Jim Beam Racing News
Davison clinches bittersweet podium for Jim Beam Racing at Winton
03 August 2008
In circumstances never seen before, Jim Beam Racing's Will Davison finished round eight of the V8 Supercar Championship at Winton Raceway tied on 272 points with Garth Tander and Jamie Whincup, with the young gun forced to settle for third place on the podium after yet another brilliant weekend of consistent performances that also netted him his second race win of the year.
Under Championship rules, drivers tied on points at the completion of the round are awarded podium places based on race results from the final heat, resulting in Davison being awarded third place for the weekend after his race two victory earlier in the day.
Davison jumped Jamie Whincup off the line to start race two and held on for his second race win of the year after his heat and round victory at Round two's Eastern Creek; a feat he looked to be on track to replicate today after an impressive race two victory.
"It was just brilliant to get that race win, I had a huge vibration on the tailshaft from about lap 20 onwards so it was relieving to get it to the line and get the win," said Davison.
Davison started from pole in the final heat, and after a solid start was eventually shuffled back to fourth position having used up the best of his tyres in his race two win.
"I found myself trying to do the maths in my head during that final race to see just what the points were going to end up like, and as it turned out there were three of us on the same tally.
"It's a bit of an empty feeling because my results this weekend would generally get you a round win most of the time, but having said that it's just awesome to be back on the podium and we are really starting to put some very solid results together," said Davison.
Team mate Steve Johnson toiled valiantly all weekend after a disappointing qualifying result left him having to fight from 23rd position; Johnson enjoyed an impressive opening to heat two, jumping from 18th to 10th place after just one lap.
Johnson placed 11th and 13th for the day's two heats, giving him 14th position for the round and for the Championship overall heading into the six week break in the V8 calendar due to the Olympics.
"Obviously we would have liked to push into the top ten, but we did make some ground today compared to where we were at yesterday," explained Johnson.
"I look forward to getting stuck into preparation for the enduros at Phillip Island and Bathurst, we showed good form at last year's enduros and it would be awesome to back up last year's Bathurst podium."
Today's extraordinary scenes see Davison leap to fifth position on the Championship table having entered the round in eighth as he gathers momentum leading into the season's endurance races.
Jim Beam Racing now sits in fourth place on the teams points leader board with 2458 points.
Round Eight Winton top five
Garth Tander 272 points
Jamie Whincup 272
Will Davison 272
Rick Kelly 194
Craig Lowndes 190
14. Steve Johnson 128
V8 Supercar Championship Points
Garth Tander 1844
Mark Winterbottom 1832
Jamie Whincup 1758
Rick Kelly 1506
Will Davison 1426
14. Steve Johnson 1032
For more information, images and/or media interviews please contact:
Garry Nash
Media Communications, Jim Beam Racing
t: +613 9596 9011
f: +613 9596 9326
m: 0412 814 183
e: garry@mediacomservices.com.au
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