V8 Supercar: Whincup wins crazy Townsville opener

Jamie Whincup survived a crazy race to take his sixth V8 Supercars win of the season at Townsville, despite starting back in 10th.

It was an important win for the Triple Eight driver as his championship rivals struggled, with points leader Mark Winterbottom only managing 11th.

The race got off to a chaotic start as the front-row starting Holdens went side by side into the first corner, with poleman James Courtney holding the advantage after the fast-starting Craig Lowndes nudged Courtney's teammate Garth Tander.

But at the next corner Courtney was shoved wide himself and glanced the wall, allowing Scott McLaughlin's Volvo to take the lead. Lowndes was then involved in more contact as he spun Courtney and he himself was then pitched into the wall by Will Davison.

McLaughlin then built up a significant lead as Jason Bright, Tander and Shane van Gisbergen battled for second behind. Tander did briefly take the place but was almost instantly punted back out the way by Bright and dropped down the order.

Lowndes' Triple Eight team worked hard to get him back out but shortly after he was in the barriers again and this time he brought out the safety car, ending Lowndes' remarkable 81-race finishing streak.

Ahead, a slow stop for McLaughlin dropped him to second as Whincup claimed the lead. Another caution period, triggered when Jack Perkins was tagged into the wall by Todd Kelly, gave the Volvo driver a chance to attack again on the restart but instead he lost second to a recovering Tander.

McLaughlin was then shuffled even further when pushed wide by Davison – who took his first podium of the year – with Nick Percat fourth and van Gisbergen fifth as McLaughlin eventually wound up sixth.

Originally on Autosport.com