J-Dub prevails in nail biter
A swag of surfboards trophies were handed out as the event that was the 2010 Armor All Gold Coast 600 was declared a success. Mother Nature kept the rain in check and instead streamed sun over the 170,000-odd well behaved crowd that turned out for the three day event around the streets of Surfers Paradise. There were still remnants of the old Indy event including the crash and bash fest thanks to the V8 Supercars along with parties on the hotel balconies and girls in bikinis.
Some of the 19 international co-drivers drafted in for this year’s event who had never experienced the street races before were overawed at the reception they received and the event itself, with many pledging to return next year if possible. The fans themselves were a little uncertain before the festivities started thanks to the debacle that was last year’s event when the A1GP category was a no-show but any sign of that evaporated on Friday with a bumper crowd. Add in the fantastic concert on Friday night with Ian Carey as the headline act and it was quickly apparent the fans were getting much more bang for their buck than normal.
Pic: GT’s damaged Holden ruined his chances for a Sunday podium finish
Credit: Justin Deeley
The ante was upped again on Saturday when the Garth Tander/Cam McConville combination took out the action packed race in controversial circumstances and the Beach Boys headlined that night’s concert. GT made history when he was the first driver ever in V8 Supercars history to have a mechanical black flag rescinded when it was decided it was water and not fuel spraying from his Commodore.
If the first 300-kay race wasn’t good enough, Jamie Whincup and Shane van Gisbergen dueled it out right to the end on Sunday but it was the Championship leader who reigned supreme. It was one of the most thrilling finishes in recent memory and is sure to cement the Giz as a real threat to come against the more experienced old guard.
Any Gold Coast local, or V8 Supercar fan for that matter, who missed out on this year’s event should seriously consider attending the 2010 one. But in the meantime the 2010 V8 Supercar Championship heads to Symmons Plains for the Falken Tasmania Challenge, which takes place from November 12-14.
