Issuu

NEW GEN7 MUSTANG SUPERCAR REVEALED

AUSTRALIA’S INDEPENDENT VOICE OF MOTORSPORT

WILL POWER

KEEPS ON WINNING

INDYCAR CHAMPION TELLS US HOW!

MONZA SPECIAL •MAX ON TOP... AGAIN •INFILTRATING THE TIFOSI

•FERRARI’S TIMELY 1988 WIN

ARG TO RACE ON

“NO” TO SUPERCARS TAKE-OVER

CAN BIG BAD SANDOWN BE SAVED? SVG’S EMOTIONAL

PUKEKOHE SEND OFF ISSUE #1845 September 22 to October 5, 2022 $9.95 INC GST www.autoaction.com.au

HOLDEN WINS

LAST SUPERCAR RACE IN NEW ZEALAND

ISSN 2204-9924

PLENTY OF BIFF AND BARGE BEFORE BATHURST

LATEST NEWS

BARRY RYAN RECEIVES OFFICIAL REPRIMAND OVER

WINTERBOTTOM PUSH

MOTORSPORT AUSTRALIA has today announced the findings of a Stewards inquiry into the allegation that Erebus Motorsport CEO Barry Ryan made unnecessary physical contact with Team 18’s Mark Winterbottom following an ontrack clash with Erebus Motorsport’s Will Brown. The Stewards have imposed a Reprimand on the Authorised Representative of Erebus Motorsport Pty Ltd (Barry Ryan) – The Stewards Decision is outlined below. The finding was after a Motorsport Australia investigation into an altercation between Mark Winterbottom and Erebus Motorsport’s following Will Browns massive race 28 crash on the first lap. The result of the contact between Winterbottom and Brown caused Will Brown to lose control of the Boost Mobile Commodore and slide across the grass and make massive impact with the wall that protected the Pukekohe pit lane entry. The impact caused major damage to the vehicle which had to be withdrawn from the rest of the event and at the time was considered a right off which caused the team major anguish in the short lead up to Bathurst. Following the race, the Supercars broadcaster interviewed an obviously disappointed Winterbottom over the incident with Winterbottom indicating concern for Will Brown. Winterbottom indicated during the interview that he was concerned and wanted to speak to Will Brown. Understandably Brown who was lucky to escape serious injury in the crash was also emotional about the incident which resulted in his race car receiving massive damage.

Winterbottom visited the Erebus pit garage to speak to Brown. At the time the conversation was seen as confrontational by Erebus Team CEO Barry Ryan who indicated to Winterbottom that he was not wanted in the emotionally charged Erebus team garage. A heated verbal confrontation led to Ryan shoving the #18 Irwin racer out of the garage, with the incident being shown live on television, raising further tension and public discussion into the confrontation. Following the Event, the Stewards conducted an inquiry into an allegation that the Authorised Representative (Barry Ryan) of Erebus Motorsport Pty Ltd made physical contact with the Driver of Car 18, Mark Winterbottom, in the Erebus garage. As a result of the incident the matter was referred to the stewards of the event for further investigation by Motorsport Australia. Motorsport Australia issued a statement on the incident on Tuesday, and stated the following: Stewards’ Decision – Penalty imposed The Stewards, having received a report from the Race Director and having determined to conduct an inquiry, summoned and heard from the Team Representatives of Erebus Motorsport and Team 18 and the Drivers of Car 9, Will Brown, and Car 18, Mark Winterbottom, have considered the matter and determine the following. Rule B6.5.1 – (Rule refers to: Offences Actual Physical Contact) ‘A person must not intentionally make physical contact, which includes any type of assault with another person, except in self-defence.’

Following Race 28. The Stewards have imposed a Reprimand on the Authorised Representative of Erebus Motorsport Pty Ltd (Barry Ryan) – The Stewards Decision is outlined below. Reason - On the first Lap of Race 28 an incident occurred between Cars 18 and 9 at Turn 9 as a result of which Car 9 was pushed off track and collided heavily with a tyre barrier on the exit of Turn 9 causing significant damage to Car 9. The force of the impact of Car 9 with the tyre barrier was reported to have been 56G. The Driver of Car 9 was uninjured. During the Race the Stewards imposed a PLP on the Driver of Car 18 for a reckless driving infringement in relation to that incident. Media had interviewed the Driver of Car 9 who suggested that the Driver of Car 18 ought to visit him after the Race to discuss the incident. The Driver of Car 18 attended the Erebus garage shortly after the Race to enquire of the Driver of Car 9 as to his welfare. He was not intending to speak with the Authorised Representative of Erebus who was in discussions with the Driver of Car 9 when the Driver of Car 18 arrived. The Driver of Car 18 was unaware that the Authorised Representative of Erebus had sent a message to his counterpart at Team 18 requesting that the Driver of Car 18 not attend the Erebus garage because emotions within the Erebus team were high, and the team needed time to focus on assessing whether the Car was repairable. A verbal altercation occurred within the Erebus garage between the Drivers of Cars 18 and 9 and the Authorised Representative of Erebus regarding the first Lap incident and its consequences. A media camera operator was in

attendance in the garage at the time and filmed the altercation. The footage depicts physical contact between the Authorised Representative of Erebus and the Driver of Car 18. The first contact involved the Authorised Representative using the back of his hand to touch the Driver’s left arm to direct the Driver towards the door of the garage at the same time as asking the Driver to leave the garage. There was no force behind the push. The second contact occurred a short time later and involved the Authorised Representative pushing the Driver’s upper arm using the open face of his hand, again at the same time as asking the Driver to leave, the Driver having not left after the first contact. The second contact was evidently more forceful that the first because it pushed the Driver of Car 18 off balance, albeit slightly. A literal construction of that Rule would deem any harmless and not unwanted physical contact a breach. In our minds, a breach of the Rule cannot be established unless the contact was at the very least unwanted and beyond the bounds of social norms. The first contact was little more than a touch and was merely a non-aggressive means of conveying to the Driver of Car 18 that he was not wanted in the garage at that time. The second contact, however, involving more force, was unwarranted and went beyond the bounds of social norms even though it was not threatening and caused no harm to the Driver. The Stewards recognise that the altercation occurred in an emotionally charged context. The Authorised Representative of Erebus and the Driver of Car 9 were upset by what had occurred on track and for which the Stewards had imposed a Penalty on the Driver of Car 18. Car 9 was unable to compete in Race 29 and it was uncertain then if it could be repaired in time for the next round of the Championship, if at all. The Driver of Car 18 acknowledged that had he known of the request that he not attend at the Erebus garage when he did, he would not have done so and would have chosen a later moment to discuss the incident with the Driver of Car 9. The combination of circumstances where unfortunate and arose out of a misunderstanding by the Driver of Car 18 that an open invitation had been extended to him to attend at the Erebus garage to discuss the Race 28 incident. The Driver of Car 18 acknowledged that he did not feel threatened or intimidated during the incident. Notwithstanding, the Stewards are satisfied that a breach of Rule B6.5.1 was occasioned by the second push and the Authorised Representative acknowledged that he made an error of judgment and that physical contact with the Driver was unnecessary. The Stewards find the breach established and impose a Reprimand on the Authorised Representative of Erebus.

2023 FORMULA 1 CALENDAR GETS TICK OF APPROVAL 2023 FORMULA 1 CALENDAR DATE March 5 March 19 April 2 April 16 April 30 May 7 May 21 May 28 June 4 June 18 July 2 July 9 July 23 July 30 August 27 September 3 September 17 September 24 October 8 October 22 October 29 November 5 November 18 November 26

NEXT SEASON’S 24 race Formula 1 calendar has been approved by the World Motor Sport Council on the same day as the Monaco Grand Prix gets locked away until 2025. The record breaking 24 event calendar will kick off March 5 in Bahrain and conclude at the Yas Marina in Abu Dhabi on November 25. With China and Qatar also set to return, the new Las Vegas strip Grand Prix has been flagged as the season’s penultimate round. A few alterations include the Spa Grand Prix move to the end of July as a back-toback feature with the Hungarian GP, with the Netherlands, Zandvoort race coming after the long break, followed by Monza. The retention of Belgium’s Spa Francorchamps Grand Prix - announced

after the collapse of talks with South Africa organisers due to governmental and financial constraints - was a welcome relief for F1 fans, and somewhat of a victory for its traditionalists over the ‘money-talks’ aspect of the sports modern era. The streets of Monte Carlo have also been confirmed with a contract until 2025, with the iconic Monaco running locked away for the eighth round, between Imola and Barcelona. Stefano Domenicali was delighted to announce the news that extended arguably the most famous event on the calendar - having run an official grand prix since the inaugural 1950 season - with some concerning talk earlier in the year that it was perhaps in danger with its contract ending. “I am pleased to confirm that we will be racing in Monaco until 2025 and excited

to be back on the streets of this famous Principality for next year’s Championship on May 28,” said Domenicali, the president and CEO of Formula 1. “I want to thank everyone involved in this renewal and especially H.S.H. Prince Albert II of Monaco, Michel Boeri, President of the Automobile Club of Monaco and all his team. We look forward to being back next season to continue our partnership together.” Boeri, the President of the Automobile Club of Monaco, said that “In the interest of the Formula One World Championship, and after several months of negotiations, we are proud to announce that we have signed a threeyear agreement with Formula One, and likely to be renewed.” In the fervour of the 2023 calendars release, The FIA President Mohammed Bin Sulayem,

GRAND PRIX Bahrain Saudi Arabia Australia China Azerbaijan Miami Emilia Romagna Monaco Spain Canada Austria United Kingdom Hungary Belgium Netherlands Italy Singapore Japan Qatar USA Mexico Brazil Las Vegas Abu Dhabi

VENUE Sakhir Jeddah Melbourne Shanghai Baku Miami Imola Monaco Barcelona Montreal Spielberg Silverstone Budapest Spa Zandvoort Monza Singapore Suzuka Losail Austin Mexico City Sao Paulo Las Vegas Yas Marina

added that, “The presence of 24 races on the 2023 FIA Formula One World Championship calendar is further evidence of the growth and appeal of the sport on a global scale,” “The addition of new venues and the retention of traditional events underlines the FIA’s sound stewardship of the sport. “I am delighted that we will be able to take Formula 1’s new era of exciting racing, created by the FIA’s 2022 Regulations, to a broader fan base in 2023. “In framing the 2023 F1 calendar, WMSC Members have also been mindful of the timing of the prestigious 24 Hours of Le Mans.” The next round of this year’s F1 season is the Singapore Grand Prix, held on the 5.6km Marina Bay circuit from September 30 to October 2.

SUPERCHEAP AUTO CREWS UP WITH

COFFS COAST ARC RALLY THIS YEAR’S Coffs Coast finale of the Rally Australia Championship has welcomed Supercheap Auto on board as a naming rights partner for the November 25-27 event, which will now be named ‘The Supercheap Auto Coffs Coast Rally’. The Supercheap Auto Coffs Coast Rally will not only be the final event of the ARC season, but will run alongside the FIA Asia Pacific Rally Championship finale, with a host of international and national crews ascending into Coffs Harbour. In an enormous boost to the iconic Coffs Coast region, the Supercheap Auto Rally will also be part of the inaugural Coffs Coast Festival of Motorsport, set to run from November 5-27. With the rally’s occurring at the tail end of the event, it’s slated to be the biggest motorsport event in the history of the region’s love affair with motorsport. Among the stars attending the event, will be WRC competitor and Kiwi superstar Hayden Paddon, recent winner of the Rali Ceredigion tarmac event in Wales. Paddon will tear into Coffs Harbour to take

AutoActionMagazine

Auto_Action

on our own ARC stars, with series leader Harry Bates and Gippsland rally winner Lewis Bates at the forefront of the local charge. In an even bigger coup for rally goers, spectators will have free access to the rally over the entire weekend, which includes access to the Service Park at the C.ex Coffs International Stadium. Supercheap Auto Managing Director, Benjamin Ward, explains that fans will also get to experience the Supercheap Auto Clubhouse, which has been a feature at Shannons Motorsport Australia Championships events throughout 2022. “The Supercheap Auto Coffs Coast Rally will showcase the best drivers across Australia and the Asia Pacific region. We are thrilled to be partnering with Motorsport Australia on this international event.” Ward said. “As part of our support of this event, rally fans will get the opportunity to experience our Supercheap Auto Clubhouse, which provides plenty of entertainment, food and drink as well as driver appearances

instagram.com/autoactionmag/

Auto Action

throughout the weekend. “It’s a really unique experience, right in the heart of the Service Park. We’re looking forward to ‘making it Super’ on the Coffs Coast in November.” Motorsport Australia Director of Motorsport & Commercial Operations Michael Smith thanked Supercheap Auto for their ongoing support of motorsport.

“Supercheap Auto are a great supporter of all levels of motorsport and we’re excited to be working with them at the Supercheap Auto Coffs Coast Rally.” Smith said. “The event promises to be a fitting finale for the ARC, as well as a super spectacle with the APRC component of the event bringing some world-class international rally drivers to Australian shores.”

Mark Horsburgh, Dirk Klynsmith

COOL HEAD LUKE Images: Mark Horsburgh-Edge Photography and Dirk Klynsmith - Motorsport Images

By Paul Gover IT’S BATHURST in 2005, the Carrera Cup preliminary race, and Luke Youlden is on fire. It’s one of the most vivid memories of his motorsport career – and that includes his win in the Bathurst 1000. “I was just in a zone. Fuck I was fast,” Youlden tells Auto Action. “It was in the rain. Sunday morning. I passed Richo (Jim Richards) and Fabian (Coulthard) like they were standing still. “Then I dropped it on the white line into The Cutting and half-spun. I had to come

26 I www.autoaction.com.au

through the field again. “But I was light years quicker than anyone. I was like two seconds quicker than Fabian. It was unheard of.” What’s the importance – the significance – of that performance on that day? “I always try to draw on that race,” Youlden says. He knows he has the speed and skill and, from the earliest days, he was looking for ways to tap into it. Born in East Melbourne, 44 years ago, he is the son of two-time Australian production car champion Kent Youlden and the nephew of another well-known racer, Brett.

“My dad is best known for racing in production cars in an XR6 Falcon. He started in rallying and rallycross,” Youlden begins. “But he also tested Dick Johnson’s Sierra – a few cool things like that. “He was a tool design supervisor at Ford at Broadmeadows. He was always in charge of the first build and dealing with the contractors who made the body shells.” “Ray is my dad’s older brother and he did a bit of rallying back in the day. Brett is the younger one – he did Production Cars and Sports Sedans and TCM. Dad calls him The King, because he won everything in Kingswood racing. He was arch enemies with Bruce Williams, racing on the Thunderdome and road circuits and stuff.” The family lived in Wandong, a little town about 50 kilometres north of Melbourne. “It was a 25-minute drive for dad to work. We had about three acres. It was semi-rural and that gave the opportunity to have gokarts and motorbikes and paddock bombs and stuff. “I didn’t go down the go-kart path. I sort of wanted to, but it didn’t work out. “But I had my own car at 11, a little 1969 Corolla with a locked diff. You couldn’t kill it. And car control came early. “When I was 15, I got into sprints. Dad

got me a Mazda RX-2. It was still a pretty standard thing, pretty slow. “My first race was Phillip Island when I was 16, in Road Reg. But I got out of that pretty quick.” Around the same time he was inspired by a visit to Adelaide. “I went to the last F1 GP there. I really wanted to be a touring car driver, but when I saw them pulling gears when the touring cars were on the brakes, I wanted to do that.” So, Formula Ford, then . . . “It would have been state level. I just didn’t have any money. I couldn’t do a full championship – just three rounds or something like that.” But Kent and Luke played smart. “We actually leased a car from Dougal McDougal and he asked me to come in and work for them full-time at the end of ’98. I worked as a mechanic and spannered for Greg Ritter when he won the title in ’99. He was a good steerer. “He had an old 1996 Mygale chassis floating around that I built up. I went out and won the support races at Bathurst in 1999. And was champion at Phillip Island against Will Davison and Will Power.” And the next year was a big one. Despite a surprising drama.

“ ”

My dad is best known for racing in production cars in an XR6 Falcon. He started in rallying and rallycross...

“Peter McDougall gave me the new chassis for the next year, as they needed to move up, and I was using Tubby’s (Ritter) engines. “I bluffed my way through and won the championship. But we could have done a lot better if knew what we were doing at the start. “Those chassis were built for the newer Ford engine and we had the Kent engines. At one point the car was sitting on the setup patch, and one boys sat on one of the wheels and it made no difference. “The chassis flexed because it was designed to have the engine as a semistressed member. So it was flexing its head off. But I still managed to get pole at the first round. “We got the car sorted and won the championship. It was a pretty competitive year, up against Rick Kelly, Will Power, Owen Kelly and Stuart Kostera. “I was 22 and I’m pretty proud that we could beat those other kids.” But a step up was coming, and it was a big one. “Dougal McDougal was leasing a car from Larry Perkins, I had just won Formula Ford, and Castrol was looking to put two young kids in a car for Sandown and Bathurst. “I got the drive with Christian Murchison and my Supercar career was away. I got paid for my first race in a Supercar – it was five grand for the two races.

“I have actually been paid for every single Supercars race I’ve done. Not too many people could say that.” Youlden also got a break when he forged a tie with Holden. “We got a Holden Astra they had used for Greg Murphy the year before in a production car race at Bathurst. “I managed to find a few sponsors through dad, and Castrol and Holden helped out. We won the Production Car championship – in the class. “I was professional at that stage. But I was still living with mum and dad. “At the end of that year I did Bathurst again with Perkins. And I was impressive enough to keep going after that. “I got a test with the Ellery team, against Owen Kelly, through Howard Marsden. That involved moving to Queensland, working in the race team, the usual deal, and doing endurance races with them. And I won the one-hour race at Bathurst that year in an AU Falcon.” So now he was into the torrid world of Supercars. “It created a bit of interest on the Stone Brothers front. I had some secret meetings with them about moving forward. But it didn’t work out and I stayed with Ellerys for the next couple of years.” Youlden was racing in what is now known as Super2. “I managed to get some money for full years 2003 and 2004 And finished equal

on points ‘in 04 with Andrew Jones but lost the championship on a count-back.” Now he became a gun for hire, with connections through Ellery, WPS (Craig Gore’s team) and Stone Brothers. “I had two massive disappointments at the end of 2004. Ellerys shut down. And I had signed a contract with WPS but, during the 10-day cooling-off period, they called and said ‘You’re out, we’re putting Craig Baird into the car’. “But I had a fair amount of success, just turning up twice a year to co-drive at Sandown and Bathurst.” And this was in the era when teams could pair their A-drivers from the championship, handing the second car to enduro pairings. “Then I moved to FPR. The reason was that we had spoken to teams who said ‘We know you have reasonable race pace, but we’re wondering about qualifying pace’. I knew I would never get the opportunity at Stone Brothers – that’s why I moved from them. “I wanted the opportunity to actually qualify the car and see if I WAS any good. I was pretty happy with how I went. I remember being very close to Mark Winterbottom in ’08.” He had proved the speed to himself, but was still on the outside. “My plan never really worked, because I didn’t get picked up for a full-time ride. So I’ve been doing GT and Carrera Cup, and the enduros.” But down the track he raced alongside some of the best, and forged some great friendships. “Dean Canto taught me a lot. He got me to be relaxed out of the car. I wouldn’t leave the track once I got there, but it was

Bathurst, 2017, and Reynolds/Youlden took a stunning win (above). Luke stood in for Covid-affected Reynolds at the SMP Supercars round last year (left). Youlden has played many supporting roles (above right) – at Stone Brothers with Russell Ingall, and partnering Dean Canto and Mark Winterbottom at FPR. Luke moved with Reynolds to Grove (right).

AutoActionMagazine

Auto_Action

instagram.com/autoactionmag/

Auto Action

www.autoaction.com.au I 27

SPEEDWAY

Super Sedans – Harry Doyle (31) snatches the lead from Matty Pascoe. Images: Gordon Greaves

A CRACKER NIGHT IN CAIRNS A HEALTHY crowd made the most of the beautiful warm Spring climate of northern Queensland for North Queensland Super Sedans Title which shared the program with Round 4 of the NQ Sprintcar Championship Series and the Super Street Sedans NQ title at the Totally Workwear Cairns International Speedway, thrilling the race fans with a high dosage of methanolpowered V8 monsters.

ahead King would make the most of his advantage and express run to claim his maiden feature race victory, closely hounded all the way home by Dalliston, just 0.361s in arrears, with Desmares the final step on the podium. Jenkins and Walsh would round out the field as Brett Sciban was an early race retiree. Dalliston and Desmares claimed each of the 10-lap heats while King took the Top 6 Pole Shuffle for a front row start in the final.

Cameron King notches up his maiden Sprintcar feature race win.

HAPPY HARRY TAKES SUPER SEDAN NQ CHAMPIONSHIP

A stout field of Super Sedans made the northern venture to fight it out for the Triple S Earthing Moving NQ Championship and the 30-lap journey would provide a thrilling main event. Stephen Jordan took the early lead, hotly contested by the reigning Australian Champion Matty Pascoe as they opened handy real estate over Harry Doyle leading the rest of the field. By one-third race distance, the lead developed into a thrilling three way dance as you could throw a tissue over the trio as the scrapped for track position over several laps before approaching lapped traffic, blows for the lead were exchanged. Pascoe briefly made his way to the front before Jordan fired back, allowing Doyle into second and, in the blink of an eye, Pascoe was relegated back to third. In a thrilling dog fight, Jordan again found himself leading the charge, but a determined Doyle would run the top side and hit the lead with eight laps to run. Five laps further on, Pascoe would relegate Jordan to the final step on the podium and that’s the way it would stay, handing 18-year old Doyle the biggest win of his fledgling career over the reigning and former national champions. A smoking Stacey Lee was next and one lap in arrears was Ross Mackenzie and Graham Elliott while Brenden Chandler failed to fire for the final event. The heat races were evenly shared by Doyle, Pascoe and Jordan with one apiece

40 I www.autoaction.com.au

THE HARDY PARTY!

Super Streets – Brett Hardy, NQ Champion.

THE KING PIN IN ROUND 4

Cameron King and Gwesyn Dalliston would share the front row for the all-important 15-lap final for round 4 of the NQ Sprintcar Championship Series. After the first start was aborted, the second attempt proved textbook perfect as the lead duo raced side by side into the first corner but coming out of Turn 2 it would be inside driver King making the most of his track position to

lead the field as he stretched his legs. The race for the minors was a closely fought affair for just over a third of the race distance as Dalliston withstood the challenge from Jared Desmares, Wes Jenkins and Brian Walsh, before they spread in the closing stages. Walsh and Jenkins both spun simultaneously, bringing the field back together for one last sprint to the line. With seven laps remaining and clear track

The Buffalo Motors Super Street Sedans NQ titles was also a hotly contested affair with 17 competitors taking to the track to battle it out over 6 bruising qualifying heats followed by a tough 20 lap final for the number one mantle. Brett Hardy started from the Pole Position and over the course of the journey he would rise to the challenge, slicing his way through lapped traffic as he showed the others the quickest way home while others crashed and bashed behind him. Dean Dalgleish was second, and Brad Brook would also join Hardy on the podium. Andrew McEeath, Owen Rankine, Jamie Naylor and David Shade were next to finish on the lead lap, Melissa Close and Bill Stolzenberg rounding the top 10. In the qualifying heats Hardy and Ashley Goodman claimed doubles while Brandon Wyatte and Dalgleish chimed in for one apiece. In the supporting classes, Ash Ewing would prove too strong in the Formula 500s over John Magro and Chae O’Brien. In the Formula 400s, Justin Lee would claim victory, Queensland champion Terry O’Brien and Dwayne Cotterell sharing the trophies. The Modified Sedan final was claimed by Graham Klienhans, David Manly and Scott Vella rounding the podium, while in the junior divisions it would be the lone Jr 500 of Dylan Hedger and the duo of Kayla Adams and Lachlan Saxby continued to learn their craft in the Junior Sedans. Paris Charles

2022

R E B M E V O N 7TH

5TH

THROUGH TO

27TH

COFFS HARBOUR KEMPSEY

RALEIGH GRAFTON

RALLY OFF ROAD RACING SPEEDWAY HILL CLIMBS RALLYCROSS YCLES C R O T O M K C A R T T IR D GO KARTING BURNOUT COMP MOTOR SHOW BIKE SHOW

For further information, visit www.coffscoastmotorsport.com or contact Bob Carle on 0411 727 255 or info@coffscoastmotorsport.com

BEUSCHER TAKES BRISTOL WITH FOUR PLAYOFF STARS ELIMINATED THE NASCAR round of 12 was set in Bristol, Tennessee, with Chris Buescher (right and below) continuing the trend of nonplayoff victors, taking out his first win of the season for RFK Racing. It was the first victory for the #17 Ford driver since Pocono in 2016, with his win throwing a spanner in the works of the contenders vying for the next round. Buescher led for a race-high 169 laps, including leading for the last 61 laps, where Chase Elliot hounded him for 50 of them. There were some big names eliminated from the championships, With the Richard Childress Racing pair of Tyler Reddick and Austin Dillion missing the cut, finishing in 25th and 31st respectively. Most notably, two other NASCAR superstars in Kyle Busch and Kevin Harvick were also eliminated for the resetting of the standings board, with Busch coming in at P34, whilst Harvick managed P10 – he could only just manage to finish in 16th place in the playoff equation. For Buescher, it was a mighty effort from his P20 grid start, and with Elliot in pursuit of him for the last 50 laps of the race, he managed to keep his nerve in a tense situation. “It‘s so special here,” said Buescher, “I love this race track and I love the fans. I love every time we come here. It‘s so special. It‘s pretty awesome.” Buescher started the last lap with two fresh tyres, whilst his chasers had full fresh sets. “I wasn‘t a bit worried about the tyres. It was up to me at that point. I made it work, and we had a really fast car. We knew we had a really fast race car in practice and didn‘t quite get the job done in qualifying 20th, but what a race car. “I don‘t know what all to say right now. I‘m out of breath. This

48 I www.autoaction.com.au

Image: Motorsport Images place will wear you flat-out, and I love that about it. It‘s just a special night.” At the finish line, the Chevrolet #9 driver, Chase Elliot, was just 0.458s behind the Buescher, with William Byron taking P3, as both drivers went through to the next playoff round. Christoper Bell came in at P4, which completes a third straight top-five finish for the round of 16 for the #20 Toyota Joe Gibbs Racing driver, who also makes the round of 12. Kyle Larson and Ross Chastain came in at P5 and P6, with all the five drivers behind Buescher all going through. For Elliot it was bittersweet, but he was happy to have done enough to get through. “I felt like we were gaining, but I wasn’t close enough to do anything with him,” Elliott said, who was pleased to qualify for the next round. “But I appreciate the effort. We had a long day yesterday. Was able to battle back from a bad qualifying effort (23rd) to get a top two, so proud of that. “Glad to be moving into the playoffs and looking forward to some more opportunities here these coming weeks.” Bell came in at P4, which completes a third straight top-five finish for the round of 16 for the #20 Toyota Joe Gibbs Racing

driver, who also makes the round of 12. With Harvick needing a victory to progress, he managed to run in the top five after the first stage, but his chances soon went down the drain on lap 438 when his crew disastrously failed to attach his left rear on the #4 Ford, which left him in P10 for the final, and 444th lap. “It was pretty tough. We pitted in front of the #17 (Buescher), so just kind of the way the year has gone. Just went from having a chance to lead the parade to being a part of the parade. Just difficult to pass.” The other eliminated superstar in #18, Busch – also from the Joe Gibbs Racing team – had accumulated 14 points over the first two stages, which had him above the elimination line, when his engine blew on lap 270. It was his second such failure in three playoff races, which summed up the year for the fancied driver. “It just goes with our year. I don‘t even know what to say. I‘m flabbergasted,” Busch said. “I just feel so bad for my guys. They don‘t deserve to be in this spot. They work too hard. We are too good of a group to be this low — down on the bottom, fighting for our lives just to make it through. Two engine failures in three weeks – that will do it to you.” The Round of 12 heads to the Texas Motor Speedway on September 25. TW Neal

INDYCARS

Power (#12) took a huge step toward the title by grabbing a record pole position and leading into Turn 1. While Palou (below, #10,) took out the race, Newgarden (#2) did enough to secure second in the series. Images: Motorsport Images

POWERHOUSE PODIUM SECURES TITLE FOR AUSSIE DESPITE LAST year’s champion Alex Palou taking out the win at Laguna Seca, Australian Penske driver, Will Power, has taken home his second IndyCar title with a podium third enough to clinch the Astor Cup over Josef Newgarden. Power claimed the title by 16 points over Newgarden, who came from P25 to finish second on the day, ending the season on 560 points, with Chip Ganassi’s six-time champion, Scott Dixon, 39 points behind for third. Chip Ganassi’s Palou dominated the race to win by over 30 seconds, but the day belonged to the Toowoomba born #12 Penske ace as he claimed his second title after 2014’s victory. “Oh man…it sounds surreal honestly,” Power said over the radio as he crossed the line in P3, 3.4716s behind his teammate. “I can’t thank you guys enough, absolutely a team effort, you guys were flawless all year. I owe it to you to have driven my heart out today, thank you and congratulations. “Man, I had to drive that thing today, it was on the edge, very loose. What a relief to get that done,” said an overjoyed Power with his son in his arms. It was the 17th title for Team Penske in a dominant year for the North Carolina team, seeing them lead for 59% of total laps over the entire season. Power started on pole for the Monterey finale after also claiming the all-time pole record over Indy legend Mario Andretti. The #12 Penske Verizon ace pumped out a lap of 1:11.612 to claim his 68th career pole, with Callum Ilott (+0.0193) grabbing P2 over Alexander Rossi. In a true showing of sportsmanship, Andretti approached Power on track after the feat to congratulate him on breaking his record. Power reacted by humbly telling Andretti that: “You did it in the days when it was way riskier, so yours count for more.” “I know how much I loved qualifying, and I

AutoActionMagazine

Auto_Action

can see that he’s the same,” Andretti said in a later interview. “It’s just trying to do the lap that you know you cannot repeat, and that’s what puts you on pole. After retiring in 1994 as one of the most decorated race car drivers of all time, asked if he thought his record would ever be eclipsed, he replied, “Absolutely, I mean…it was coming, and that’s beautiful. It’s great for the series, and it’s great for the sport. “Records are made to be broken, and it’s with a good man.” Palou led for 67 of the 95-lap race around Laguna Seca to finish the championship in fifth place over Kiwi Scott McLaughlin on even points. Power led into the first corner in front of Rossi and Ilott, with Newgarden back in P20 after the first lap. By the time Palou had moved up on McLaughlin for P5, Power had a 3.5s advantage at the head of the field before pitting on lap 15 having run his Red alternative tyres into the ground. The switch for the harder Blacks took Power back into fifth, re-entering ahead of teammate Newgarden who was playing the team game early, and by lap 25 the entire field had pitted, which put power 3.494s up on Palou who had switched for the softer Reds. Palou eventually hauled in Power by lap 27, which managed to turn into a whopping seven second advantage by lap 31. After Iliot suffered a mechanical failure on lap 38, the field was brought back together from a caution, which blew Palou’s 10 second lead, playing into Newgarden’s hands. At the re-start, Palou got away well in front of Power and Rosenqvist, as Newgarden started to climb up the field into P4, blowing past Pato O’Ward and McLaughlin. On lap 46 Newgarden took P2 from Power in the corkscrew, with Palou seven seconds up in the lead, with the move bringing

instagram.com/autoactionmag/

Auto Action

pressure on Power with O’Ward pressing up behind him, before Grosjean took fourth, slowing O’Ward down. With Newgarden pitting on lap 60, Power was back up into P2 and looked like having a podium place in the bag should he avoid any incident. Newgarden meanwhile came out in P6, 10 seconds off Power, but chopped his way back through the field, again passing Grosjean into P3 on lap 67. Power took his final pit on lap 68, coming out in P4 ahead of McLaughlin, with Palou pitting on lap 69, re-entering the field between Newgarden and Power, with the former looking like taking a remarkable podium after starting in P25. Newgarden took his final stop on lap 73 with a 25s buffer to Power in third, coming out 1.3s

ahead of his Penske teammate. Power was only slightly threatened on the run home, with Grosjean getting within a second before the Aussie put his head down and pushed it back out to two seconds by lap 87. With last year’s champion taking out his first win of the season to finish fifth in the standings, the day would belong to one of Australia’s great racing exports. Timothy W Neal 2022 INDYCAR CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS Power 560 (1) -Victories* Newgarden 544 (5) Dixon 521 (2) McLaughlin 510 (3) Palou 510 (1) Ericsson 506 (1) -Indy500* O’Ward 480 (2)