Dyson awarded 500 win after Carroll-Walden disqualified!
The most anticipated moment in Australia and New Zealand virtual stock car racing arrived today, with the green flag in the 5th Annual ANZCAR Daytona 500.
The Momentum cars of Ruben Phelps and Brad Allison led from the front row until lap 11 when Peter Morris turned Peter Wilkinson collecting Steve Hoppitt in the process. A glut of early cautions broke up the running, with Natari Autosport and Synergy Simracing coming to the fore for a long green flag run.
Green flag pitstops came next and it was Daniel Hetterscheid who assumed the lead, running until lap 128 when Knight spun Jaeger out. The restart saw Pearson thread the needle to assume the lead in a bold move, with Knight taking a brief turn in the lead after another caution from a large check up slowed the running.
Lap 141 would see the famed “big one” with Pearson getting into Hetterscheid, causing a chain reaction that took Russell, Martin, Williams, Scurlock, Michelmore, Raymond, Jordan and others out of contention.
Another quick caution followed by another long green flag run with Carroll-Walden assuming the lead. Sheedy broke the pack up by sidedrafting Trahair, which allowed the leading train of Carroll-Walden, Hobson, Dyson, Pearson and Foster to break away. Green flag stops followed, dropping Hobson and Pearson out of the lead pack with a fuelling error and a spin respectively.
This left Carroll-Walden, Foster and Dyson as the lead trio with no other challengers. Then, as the leaders lapped a small group of cars, Scurlock was caught napping as the leaders approached. Carroll-Walden struck the back of the Camry, and Foster was spat toward the pit wall, ending his race with ten laps to go.
Then the real drama unfolded with a straight fight between Carroll-Walden and Dyson for the win. With both cars carrying damage, several lapped cars got up behind the leading duo. As the leaders rounded a lapped car Dyson made his move, going left and then right and Carroll-Walden blocked. Dyson eventually committed to a run around the outside, Carroll-Walden threw a late block and put Dyson into the fence. He was tagged by Schroder and spun, recovering to second on the road ahead of team-mate Pearson.
Post race as the victory lane celebrations were unfolding, ANZCAR officials were meeting. The decision was taken that while extra leeway is given on the final lap of the race, Carroll-Walden's defence had crossed the bounds of acceptable. He was disqualified from the race, with Dyson being awarded the win.
It was also revealed after the race that Griffiths had suffered a broken finger in a wreck, we all wish him a speedy recovery.
Stewards Report
Incidents
Lap 11 - Peter Morris
Lap 38 - Wade Sheedy
Lap 68 - Lachlan Urquijo
Lap 80 - Lachlan Urquijo
Lap 128 - Matt Knight
Lap 141 - Neil Pearson
Lap 145 - Garry Wellman
Lap 188 - Michael Scurlock (protest)
Restart Infringements -5 points
Lap 41 - Peter Wilkinson - Lane change
Lap 41 - Jamie Nankervis - Lane change
Lap 73 - Nathan Button - Lane change
Lap 84 - Jaie Schultz - Lane change
Lap 84 - Ruben Phelps - Lane change
Lap 84 - Garry Wellman - Lane change
Lap 200 - Joshua Carroll-Walden - deliberate wrecking - DQ, 1 race ban and 6 month probation
No further action
Lap 132 - Lane change - Ruben Phelps, damaged and off pace car in front
Lap 137 - Large check up, no one at fault
Lap 145 - Lane change - Garry Wellman, damaged and off pace car in front
Lap 149 - Mix up at the back for restart
The most anticipated moment in Australia and New Zealand virtual stock car racing arrived today, with the green flag in the 5th Annual ANZCAR Daytona 500.
The Momentum cars of Ruben Phelps and Brad Allison led from the front row until lap 11 when Peter Morris turned Peter Wilkinson collecting Steve Hoppitt in the process. A glut of early cautions broke up the running, with Natari Autosport and Synergy Simracing coming to the fore for a long green flag run.
Green flag pitstops came next and it was Daniel Hetterscheid who assumed the lead, running until lap 128 when Knight spun Jaeger out. The restart saw Pearson thread the needle to assume the lead in a bold move, with Knight taking a brief turn in the lead after another caution from a large check up slowed the running.
Lap 141 would see the famed “big one” with Pearson getting into Hetterscheid, causing a chain reaction that took Russell, Martin, Williams, Scurlock, Michelmore, Raymond, Jordan and others out of contention.
Another quick caution followed by another long green flag run with Carroll-Walden assuming the lead. Sheedy broke the pack up by sidedrafting Trahair, which allowed the leading train of Carroll-Walden, Hobson, Dyson, Pearson and Foster to break away. Green flag stops followed, dropping Hobson and Pearson out of the lead pack with a fuelling error and a spin respectively.
This left Carroll-Walden, Foster and Dyson as the lead trio with no other challengers. Then, as the leaders lapped a small group of cars, Scurlock was caught napping as the leaders approached. Carroll-Walden struck the back of the Camry, and Foster was spat toward the pit wall, ending his race with ten laps to go.
Then the real drama unfolded with a straight fight between Carroll-Walden and Dyson for the win. With both cars carrying damage, several lapped cars got up behind the leading duo. As the leaders rounded a lapped car Dyson made his move, going left and then right and Carroll-Walden blocked. Dyson eventually committed to a run around the outside, Carroll-Walden threw a late block and put Dyson into the fence. He was tagged by Schroder and spun, recovering to second on the road ahead of team-mate Pearson.
Post race as the victory lane celebrations were unfolding, ANZCAR officials were meeting. The decision was taken that while extra leeway is given on the final lap of the race, Carroll-Walden's defence had crossed the bounds of acceptable. He was disqualified from the race, with Dyson being awarded the win.
It was also revealed after the race that Griffiths had suffered a broken finger in a wreck, we all wish him a speedy recovery.
Stewards Report
Incidents
Lap 11 - Peter Morris
Lap 38 - Wade Sheedy
Lap 68 - Lachlan Urquijo
Lap 80 - Lachlan Urquijo
Lap 128 - Matt Knight
Lap 141 - Neil Pearson
Lap 145 - Garry Wellman
Lap 188 - Michael Scurlock (protest)
Restart Infringements -5 points
Lap 41 - Peter Wilkinson - Lane change
Lap 41 - Jamie Nankervis - Lane change
Lap 73 - Nathan Button - Lane change
Lap 84 - Jaie Schultz - Lane change
Lap 84 - Ruben Phelps - Lane change
Lap 84 - Garry Wellman - Lane change
Lap 200 - Joshua Carroll-Walden - deliberate wrecking - DQ, 1 race ban and 6 month probation
No further action
Lap 132 - Lane change - Ruben Phelps, damaged and off pace car in front
Lap 137 - Large check up, no one at fault
Lap 145 - Lane change - Garry Wellman, damaged and off pace car in front
Lap 149 - Mix up at the back for restart
