2008 Midas 400
# 2008 Midas 400

The 2008 Midas 400 was the fifth round of the 2008 V8 Supercar season. It was held on the weekend of 7 to 9 June Sandown Raceway in Melbourne, Victoria. With most states of Australia celebrating a public holiday on the Monday celebrating the Queen's birthday, the meeting took the unusual format of Saturday-Monday instead of Friday-Sunday.

## Practice

Qualifying was held on Saturday 7 June. Following on from the Eastern Creek round of the series, a 'rookie' practice session was held, allowing younger and newer drivers to gain additional testing laps. Teams were also allowed to use the session to test their co-drivers who will step into the teams for the Phillip Island 500 and Bathurst 1000 races later in the season which require two drivers per car. Of the enduro co-drivers, Steve Owen was fastest driving for Jim Beam Racing. Paul Radisich (HSV Dealer Team) was second fastest ahead of Jason Bargwanna (Rod Nash Racing). Other co-drivers to take part, in order were John McIntyre (Glenfords Racing), Warren Luff (Jim Beam Racing), Dean Canto (Ford Performance Racing), Craig Baird and Glenn Seton (both Holden Racing Team), David Besnard (Stone Brothers Racing), Greg Ritter (Garry Rogers Motorsport), Dale Wood (Tasman Motorsport), Paul Weel (Paul Weel Racing), Nathan Pretty (Jack Daniel's Racing), Brad Jones (Brad Jones Racing), Jack Perkins (Jack Daniel's Racing), Luke Youlden (Ford Performance Racing) and Grant Denyer (Ford Rising Stars Racing).

Fastest driver of the day was Garth Tander, the only driver to lap faster than Owen. James Courtney, Mark Winterbottom and Jamie Whincup were the only drivers within a tenth of Owen's best lap.

## Qualifying

Qualifying was held on Sunday 8 June. Jamie Whincup slammed home pole position in the final moments of qualifying, some four-tenths clear of the field. Mark Winterbottom was second fastest, leading Will Davison and leading Holden, Rick Kelly by only a few hundredths of a second. Fabian Coulthard had a best ever qualifying result to be fifth fastest with Russell Ingall also well up in sixth, 19 grid spots ahead of his teammate. Handling issues slowed the Holden Racing Team, both Garth Tander and Mark Skaife missing the cut for the top ten.

## Race 1

Race 1 was held on Sunday 8 June. Steven Richards and Todd Kelly tangled on the opening lap, Greg Murphy spun on the second lap, all three dropping to the tail of the field. Andrew Thompson spun Marcus Marshall around at the top of the straight. Will Davison retired from the race in the early running with an engine problem, spoiling the good work from qualifying. Craig Lowndes damaged his car trying to get past Davison. Rick Kelly had lurid 160 km/h spin in the Esses without hitting the walls or the cars in close company, only losing three spots.

As the race settled Whincup pulled further and further away, only Winterbottom was able to hang on to finish second. Craig Lowndes fought his way into third position. Russell Ingall took his best finish of the season to finish top Holden in fourth ahead of Garth Tander, recovering from a poor grid position. Coulthard finished eighth, capitalising on his qualifying performance. Shane van Gisbergen finished an excellent ninth.

## Race 2

Race 2 was held on Monday 9 June.

## Race 3

Race 3 was held on Monday 9 June.

## Results

Results as follows:

### Qualifying

| Pos | No | Name | Car | Team | Part 3 | Part 2 | Part 1 |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | 88 | Jamie Whincup | Ford BF Falcon | Triple Eight Race Engineering | 1:09.6987 | | |
| 2 | 5 | Mark Winterbottom | Ford BF Falcon | Ford Performance Racing | 1:10.0184 | | |
| 3 | 18 | Will Davison | Ford BF Falcon | Dick Johnson Racing | 1:10.0328 | | |
| 4 | 15 | Rick Kelly | Holden VE Commodore | HSV Dealer Team | 1:10.0588 | | |
| 5 | 111 | Fabian Coulthard | Ford BF Falcon | Paul Cruickshank Racing | 1:10.0800 | | |
| 6 | 39 | Russell Ingall | Holden VE Commodore | Paul Morris Motorsport | 1:10.1399 | | |
| 7 | 6 | Steven Richards | Ford BF Falcon | Ford Performance Racing | 1:10.1750 | | |
| 8 | 7 | Todd Kelly | Holden VE Commodore | Perkins Engineering | 1:10.1754 | | |
| 9 | 888 | Craig Lowndes | Ford BF Falcon | Triple Eight Race Engineering | 1:10.2646 | | |
| 10 | 3 | Jason Richards | Holden VE Commodore | Tasman Motorsport | 1:10.5183 | | |
| 11 | 4 | James Courtney | Ford BF Falcon | Stone Brothers Racing | | 1:10.3794 | |
| 12 | 1 | Garth Tander | Holden VE Commodore | Holden Racing Team | | 1:10.4050 | |
| 13 | 2 | Mark Skaife | Holden VE Commodore | Holden Racing Team | | 1:10.4187 | |
| 14 | 33 | Lee Holdsworth | Holden VE Commodore | Garry Rogers Motorsport | | 1:10.4387 | |
| 15 | 16 | Paul Dumbrell | Holden VE Commodore | HSV Dealer Team | | 1:10.4769 | |
| 16 | 17 | Steven Johnson | Ford BF Falcon | Dick Johnson Racing | | 1:10.6166 | |
| 17 | 9 | Shane van Gisbergen | Ford BF Falcon | Stone Brothers Racing | | 1:10.6738 | |
| 18 | 50 | Andrew Thompson | Holden VE Commodore | Paul Weel Racing | | 1:10.7576 | |
| 19 | 51 | Greg Murphy | Holden VE Commodore | Tasman Motorsport | | 1:10.8247 | |
| 20 | 55 | Tony D'Alberto | Holden VE Commodore | Rod Nash Racing | | 1:10.9508 | |
| 21 | 12 | Andrew Jones | Holden VE Commodore | Brad Jones Racing | | | 1:10.9803 |
| 22 | 11 | Shane Price | Holden VE Commodore | Perkins Engineering | | | 1:11.0068 |
| 23 | 34 | Michael Caruso | Holden VE Commodore | Garry Rogers Motorsport | | | 1:11.0287 |
| 24 | 14 | Cameron McConville | Holden VE Commodore | Brad Jones Racing | | | 1:11.0451 |
| 25 | 67 | Paul Morris | Holden VE Commodore | Paul Morris Motorsport | | | 1:11.0718 |
| 26 | 26 | Marcus Marshall | Ford BF Falcon | Britek Motorsport | | | 1:11.4351 |
| 27 | 021 | Kayne Scott | Ford BF Falcon | Team Kiwi Racing | | | 1:11.6500 |
| 28 | 25 | Jason Bright | Ford BF Falcon | Britek Motorsport | | | 1:11.6990 |
| 29 | 777 | Michael Patrizi | Ford BF Falcon | Ford Rising Stars Racing | | | 1:12.2580 |

### Race 1 results

| Pos | No | Name | Team | Laps | Time/Retired | Grid | Points |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | 88 | Jamie Whincup | Team Vodafone | 39 | 47:18.7876 | 1 | 100 |
| 2 | 5 | Mark Winterbottom | Ford Performance Racing | 39 | +3.2s | 2 | 92 |
| 3 | 888 | Craig Lowndes | Team Vodafone | 39 | +11.6s | 9 | 86 |
| 4 | 39 | Russell Ingall | Supercheap Auto Racing | 39 | +15.7s | 6 | 80 |
| 5 | 1 | Garth Tander | Holden Racing Team | 39 | +17.8s | 12 | 74 |
| 6 | 4 | James Courtney | Stone Brothers Racing | 39 | +18.2s | 11 | 68 |
| 7 | 15 | Rick Kelly | HSV Dealer Team | 39 | +24.1s | 4 | 64 |
| 8 | 111 | Fabian Coulthard | Glenfords Racing | 39 | +24.5s | 5 | 60 |
| 9 | 9 | Shane van Gisbergen | Stone Brothers Racing | 39 | +30.0s | 17 | 56 |
| 10 | 2 | Mark Skaife | Holden Racing Team | 39 | +31.0s | 13 | 52 |
| 11 | 33 | Lee Holdsworth | Garry Rogers Motorsport | 39 | +31.4s | 14 | 48 |
| 12 | 16 | Paul Dumbrell | HSV Dealer Team | 39 | +31.9s | 15 | 46 |
| 13 | 17 | Steven Johnson | Jim Beam Racing | 39 | +32.2s | 16 | 44 |
| 14 | 14 | Cameron McConville | Brad Jones Racing | 39 | +32.8s | 24 | 42 |
| 15 | 67 | Paul Morris | Team Sirromet Wines | 39 | +38.2s | 25 | 40 |
| 16 | 12 | Andrew Jones | Brad Jones Racing | 39 | +43.9s | 18 | 38 |
| 17 | 7 | Todd Kelly | Jack Daniel's Racing | 39 | +44.2s | 8 | 36 |
| 18 | 3 | Jason Richards | Tasman Motorsport | 39 | +45.1s | 10 | 34 |
| 19 | 11 | Shane Price | Jack Daniel's Racing | 39 | +48.8s | 22 | 32 |
| 20 | 34 | Michael Caruso | Garry Rogers Motorsport | 39 | +52.8s | 23 | 30 |
| 21 | 021 | Kayne Scott | Team Kiwi Racing | 39 | +63.8s | 27 | 28 |
| 22 | 51 | Greg Murphy | Tasman Motorsport | 39 | +64.7s | 19 | 26 |
| 23 | 6 | Steven Richards | Ford Performance Racing | 39 | +64.7s | 7 | 24 |
| 24 | 50 | Andrew Thompson | Paul Weel Racing | 39 | +96.9s | 18 | 22 |
| 25 | 55 | Tony D'Alberto | Rod Nash Racing | 30 | + 9 laps | 20 | 20 |
| DNF | 25 | Jason Bright | Britek Motorsport | 11 | | 28 | |
| DNF | 777 | Michael Patrizi | Ford Rising Stars Racing | 9 | | 29 | |
| DNF | 18 | Will Davison | Jim Beam Racing | 7 | Engine | 3 | |
| DNF | 26 | Marcus Marshall | Britek Motorsport | 6 | | 26 | |

### Race 2 results

| Pos | No | Name | Team | Laps | Time/Retired | Grid | Points |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | 888 | Craig Lowndes | Team Vodafone | 39 | 56:19.9593 | 3 | 100 |
| 2 | 9 | Shane van Gisbergen | Stone Brothers Racing | 39 | +2.4s | 9 | 92 |
| 3 | 88 | Jamie Whincup | Team Vodafone | 39 | +2.9s | 1 | 86 |
| 4 | 4 | James Courtney | Stone Brothers Racing | 39 | +4.7s | 6 | 80 |
| 5 | 17 | Steven Johnson | Jim Beam Racing | 39 | +4.8s | 13 | 74 |
| 6 | 5 | Mark Winterbottom | Ford Performance Racing | 39 | +6.1s | 2 | 68 |
| 7 | 39 | Russell Ingall | Supercheap Auto Racing | 39 | +8.5s | 4 | 64 |
| 8 | 7 | Todd Kelly | Jack Daniel's Racing | 39 | +9.3s | 17 | 60 |
| 9 | 1 | Garth Tander | Holden Racing Team | 39 | +10.0s | 5 | 56 |
| 10 | 14 | Cameron McConville | Brad Jones Racing | 39 | +13.6s | 14 | 52 |
| 11 | 18 | Will Davison | Jim Beam Racing | 39 | +14.6s | 28 | 48 |
| 12 | 15 | Rick Kelly | HSV Dealer Team | 39 | +16.0s | 7 | 46 |
| 13 | 16 | Paul Dumbrell | HSV Dealer Team | 39 | +19.8s | 12 | 44 |
| 14 | 111 | Fabian Coulthard | Glenfords Racing | 39 | +21.1s | 8 | 42 |
| 15 | 25 | Jason Bright | Britek Motorsport | 39 | +22.0s | 26 | 40 |
| 16 | 6 | Steven Richards | Ford Performance Racing | 39 | +23.1s | 23 | 38 |
| 17 | 12 | Andrew Jones | Brad Jones Racing | 39 | +23.9s | 16 | 36 |
| 18 | 2 | Mark Skaife | Holden Racing Team | 39 | +28.6s | 10 | 34 |
| 19 | 11 | Shane Price | Jack Daniel's Racing | 39 | +29.0s | 19 | 32 |
| 20 | 3 | Jason Richards | Tasman Motorsport | 39 | +59.3s | 18 | 30 |
| 21 | 67 | Paul Morris | Team Sirromet Wines | 39 | +79.7s | 16 | 28 |
| 22 | 33 | Lee Holdsworth | Garry Rogers Motorsport | 38 | + 1 lap | 11 | 26 |
| 23 | 34 | Michael Caruso | Garry Rogers Motorsport | 38 | + 1 lap | 20 | 24 |
| 24 | 26 | Marcus Marshall | Britek Motorsport | 38 | + 1 lap | 29 | 22 |
| 25 | 55 | Tony D'Alberto | Rod Nash Racing | 38 | + 1 lap | 25 | 20 |
| 26 | 51 | Greg Murphy | Tasman Motorsport | 38 | + 1 lap | 22 | 18 |
| 27 | 50 | Andrew Thompson | Paul Weel Racing | 38 | + 1 lap | 24 | 16 |
| 28 | 021 | Kayne Scott | Team Kiwi Racing | 37 | + 2 laps | 21 | 14 |
| DSQ | 777 | Michael Patrizi | Ford Rising Stars Racing | | | 27 |

### Race 3 results

| Pos | No | Name | Team | Laps | Time/Retired | Grid | Points |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | 88 | Jamie Whincup | Team Vodafone | 39 | 47:20.7150 | 3 | 100 |
| 2 | 5 | Mark Winterbottom | Ford Performance Racing | 39 | +2.1s | 6 | 92 |
| 3 | 4 | James Courtney | Stone Brothers Racing | 39 | +6.8s | 4 | 86 |
| 4 | 9 | Shane van Gisbergen | Stone Brothers Racing | 39 | +18.0s | 2 | 80 |
| 5 | 7 | Todd Kelly | Jack Daniel's Racing | 39 | +18.4s | 8 | 74 |
| 6 | 39 | Russell Ingall | Supercheap Auto Racing | 39 | +18.9s | 7 | 68 |
| 7 | 18 | Will Davison | Jim Beam Racing | 39 | +19.2s | 11 | 64 |
| 8 | 33 | Lee Holdsworth | Garry Rogers Motorsport | 39 | +20.5s | 22 | 60 |
| 9 | 6 | Steven Richards | Ford Performance Racing | 39 | +20.9s | 16 | 56 |
| 10 | 17 | Steven Johnson | Jim Beam Racing | 39 | +31.9s | 5 | 52 |
| 11 | 51 | Greg Murphy | Tasman Motorsport | 39 | +32.2s | 26 | 48 |
| 12 | 1 | Garth Tander | Holden Racing Team | 39 | +32.7s | 9 | 46 |
| 13 | 14 | Cameron McConville | Brad Jones Racing | 39 | +41.1s | 10 | 44 |
| 14 | 25 | Jason Bright | Britek Motorsport | 39 | +53.8s | 15 | 42 |
| 15 | 12 | Andrew Jones | Brad Jones Racing | 39 | +54.9s | 17 | 40 |
| 16 | 3 | Jason Richards | Tasman Motorsport | 39 | +55.5s | 20 | 38 |
| 17 | 15 | Rick Kelly | HSV Dealer Team | 39 | +55.7s | 12 | 36 |
| 18 | 11 | Shane Price | Jack Daniel's Racing | 39 | +56.3s | 19 | 34 |
| 19 | 34 | Michael Caruso | Garry Rogers Motorsport | 39 | +56.8s | 23 | 32 |
| 20 | 50 | Andrew Thompson | Paul Weel Racing | 39 | +67.5s | 27 | 30 |
| 21 | 26 | Marcus Marshall | Britek Motorsport | 39 | +73.0s | 24 | 28 |
| 22 | 2 | Mark Skaife | Holden Racing Team | 39 | +73.4s | 18 | 26 |
| 23 | 021 | Kayne Scott | Team Kiwi Racing | 39 | +73.4s | 28 | 24 |
| 24 | 67 | Paul Morris | Team Sirromet Wines | 38 | + 1 lap | 21 | 22 |
| 25 | 55 | Tony D'Alberto | Rod Nash Racing | 38 | + 1 lap | 25 | 20 |
| 26 | 777 | Michael Patrizi | Ford Rising Stars Racing | 38 | + 1 lap | 29 | 18 |
| 27 | 16 | Paul Dumbrell | HSV Dealer Team | 36 | + 3 laps | 13 | 16 |
| DNF | 111 | Fabian Coulthard | Glenfords Racing | 21 | | 14 | |
| DNS | 888 | Craig Lowndes | Team Vodafone | 0 | Rear Axle | 1 |

## Standings

After round 5 of 14.

| Pos | No | Name | Team | Points |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | 5 | Mark Winterbottom | Ford Performance Racing | 1124 |
| 2 | 1 | Garth Tander | Holden Racing Team | 1072 |
| 3 | 88 | Jamie Whincup | Team Vodafone | 1062 |
| 4 | 15 | Rick Kelly | HSV Dealer Team | 1028 |
| 5 | 888 | Craig Lowndes | Team Vodafone | 897 |

## Support categories

The 2008 Midas 400 had four support categories.

| Category | Round winner |
| - | - |
| Fujitsu V8 Supercar Series | Steve Owen (Holden VZ Commodore) |
| Carrera Cup | Craig Baird (Porsche 997 GT3 Cup) |
| Formula Ford | Paul Laskazeski (Spectrum 011b Ford) |
| Mini Challenge Australia | Jason Bargwanna (Mini Cooper S) |
