Phillip Island

[Johnny G]

The Investigating and Prosecuting Officer Peter Wollerman viewed further footage of the incident and arrived at a final decision. Triple Eight Racing disagreed with that decision and decided to take the matter to a stewards hearing.

That hearing will take place at midday tomorrow at a venue to be determined.

“The penalty was based on a determination by the stewards that there was a breach of the rules in terms of careless driving by Rick Kelly. After some further consideration the matter was further considered by the IPO of the race,” Chief steward Steve Chopping said.

“He considered a great deal of data, in car footage and other things concerning the in-car activities of car 15 and car 888 and whilst the IPO investigated those things Triple Eight lodged a protest against the penalty imposed in the race.

“Now that the IPO has determined that the matter doesn’t warrant being referred to the stewards for further penalty the stewards will now refer to the hearing of the Triple Eight protest.”

Kelly (HSV Toll Holden), who became the second youngest to win the Championship, said he would have rather won without the incident and fully expected an investigation.

“It’s not the ideal way to win the Championship,” Kelly said. “With the amount riding on it I fully expect that any small incident that has an effect on the Championship that they would look into it.”

Ford Motorsport Manager Ray Price agreed that the incident deserved further investigation.

“We felt we were hard done by,” Mr Price said. “We believe that there is probably a difference between a racing incident that may cost a race win or a meeting win is different to one that costs a Championship.”

The clash overshadowed an otherwise climatic finish to the Caterpillar Grand Finale with Lowndes and Kelly starting the final race equal on points and side-by-side on the second row of the grid.

Lowndes got the better of the start as Todd Kelly jumped to the lead with Rick Kelly forcing his way past Winterbottom to third place.

Kelly challenged Lowndes in to corner three, tapped him which caused the spin and the Ford driver was then hit by the following cars.

[hard-on]

Lowndes hits out at tactics

By Robert Grant

10dec06

FORD star Craig Lowndes today intimated he lost the V8 Supercars Championship to Holden's Rick Kelly because of dirty driving.

Lowndes and Kelly were involved in a collision shortly into the final race which effectively ended Lowndes' hopes and handed Kelly the crown.

His Triple Eight Race team have protested the decision and a Confederation of Australian Motor Sport (CAMS) hearing will be held in Melbourne on Monday to discuss the matter.

Kelly denied he had crashed into the back of the Falcon, saying it had moved in front of him. But Lowndes disagreed.

"It was a simple nose to tail hit - we've got his paint on the back bumper,'' he said.

"We had the pace on them, we were confident and our car was good. They couldn't race us.

"The only way they could beat us was if we had an issue - and we had an issue.''

Ford feels it did not lose the V8 Supercars Championship, rather that it was "taken away'' from them.

Ford racing manager Ray Price was critical after stewards elected to take no further action over an on-track incident.

"It's a disappointing way to finish what has been one of the best years on the track for Ford,'' Price said.

"We can't be disappointed that we lost the championship but we can feel disappointed that it was taken away.

"In terms of fair play over the three races this weekend I'm not convinced that we saw that.

"The fact that we had bad sportsmanship flags for (Holden's) Garth Tander and Mark Skaife for blocking, as well as a black flag for Tander for the same offence is a clear indication of this.''

[Guest]

Rick Kelly can suck my left nut and so can all the V8 supercar officials. They're all just pissed because ford are stiil moving forward whereas Expensive Daewoo are being held back by there billion dollar sh*tbox. Sucks to be a Expensive Daewoo fan

[ZAP]

Found this by our mate Aeron

[phantomchic]

The little *bleep* was aptly name by rusty some years ago

I admire Lowndes or "LNOWDES" for not decking the spoilt brat.

I reckon if I was Tod and my brother did that to me and risked my position in such an unruly manner I would have to beat the crap out of him

[bloan]

Fully expecting that no amount of protesting will make any difference!

Therefore if the Ford racing community had any balls they would not go to the V8 gala presentation Monday night.

I for one couldn't stand being in the same room as those bunch of pRicks (ie Skaife, Tander, T. Kelly & last but not least *beep*)!!!!!!!!!!

[ducatijb]

I have always known V8 shopping carts is a joke of a category and this is just another example to add to my long list. I only watch it because I love motor sports so much I watch anything, but its is not even close to being the best tin top category in the world; not even close.

Shame on them!

←

Utter disgrace....the team racing over the weekend was enough for me...felt sorry for Lowndes especially the way he had so much help from the other Ford teams

[GOLDIE]

I am shatterd that a hole deserves to have his little face rearranged.

I was a balant hit and all he got was a drive though penalty.

Craig had to drive the rest of the race with he's front wheels facing in the oppiosite directions.

Craig is the real winner trophy or not.

Ian

v8 super cars suck.

Ian

[JBomb3000]

If they had have been wheel to wheel the whole way and Kelly won well fair enough, but to win like that is a crock of

[JBomb3000]

Just heard on the news then that there has been an official complaint laid against Kelly There is to be a hearing today to decide if any further action will be taken. It's not over yet.