Supercars Drivers have Nothing But Praise for Big Crowds in Newcastle on Day Two

BY JESSICA ROUSE

Scott McLaughlin had nothing but praise for the crowd in Newcastle today after taking out the big race of the day in top spot.

Qualifying this morning saw McLaughlin score Pole position heading into Race 25 this afternoon with a fastest lap time of 1 minute 09 seconds. Championship contender Jamie Whincup came over the line in fifth position.

Newcastle's own Aaren Russell finished 23rd in qualifying with a time close to the front of the pack at 1 minute 10 seconds.

It didn't take long for the fresh track to see one of its first major crashes when the V8 Supercars hit the circuit late today.

Whincup's bid for the championship title took a major blow when he made contact with Michael Caruso on Turn 3, Whincup ran out of room on the turn as Caruso turned in, leaving the Holden's right-front steering arm and lower control arm needing to be replaced.

Whincup returned to the race 13 laps later and ended up finishing in 23rd position gaining just 42 points. It doesn't look like even a win will get him the Championship title tomorrow.

It leaves McLaughlin only having to finish 11th or better in the race tomorrow to take out the Supercars 2017 Championship title.

Second place was taken by Fabian Coulthard, trailed by Tim Slade.

It's louder then it seems! An estimated 60,000 people streamed through the gates today to see Newcastle looking absolutely brilliant. #newcastle500 pic.twitter.com/rt93KUY461

— Jessica Rouse (@JessRouse95) November 25, 2017

All three drivers were blown away by both the track and the crowds.

"All weekend the support has been unbelievable," said McLaughlin.

"Obviously all weekend you've seen kilometre lines at gate one trying to get in and the drivers parade to be honest we said was better than Bathurst."

"We're blown away by the place and that podium certainly topped it off."

It was heartbreak for Novocastrian Russell out on the street circuit though, he had a disappointing finish hitting the side of the track after a couple of close calls.

He was sitting just outside the top ten in the race before the incident and didn't return back to the track hoping to make amends when he hits the track tomorrow.



There was another incident earlier in the day during the V8 Ute's qualifying where two spectators suffered minor injuries when two utes collided causing debris to fly over the fence.

A man and a woman suffered minor cuts and were taken to the trackside medical centre for treatment.

In a statement, Supercars Australia said a medical team was on hand within minutes and that incidents of this nature are "extremely rare".

An estimated 60,000 people streamed through the gates today.