Lowndes too good for V8 rivals
THEY may well rename Queensland Raceway in honour of Craig Lowndes after his fifth successive race win at the Ipswich 300.
Lowndes was untouchable all weekend in his Commodore, clean-sweeping the event at Queensland Raceway for the second straight year.
This time he beat Mark Winterbottom and team-mate Jamie Whincup in what appeared an effortless weekend, keeping Lowndes in the V8 Supercar championship hunt.
He came from the second row of the grid yesterday and claimed the early lead, despite a quick start from Winterbottom. "I think we pegged back about 45 or so points from Jamie but we still have a 200 or so point deficit," Lowndes said.
"All drivers and all teams analyse where they are in the championship after Bathurst and Gold Coast. In those three endurance races, you can lose 300 points very quickly.
"As long as we stay in the 300-point margin, I am going to fight it out."
It was plain sailing after Lowndes (pictured) passed Winterbottom in a race with no great incidents or safety cars to spice it up.
Once Lowndes and Whincup put on brand new tyres, it was game over, aside from Winterbottom.
"It's been a wonderful weekend," Lowndes said. "We knew we were coming here with confidence but you never know."
There was little Winterbottom or his team could do without the help of safety cars or mistakes.
