the job.
“I’ve got a good solid two options with Wazza here and also Dario (Franchitti),” he said.
“They’re both incredibly experienced and level headed guys and I’m not too concerned that they’re going to bin it or anything; it’s just a matter of how it’s all going to be with the new format and circuit changes and everything and it’s going to be pretty good.
“Either way I’d be happy. Warren’s done a sterling job the last two events and Dario’s massively accomplished and I’m sure he’s going to be pretty speedy so not too worried either way.”
Whincup has an equally strong attitude heading into the Gold Coast races.
“I’ve always said it, the Championship starts from here on in and we’ve (got) a 125-point deficit to make up,” he said.
“I’m confident if we can keep the car running and I can keep doing a good job then it’s going to be a really good fight right to the (end).”
