He has put the last round safety-car controversy behind him but Supercars star Jamie Whincup fears another could rear its head at the Bathurst 1000 on Sunday.
Seven-time series champion Whincup avoided a ban for an extraordinary outburst aimed at officials after he became embroiled in safety-car chaos at last month's Auckland SuperSprint round.
The four-time Bathurst champion passed the safety car without permission after being incorrectly identified as the race leader, receiving a drive-through penalty before finishing a distant 16th.
Governing body Confederation of Australian Motor Sport (CAMS) threatened to throw the book at Whincup after the furious Holden star claimed the officials' brains were "not with it" and they were "cruising back, having a few glasses of red each night" in a post-race TV interview.
A remorseful Whincup apologised and escaped sanction, ensuring he will team up with Supercars great Craig Lowndes for another crack at Mount Panorama.
While he has been forgiven, Whincup can't forget the incident and claimed the same safety-car fiasco could occur at Mount Panorama.
"I have definitely put that behind me. Unfortunately that lingered on for a few days after New Zealand but we sorted all that out," Whincup told AAP.
"But I think what happened in New Zealand can happen anywhere, unless we change the system.
"CAMS are well and truly looking at where we can make gains there so I am sure they will come up with something.
"I am yet to follow up with CAMS to see where we have got with improving the system.
"But the good thing about that is that we have recognised that we can be better and are working towards doing that."
Remarkably Whincup had previously illegally overtaken a safety car at Bathurst in 2015, copping a drive-through penalty that killed off his winning chances and relegated him to 18th.
That was one of a string of incidents that have ensured Whincup has only experienced heartache at Bathurst since he last savoured victory back in 2012.
He ran out of fuel while leading in 2014, copped a race penalty for his role in a spectacular crash that denied him victory in 2016, suffered engine trouble in 2017 and last year lost a wheel.
Asked if he felt he was due a Bathurst win, Whincup said: "I don't know about that.
"I have had four wins and I am not a greedy person.
"I have had some great ones go my way but then of course I have had a few that haven't.
"I will just go out there and do the best that I can."
Australian Associated Press
