Shane van Gisbergen wins first Supercars race of 2017
Shane van Gisbergen claimed the first pole position and victory of the 2017 Supercars season in the Clipsal 500 season opener at Adelaide.
The Triple Eight Race Engineering driver lost the lead to DJR Team Penske driver Fabian Coulthard on the opening lap, but was able to get back in front during the first pit stop and won by 15 seconds.
Coulthard was able to secure second, but came under pressure from Walkinshaw Racing’s James Courtney with less than one second separating them both at the end.
Cameron Waters finished just off the podium in fourth position for Prodrive Racing Australia, with Nissan driver Rick Kelly rounding out the top five.
Jamie Whincup came home in sixth position and the factory Holden driver was involved in an incident with former factory Ford driver Mark Winterbottom. The two came together at Turn 5 on lap 45, with Winterbottom spinning and dropping to 15th position after Whincup had launched a late dive, with the incident being investigated after the race.
Scott McLaughlin, who has joined DJR Team Penske for this season, was involved in the top fight in the beginning of the race, only to drop down the order after being awarded a drive through penalty for warming his tyres during a safety car restart, going on to finish 17th.
