An error from Paul Dumbrell left Greg Murphy fuming during a frantic opening race at the Armor All Gold Coast 600.
With just 19 of 102 laps in the books, Jamie Whincup’s co-driver Dumbrell cannoned into the back of Murphy causing the #22 HRT Commodore o slam into the wall at the beachside chicane, causing major left-side damage.
Murphy was bottled-up behind Jonny Reid (Hi-Flex Commodore) after Tony D’Alberto’s co-driver was involved in a drag race going into the beachside chicane.
The four-times Bathurst 1000 winner was gutted after experiencing his second major crash in two weeks, although not to blame in this latest incident.
“I’m not sure who it was passing Reid, but it dragged all the way onto the back chicane and then Reid’s back out of it,” Murphy explained to Speedcafe.com
“I was behind him just falling into line and Reid got a bit loose going through.
“And I’m just waiting for him to get through the other side and Dumbrell has just drilled me, I think at the second kerb, and just turned the thing into the fence.
“I’m sure he assumed that we were going to accelerate away and he’s just got on the gas and ran straight into the back of my car.”
Dumbrell disagreed that it was not a matter of lack of concentration on his part, saying that through the high-speed bank of turns there is no room for error.
“Obviously Murph was behind another car so I’ve slowed up and there is no margin for error down the back. Unfortunately I got into the back of him,” said Dumbrell, who apologised to Murphy after the incident.
“Murph definitely slowed up but as I said you’ve got no margin for error.
“So if anything happens either with yourself or in front you just have no time to react.”
Murphy disagreed saying Dumbrell was not looking far enough ahead to assess the situation.
“He wasn’t watching what was going on far enough ahead,” Murphy said.
“Dumbrell was right behind me so I really don’t know how he stuffed it up.
“He’s tried to pre-judge it and get a run or something that’s all I can put it down to.
“I know there was nothing intentional but he just messed it up.”
“It’s cost him, it’s cost Jamie a shitload and it’s cost us even more.”
Soon after the incident Dumbrell pitted for the Red Bull crew to iron out the crumpled bonnet.
He rejoined the action but only last another couple of laps before the #1 Commodore came to a stop with a gearbox problem.
Murphy added that he expects his crumpled Commodore to be as good as new tomorrow.
“The chassis is all fine,” he said.
“There’s a lot of rearranging of door handles and bits and pieces but it’ll be fine by tomorrow.”
