Veterans Tander and Winterbottom disappointed by start change
Former Sandown 500 winners Garth Tander and Mark Winterbottom disagree with the decision to force primary drivers to start, which could create a “copy and paste race.”
This weekend the 60th anniversary Sandown 500 will be celebrated, but in a change for 2024, co-drivers are not allowed to line up on the grid.
It is a change that has caused a lot of debate and many within the Supercars paddock are disappointed and fear it has pushed teams onto a similar strategy path for the 161-lap race.
Co drivers must complete a minimum of 54 of the 161 laps and with the main drivers doing the opener, many will try to remove them as quickly as possible.
This removes the prospect of main and co drivers battling position and variety of strategies shaking up the order before the run to the flag.
Cars line up on the grid for the start of the 2023 Sandown 500. Image: Peter Norton
Now the main factors are almost solely tyre deg and fuel loads with the minimum amount of stops removed last year.
Some of the biggest and most successful names on the Supercars grid are disappointed by the decision to dictate who puts the foot down when lights go out.
One of those is especially Tander, who is one of the most sought after co-drivers on the grid, and fears teams have a lot less tools up their sleeve on race day.
“I do not understand that rule at all,” Tander, who won a thriller in 2016 said.
“I do not think it makes any sense and unfortunately what it does is box a lot of the teams into doing very much the same strategy, so you will not see any different strategies and it will be a copy and paste race.
“It is disappointing for co-drivers to not have that moment at the start of the race.
“It is also disappointing for the fans that they won’t see strategies alternate.”
Mark Winterbottom with Michael Caruso at the Winton test. Image: Mark Horsburgh
Despite not agreeing with the rule change, 2015 Sandown 500 winner Winterbottom is interested to see what impact it does have on strategy.
“It’s a flat out race now. There’s no conserving, but strategy will be interesting because the main drivers have to start, which I don’t actually agree with,” Winterbottom said.
“I think the co drivers should have the option to start, but that’s going to drive the strategy a little bit.
“Do you pit early? Do you pit later? Do you double the co? Do you single the co? There’s so many things that could play out.
“I think the start of the race will be pretty standard, like a normal sprint race and then when the co drivers come in, the strategy opens up.
“I’m not sure what to expect there, but there’ll be a few different strategies that work and don’t work which should spice it up a bit.”
Six time Sandown 500 winner Craig Lowndes also penned in his exclusive supercars.com column his desire to see the secondary drivers start.
“There’s going to be a different dynamic this year with main drivers starting the race,” Lowndes said.
“While it’s nothing new, it’s an interesting change.
“In my opinion, co drivers should have the capability of starting races, because it does add another strategy element.
“It could limit the strategy outcome because of the main drivers now starting, but, it is what it is.
“Regardless, I think it will be an interesting race strategy-wise.
“How long will the main drivers drive for in the first part of the race?
“We’ll see. I’m torn on the rule, but I guess we’ll see how it pans out.”
The Sandown 500 on track action begins on Friday.
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