2015 Clipsal 500
# 2015 Clipsal 500

The 2015 Clipsal 500 Adelaide was a motor race for V8 Supercars held on the weekend of 27 February to 1 March 2015. The event was held at the Adelaide Street Circuit in Adelaide, South Australia, and consisted of two races of 125 kilometres and one race of 250 kilometres in length. It was the first event of fourteen in the 2015 International V8 Supercars Championship.

Chasing after his seventh V8 Supercar championship, Jamie Whincup made a great start by taking pole position for both Saturday races. The start of Race 1 was abandoned after Scott McLaughlin's car suffered an oil pump failure on the warm-up lap. The race eventually got under way and Whincup controlled the race to take the first win of 2015. Chaz Mostert and Fabian Coulthard finished second and third respectively after a safety car late in the race.

McLaughlin's day became even worse when he was deemed to have jumped the start in Race 2. After serving his ten-second penalty at the conclusion of his pit stop, a further ten seconds was added to McLaughlin's race time as he served the penalty during a safety car period. Mostert retired after hitting the wall at turn 8, while Whincup fell down the order due to a punctured tyre. Brad Jones Racing's Fabian Coulthard took the win, followed by James Courtney and Craig Lowndes.

Former V8 Supercar champion Marcos Ambrose stole the spotlight on Sunday by qualifying for the Top Ten Shootout. Courtney set the fastest time in the Shootout to score pole position for the 250 km Race 3. Courtney managed to convert his pole into a race win, his second Sunday race win in succession at the event. Teammate Garth Tander finished third, while Shane van Gisbergen finished second after a hard fought battle with Courtney. Whincup and Mostert were battling for fourth place on the final lap when they collided at Turn 10. Mostert spun into the wall and was collected by James Moffat with both failing to finish the race. Neither Mostert nor Whincup were penalised for the incident.

Courtney became the fifth driver in V8 Supercars to win two Clipsal 500 events and only the fourth to win two events in a row.

## Results

### Race 1

**Qualifying**

| Pos. | No. | Driver | Car | Team | Time |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | 1 | Jamie Whincup | Holden VF Commodore | Triple Eight Race Engineering | 1:20.0905 |
| 2 | 14 | Fabian Coulthard | Holden VF Commodore | Brad Jones Racing | 1:20.4342 |
| 3 | 33 | Scott McLaughlin | Volvo S60 | Garry Rogers Motorsport | 1:20.5087 |
| 4 | 6 | Chaz Mostert | Ford FG X Falcon | Prodrive Racing Australia | 1:20.7089 |
| 5 | 22 | James Courtney | Holden VF Commodore | Holden Racing Team | 1:20.7208 |
| 6 | 23 | Michael Caruso | Nissan Altima L33 | Nissan Motorsport | 1:20.8152 |
| 7 | 18 | Lee Holdsworth | Holden VF Commodore | Charlie Schwerkolt Racing | 1:20.8552 |
| 8 | 888 | Craig Lowndes | Holden VF Commodore | Triple Eight Race Engineering | 1:20.9013 |
| 9 | 8 | Jason Bright | Holden VF Commodore | Brad Jones Racing | 1:20.9042 |
| 10 | 99 | James Moffat | Nissan Altima L33 | Nissan Motorsport | 1:20.9150 |
| 11 | 97 | Shane van Gisbergen | Holden VF Commodore | Tekno Autosports | 1:20.9585 |
| 12 | 5 | Mark Winterbottom | Ford FG X Falcon | Prodrive Racing Australia | 1:21.0115 |
| 13 | 47 | Tim Slade | Holden VF Commodore | Walkinshaw Racing | 1:21.0159 |
| 14 | 55 | David Reynolds | Ford FG Falcon | Rod Nash Racing | 1:21.0235 |
| 15 | 2 | Garth Tander | Holden VF Commodore | Holden Racing Team | 1:21.0356 |
| 16 | 7 | Todd Kelly | Nissan Altima L33 | Nissan Motorsport | 1:21.2029 |
| 17 | 15 | Rick Kelly | Nissan Altima L33 | Nissan Motorsport | 1:21.2237 |
| 18 | 9 | Will Davison | Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG | Erebus Motorsport | 1:21.2495 |
| 19 | 4 | Ashley Walsh | Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG | Erebus Motorsport | 1:21.3417 |
| 20 | 222 | Nick Percat | Holden VF Commodore | Lucas Dumbrell Motorsport | 1:21.3510 |
| 21 | 21 | Dale Wood | Holden VF Commodore | Britek Motorsport | 1:21.4137 |
| 22 | 111 | Andre Heimgartner | Ford FG Falcon | Super Black Racing | 1:21.5111 |
| 23 | 34 | David Wall | Volvo S60 | Garry Rogers Motorsport | 1:21.5202 |
| 24 | 17 | Marcos Ambrose | Ford FG X Falcon | DJR Team Penske | 1:21.5782 |
| 25 | 3 | Tim Blanchard | Holden VF Commodore | Lucas Dumbrell Motorsport | No Time |

**Race**

| Pos. | No. | Driver | Car | Team | Laps | Time/retired | Grid | Points |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | 1 | Jamie Whincup | Holden VF Commodore | Triple Eight Race Engineering | 33 | 48:28.7493 | 1 | 75 |
| 2 | 6 | Chaz Mostert | Ford FG X Falcon | Prodrive Racing Australia | 33 | +0.9 s | 4 | 69 |
| 3 | 14 | Fabian Coulthard | Holden VF Commodore | Brad Jones Racing | 33 | +1.3 s | 2 | 64 |
| 4 | 888 | Craig Lowndes | Holden VF Commodore | Triple Eight Race Engineering | 33 | +1.5 s | 8 | 60 |
| 5 | 5 | Mark Winterbottom | Ford FG X Falcon | Prodrive Racing Australia | 33 | +2.0 s | 12 | 55 |
| 6 | 97 | Shane van Gisbergen | Holden VF Commodore | Tekno Autosports | 33 | +2.5 s | 11 | 51 |
| 7 | 2 | Garth Tander | Holden VF Commodore | Holden Racing Team | 33 | +3.0 s | 15 | 48 |
| 8 | 47 | Tim Slade | Holden VF Commodore | Walkinshaw Racing | 33 | +3.3 s | 13 | 45 |
| 9 | 18 | Lee Holdsworth | Holden VF Commodore | Charlie Schwerkolt Racing | 33 | +3.9 s | 7 | 42 |
| 10 | 22 | James Courtney | Holden VF Commodore | Holden Racing Team | 33 | +4.1 s | 5 | 39 |
| 11 | 99 | James Moffat | Nissan Altima L33 | Nissan Motorsport | 33 | +4.6 s | 10 | 36 |
| 12 | 8 | Jason Bright | Holden VF Commodore | Brad Jones Racing | 33 | +5.2 s | 9 | 34 |
| 13 | 55 | David Reynolds | Ford FG Falcon | Rod Nash Racing | 33 | +5.7 s | 14 | 33 |
| 14 | 7 | Todd Kelly | Nissan Altima L33 | Nissan Motorsport | 33 | +6.0 s | 16 | 31 |
| 15 | 15 | Rick Kelly | Nissan Altima L33 | Nissan Motorsport | 33 | +6.4 s | 17 | 30 |
| 16 | 17 | Marcos Ambrose | Ford FG X Falcon | DJR Team Penske | 33 | +7.1 s | 24 | 28 |
| 17 | 34 | David Wall | Volvo S60 | Garry Rogers Motorsport | 33 | +8.6 s | 23 | 27 |
| 18 | 222 | Nick Percat | Holden VF Commodore | Lucas Dumbrell Motorsport | 33 | +9.6 s | 20 | 25 |
| 19 | 3 | Tim Blanchard | Holden VF Commodore | Lucas Dumbrell Motorsport | 33 | +10.1 s | 25 | 24 |
| 20 | 4 | Ashley Walsh | Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG | Erebus Motorsport | 33 | +10.3 s | 19 | 22 |
| 21 | 23 | Michael Caruso | Nissan Altima L33 | Nissan Motorsport | 33 | +10.7 s | 6 | 21 |
| 22 | 21 | Dale Wood | Holden VF Commodore | Britek Motorsport | 33 | +31.5 s | 21 | 19 |
| 23 | 111 | Andre Heimgartner | Ford FG Falcon | Super Black Racing | 32 | +1 lap | 22 | 18 |
| DNF | 9 | Will Davison | Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG | Erebus Motorsport | 28 | Accident | 18 | |
| DNF | 33 | Scott McLaughlin | Volvo S60 | Garry Rogers Motorsport | 0 | Oil leak | 3 | |

### Race 2

**Qualifying**

| Pos. | No. | Driver | Car | Team | Time |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | 1 | Jamie Whincup | Holden VF Commodore | Triple Eight Race Engineering | 1:20.0319 |
| 2 | 33 | Scott McLaughlin | Volvo S60 | Garry Rogers Motorsport | 1:20.3162 |
| 3 | 22 | James Courtney | Holden VF Commodore | Holden Racing Team | 1:20.3390 |
| 4 | 14 | Fabian Coulthard | Holden VF Commodore | Brad Jones Racing | 1:20.4599 |
| 5 | 97 | Shane van Gisbergen | Holden VF Commodore | Tekno Autosports | 1:20.5030 |
| 6 | 55 | David Reynolds | Ford FG Falcon | Rod Nash Racing | 1:20.5217 |
| 7 | 888 | Craig Lowndes | Holden VF Commodore | Triple Eight Race Engineering | 1:20.5606 |
| 8 | 47 | Tim Slade | Holden VF Commodore | Walkinshaw Racing | 1:20.5698 |
| 9 | 6 | Chaz Mostert | Ford FG X Falcon | Prodrive Racing Australia | 1:20.6049 |
| 10 | 5 | Mark Winterbottom | Ford FG X Falcon | Prodrive Racing Australia | 1:20.6346 |
| 11 | 2 | Garth Tander | Holden VF Commodore | Holden Racing Team | 1:20.6587 |
| 12 | 23 | Michael Caruso | Nissan Altima L33 | Nissan Motorsport | 1:20.7121 |
| 13 | 18 | Lee Holdsworth | Holden VF Commodore | Charlie Schwerkolt Racing | 1:20.7371 |
| 14 | 99 | James Moffat | Nissan Altima L33 | Nissan Motorsport | 1:20.8913 |
| 15 | 4 | Ashley Walsh | Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG | Erebus Motorsport | 1:20.9826 |
| 16 | 21 | Dale Wood | Holden VF Commodore | Britek Motorsport | 1:21.0559 |
| 17 | 9 | Will Davison | Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG | Erebus Motorsport | 1:21.0693 |
| 18 | 15 | Rick Kelly | Nissan Altima L33 | Nissan Motorsport | 1:21.0759 |
| 19 | 7 | Todd Kelly | Nissan Altima L33 | Nissan Motorsport | 1:21.0873 |
| 20 | 8 | Jason Bright | Holden VF Commodore | Brad Jones Racing | 1:21.1049 |
| 21 | 34 | David Wall | Volvo S60 | Garry Rogers Motorsport | 1:21.1393 |
| 22 | 222 | Nick Percat | Holden VF Commodore | Lucas Dumbrell Motorsport | 1:21.1644 |
| 23 | 111 | Andre Heimgartner | Ford FG Falcon | Super Black Racing | 1:21.4483 |
| 24 | 17 | Marcos Ambrose | Ford FG X Falcon | DJR Team Penske | 1:22.0064 |
| 25 | 3 | Tim Blanchard | Holden VF Commodore | Lucas Dumbrell Motorsport | 1:22.8052 |

**Race**

| Pos. | No. | Driver | Car | Team | Laps | Time/retired | Grid | Points |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | 14 | Fabian Coulthard | Holden VF Commodore | Brad Jones Racing | 39 | 59:05.6810 | 4 | 75 |
| 2 | 22 | James Courtney | Holden VF Commodore | Holden Racing Team | 39 | +2.0 s | 3 | 69 |
| 3 | 888 | Craig Lowndes | Holden VF Commodore | Triple Eight Race Engineering | 39 | +8.9 s | 7 | 64 |
| 4 | 2 | Garth Tander | Holden VF Commodore | Holden Racing Team | 39 | +10.0 s | 11 | 60 |
| 5 | 8 | Jason Bright | Holden VF Commodore | Brad Jones Racing | 39 | +15.0 s | 20 | 55 |
| 6 | 15 | Rick Kelly | Nissan Altima L33 | Nissan Motorsport | 39 | +15.7 s | 18 | 51 |
| 7 | 99 | James Moffat | Nissan Altima L33 | Nissan Motorsport | 39 | +16.4 s | 14 | 48 |
| 8 | 4 | Ashley Walsh | Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG | Erebus Motorsport | 39 | +17.7 s | 15 | 45 |
| 9 | 33 | Scott McLaughlin | Volvo S60 | Garry Rogers Motorsport | 39 | +18.2 s | 2 | 42 |
| 10 | 18 | Lee Holdsworth | Holden VF Commodore | Charlie Schwerkolt Racing | 39 | +18.3 s | 13 | 39 |
| 11 | 5 | Mark Winterbottom | Ford FG X Falcon | Prodrive Racing Australia | 39 | +18.8 s | 10 | 36 |
| 12 | 7 | Todd Kelly | Nissan Altima L33 | Nissan Motorsport | 39 | +19.2 s | 19 | 34 |
| 13 | 97 | Shane van Gisbergen | Holden VF Commodore | Tekno Autosports | 39 | +20.0 s | 5 | 33 |
| 14 | 222 | Nick Percat | Holden VF Commodore | Lucas Dumbrell Motorsport | 39 | +20.5 s | 22 | 31 |
| 15 | 34 | David Wall | Volvo S60 | Garry Rogers Motorsport | 39 | +22.7 s | 21 | 30 |
| 16 | 17 | Marcos Ambrose | Ford FG X Falcon | DJR Team Penske | 39 | +24.1 s | 24 | 28 |
| 17 | 55 | David Reynolds | Ford FG Falcon | Rod Nash Racing | 39 | +25.2 s | 6 | 27 |
| 18 | 21 | Dale Wood | Holden VF Commodore | Britek Motorsport | 39 | +26.5 s | 16 | 25 |
| 19 | 3 | Tim Blanchard | Holden VF Commodore | Lucas Dumbrell Motorsport | 39 | +27.2 s | 25 | 24 |
| 20 | 111 | Andre Heimgartner | Ford FG Falcon | Super Black Racing | 39 | +27.6 s | 23 | 22 |
| 21 | 1 | Jamie Whincup | Holden VF Commodore | Triple Eight Race Engineering | 39 | +55.6 s | 1 | 21 |
| DNF | 47 | Tim Slade | Holden VF Commodore | Walkinshaw Racing | 25 | Puncture | 8 | |
| DNF | 23 | Michael Caruso | Nissan Altima L33 | Nissan Motorsport | 16 | Accident | 12 | |
| DNF | 6 | Chaz Mostert | Ford FG X Falcon | Prodrive Racing Australia | 3 | Accident | 9 | |
| DNS | 9 | Will Davison | Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG | Erebus Motorsport | 0 | | 17 | |

### Race 3

**Qualifying**

| Pos. | No. | Driver | Car | Team | Time |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | 97 | Shane van Gisbergen | Holden VF Commodore | Tekno Autosports | 1:20.0084 |
| 2 | 99 | James Moffat | Nissan Altima L33 | Nissan Motorsport | 1:20.0341 |
| 3 | 22 | James Courtney | Holden VF Commodore | Holden Racing Team | 1:20.0757 |
| 4 | 14 | Fabian Coulthard | Holden VF Commodore | Brad Jones Racing | 1:20.0832 |
| 5 | 1 | Jamie Whincup | Holden VF Commodore | Triple Eight Race Engineering | 1:20.1335 |
| 6 | 47 | Tim Slade | Holden VF Commodore | Walkinshaw Racing | 1:20.1575 |
| 7 | 8 | Jason Bright | Holden VF Commodore | Brad Jones Racing | 1:20.2255 |
| 8 | 33 | Scott McLaughlin | Volvo S60 | Garry Rogers Motorsport | 1:20.2262 |
| 9 | 17 | Marcos Ambrose | Ford FG X Falcon | DJR Team Penske | 1:20.2435 |
| 10 | 2 | Garth Tander | Holden VF Commodore | Holden Racing Team | 1:20.2602 |
| 11 | 5 | Mark Winterbottom | Ford FG X Falcon | Prodrive Racing Australia | 1:20.3444 |
| 12 | 15 | Rick Kelly | Nissan Altima L33 | Nissan Motorsport | 1:20.3542 |
| 13 | 18 | Lee Holdsworth | Holden VF Commodore | Charlie Schwerkolt Racing | 1:20.4488 |
| 14 | 888 | Craig Lowndes | Holden VF Commodore | Triple Eight Race Engineering | 1:20.4750 |
| 15 | 23 | Michael Caruso | Nissan Altima L33 | Nissan Motorsport | 1:20.5324 |
| 16 | 21 | Dale Wood | Holden VF Commodore | Britek Motorsport | 1:20.5534 |
| 17 | 6 | Chaz Mostert | Ford FG X Falcon | Prodrive Racing Australia | 1:20.5629 |
| 18 | 4 | Ashley Walsh | Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG | Erebus Motorsport | 1:20.5649 |
| 19 | 7 | Todd Kelly | Nissan Altima L33 | Nissan Motorsport | 1:20.5919 |
| 20 | 55 | David Reynolds | Ford FG Falcon | Rod Nash Racing | 1:20.6187 |
| 21 | 34 | David Wall | Volvo S60 | Garry Rogers Motorsport | 1:20.6501 |
| 22 | 222 | Nick Percat | Holden VF Commodore | Lucas Dumbrell Motorsport | 1:20.6531 |
| 23 | 9 | Will Davison | Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG | Erebus Motorsport | 1:20.7843 |
| 24 | 111 | Andre Heimgartner | Ford FG Falcon | Super Black Racing | 1:20.9014 |
| 25 | 3 | Tim Blanchard | Holden VF Commodore | Lucas Dumbrell Motorsport | 1:21.8204 |

**Top 10 Shootout**

| Pos. | No. | Name | Car | Team | QPos. | Time |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | 22 | James Courtney | Holden VF Commodore | Holden Racing Team | 3 | 1:20.5396 |
| 2 | 14 | Fabian Coulthard | Holden VF Commodore | Brad Jones Racing | 4 | 1:20.5839 |
| 3 | 1 | Jamie Whincup | Holden VF Commodore | Triple Eight Race Engineering | 5 | 1:20.6024 |
| 4 | 33 | Scott McLaughlin | Volvo S60 | Garry Rogers Motorsport | 8 | 1:20.6073 |
| 5 | 99 | James Moffat | Nissan Altima L33 | Nissan Motorsport | 2 | 1:20.6105 |
| 6 | 97 | Shane van Gisbergen | Holden VF Commodore | Tekno Autosports | 1 | 1:20.6355 |
| 7 | 2 | Garth Tander | Holden VF Commodore | Holden Racing Team | 10 | 1:21.0204 |
| 8 | 47 | Tim Slade | Holden VF Commodore | Walkinshaw Racing | 6 | 1:21.1497 |
| 9 | 17 | Marcos Ambrose | Ford FG X Falcon | DJR Team Penske | 9 | 1:21.1679 |
| 10 | 8 | Jason Bright | Holden VF Commodore | Brad Jones Racing | 7 | 1:21.2326 |

**Race**

| Pos. | No. | Driver | Car | Team | Laps | Time/retired | Grid | Points |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | 22 | James Courtney | Holden VF Commodore | Holden Racing Team | 78 | 1:56:00.5103 | 1 | 150 |
| 2 | 97 | Shane van Gisbergen | Holden VF Commodore | Tekno Autosports | 78 | +0.7 s | 6 | 138 |
| 3 | 2 | Garth Tander | Holden VF Commodore | Holden Racing Team | 78 | +1.9 s | 7 | 129 |
| 4 | 1 | Jamie Whincup | Holden VF Commodore | Triple Eight Race Engineering | 78 | +13.3 s | 3 | 120 |
| 5 | 5 | Mark Winterbottom | Ford FG X Falcon | Prodrive Racing Australia | 78 | +13.9 s | 11 | 111 |
| 6 | 14 | Fabian Coulthard | Holden VF Commodore | Brad Jones Racing | 78 | +14.6 s | 2 | 102 |
| 7 | 15 | Rick Kelly | Nissan Altima L33 | Nissan Motorsport | 78 | +16.4 s | 12 | 96 |
| 8 | 47 | Tim Slade | Holden VF Commodore | Walkinshaw Racing | 78 | +20.7 s | 8 | 90 |
| 9 | 888 | Craig Lowndes | Holden VF Commodore | Triple Eight Race Engineering | 78 | +24.4 s | 14 | 84 |
| 10 | 7 | Todd Kelly | Nissan Altima L33 | Nissan Motorsport | 78 | +28.6 s | 19 | 78 |
| 11 | 8 | Jason Bright | Holden VF Commodore | Brad Jones Racing | 78 | +40.8 s | 10 | 72 |
| 12 | 17 | Marcos Ambrose | Ford FG X Falcon | DJR Team Penske | 78 | +41.2 s | 9 | 69 |
| 13 | 21 | Dale Wood | Holden VF Commodore | Britek Motorsport | 78 | +45.2 s | 16 | 66 |
| 14 | 23 | Michael Caruso | Nissan Altima L33 | Nissan Motorsport | 78 | +48.8 s | 15 | 63 |
| 15 | 55 | David Reynolds | Ford FG Falcon | Rod Nash Racing | 78 | +49.2 s | 20 | 60 |
| 16 | 34 | David Wall | Volvo S60 | Garry Rogers Motorsport | 78 | +51.8 s | 21 | 57 |
| 17 | 3 | Tim Blanchard | Holden VF Commodore | Lucas Dumbrell Motorsport | 78 | +62.6 s | 25 | 54 |
| 18 | 33 | Scott McLaughlin | Volvo S60 | Garry Rogers Motorsport | 74 | +4 laps | 4 | 51 |
| 19 | 9 | Will Davison | Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG | Erebus Motorsport | 73 | +5 laps | 23 | 48 |
| 20 | 222 | Nick Percat | Holden VF Commodore | Lucas Dumbrell Motorsport | 70 | +8 laps | 22 | 45 |
| 21 | 111 | Andre Heimgartner | Ford FG Falcon | Super Black Racing | 62 | +16 laps | 24 | 42 |
| DNF | 6 | Chaz Mostert | Ford FG X Falcon | Prodrive Racing Australia | 77 | Collision | 17 | |
| DNF | 99 | James Moffat | Nissan Altima L33 | Nissan Motorsport | 77 | Collision | 5 | |
| DNF | 18 | Lee Holdsworth | Holden VF Commodore | Charlie Schwerkolt Racing | 31 | Accident | 13 | |
| DNF | 4 | Ashley Walsh | Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG | Erebus Motorsport | 22 | Breakdown | 18 | |

## Championship standings

* After Race 3 of 36

| Pos. | Driver | Points |
| - | - | - |
| 1 | James Courtney | 258 |
| 2 | Fabian Coulthard | 241 |
| 3 | Garth Tander | 237 |
| 4 | Shane van Gisbergen | 222 |
| 5 | Jamie Whincup | 216 |
| Pos. | Constructor | Points |
| 1 | Holden Racing Team | 495 |
| 2 | Triple Eight Race Engineering | 424 |
| 3 | Brad Jones Racing | 402 |
| 4 | Nissan Motorsport (7/15) | 320 |
| 5 | Prodrive Racing Australia | 271 |

* Note: Only the top five positions are included for both sets of standings.

## Support races

Seven support series raced during the weekend, including the Australian debut of Robby Gordon's Stadium Super Trucks.

