Resurgent Winterbottom wins race two

Mark Winterbottom closed in on V8 Supercars championship leader Craig Lowndes as he made up for Ford Performance Racing's poor Friday by winning race two at Pukekohe.

Winterbottom grabbed the lead from polesitter James Courtney at the first corner and then controlled the race to the flag, including a safety car restart after a caution was required to move Robert Dahlgren's failed Volvo.

Courtney was unable to come back at Winterbottom but had no trouble retaining second for Holden Racing Team.

FPR's cars had only been 13th and 21st in a messy race one, but the team began Saturday with a double podium, as Chaz Mostert capitalised on champion Jamie Whincup running wide out of the final corner to snatch third on lap three.

Whincup then stayed ahead of a battling Shane van Gisbergen and Scott McLaughlin to finish fourth.

It was a disastrous race for points leader Lowndes in the second Triple Eight Holden. He qualified only 15th, lost ground with a mistake at the final turn on the opening lap, and came home 16th.

Friday race winner Jason Bright had incidents with van Gisbergen and Tim Slade, eventually earning a drive-through penalty for a clash with the latter. Bright pitted for fresh tyres under the safety car then recovered from last to 12th.

Originally on Autosport.com