Chaz Mostert and James Courtney have shaken off a mid-session scuffle in Practice 2 at the Tyrepower Tasmania SuperSprint.
The duo found themselves on track together in the early part of the session, making contact on the approach to the Turn 4 hairpin.
Courtney had caught Mostert towards the end of the previous lap before following the Falcon driver through the final corner and the opening complex at the start of the lap.
“I caught him (Mostert) earlier in the lap and he sort of got on it, started his lap and then he slowed down and got out the way after I backed out of it and I was like ‘ah you bone head’,” said Courtney.
“Then he wanted to race past me again, a little bit of a tap, and everyone pressed on.”
Mostert had slowed after catching Richie Stanaway, pulling to driver’s right as Courtney moved by, only to find himself tucked up behind the Commodore before making contact with the rear of the Walkinshaw Andretti United entry.
“He’s obviously annoyed about me getting in his way. I tried to find some space out there and tried to get into it,” said Mostert.
“There’s probably no need for the swerving in front of me. A little love tap, but we’ll see what happens after the session.
“It’s not for me to decide who did what and why, but it’s one of those things,” he added.
“You always think if you might be at fault for doing something, someone else will come see you after the session.
“Sometimes the driving out there gets a little bit dangerous, and people display their emotions in the heat of the moment.
“It is what it is, Courtney’s a good bloke. I’m sure we’ll have a chat eventually and sort it out.”
The incident passed by without investigation by officials as Courtney recorded the eighth fastest time of the day to assure himself a berth in Qualifying 2 on Saturday.
Mostert meanwhile was left struggling for balance in the Supercheap Auto Falcon.
Capable of just the 16th best time in opening practice and 20th in the second 45-minute session, the Tickford Racing driver is among the 16 drivers who’ll head out in the first part of qualifying tomorrow morning.
“It was a tough day, we’re a bit down the order tonight, which makes it a bit crap for us in qualifying,” said Mostert.
“We’ll probably have to use another set of tyres to make it towards the pointy end.
“I think we definitely made the car better in some areas today, but we really struggled with getting it to turn, so I’m looking forward to giving the car another crack tomorrow.
“Looking at some of the data, we know where we have to improve, so it’s not all doom and gloom, we just didn’t finish Friday the way we wanted to.”
The Tasmania SuperSprint continues on Saturday with Practice 3 at 11:05 before the new three-part qualifying session starts at 12:55.
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