Whincup's thoughts... a lot of people don't understand oval racing and don't appreciate how difficult NASCAR racing is.
We?re off to Tassie this weekend with a lot of team confidence.
We've won at Symmons Plains the last two years and had an awesome team result last year so we're high on confidence. However, what we can't forget is that while we've had good pace this year, we haven't been the fastest in qualifying the past two years. We've been very fortunate in those years that our main rivals haven't had their best weekend so we will still battle if the opposition is on their game this weekend.
Tassie is one of those unique tracks with long straights and only four corners. It's almost like an oval circuit. A lot of people don't understand oval racing and don't appreciate how difficult NASCAR racing is. It looks from the outside like it's easy and boring, but the thing is that for the driver and teams the fewer corners there, are the more technical each corner becomes. So at Symmons Plains you only have four corners to make up time on your opposition. That means qualifying times will be very, very close.
I know V8 Supercars driving standards observer Tomas Mezera has predicted that the racing will be cleaner than at Winton despite the soft tyre rule being employed again, but I disagree. On this circuit it's easy to hold the opposition out because there are so few corners and that will mean the guys on soft tyres will take chances and make suicide missions up the inside. I think the soft tyre rule will make the racing more exciting, but it will also create more carnage.
I'll be going flat out to win but I'll also be careful to keep the car straight. Don't ask me what we're doing about this flexible splitter mount. I heard Jim Beam Racing and Team IntaRacing are planning to use it and Wilson Security Racing is waiting to see what we do, but I still don't know what we are doing. All I can say is that we won with it and we won without it. We've proved our point. I don't think it's an issue, it's an old story and I'd prefer not to make any more comment about it.
What I would like to comment on is the Gold Coast SuperGP, formerly known as Indy. This week we passed the milestone of 150 days to go and I'm already excited. For me last year's race was one of the highlights of my career as it's my home race and that makes it extra special. This year the V8s get priority in pit lane which means we get the old Indy Car pits, but I am glad the A1GP is on board as the main support category.
Aussies are very patriotic and a lot of people will come out and support the Team Australia car plus we'll get our usual huge V8 crowd. I have no doubt the Gold Coast event will be big if not bigger than last year.
As for doubts raised about racing at Perth next year, I believe it's important that we go there to complete the national championship. The track offers good racing and as far as the drivers are concerned we don't mind it. However, the circuit doesn't offer enough corporate facilities which are important for our sport. I do hope they upgrade that so we can return next year and ensure this is a truly national championship.
