WHEN Jamie Whincup snared the second Bathurst 1000 pole of his career on Saturday afternoon, he spoke about breaking the curse of going from number one of the grid.
Unfortunately for the Red Bull Racing star, he was unable to convert pole position into what would have been his fifth Great Race win on Sunday.
In 2013 Whincup placed second after going from pole in the 161-lap epic. This time he ended up 11th after a controversial 15 seconds penalty in the closing stages at Mount Panorama.
Whincup was in contention to win with 11 laps to go, but when attempting to pull off a passing move on Scott McLaughlin at The Chase, shunted him off the track.
He attempted to redress, but in pulling up, Garth Tander moved up on his rear bumper. McLaughlin then made contact with the Holden Racing Team driver when he came back on the track, the incident ending the chances of both men.
“I don’t know what to say,” Whincup said.
“I felt the move was on. I was in there, he squeezed me narrow and we had contact.”
Before that, it had looked like Whincup’s day.
Whincup made a brilliant start from pole and co-driver Paul Dumbrell was faultless as he built a commanding advantage. Whincup’s push after taking over for the final time included a race lap record of 2:06.4325.
