V8 Supercars rookie Aaren Russell has brushed off criticism of his pass on leader Mark Winterbottom in the dying stages of Race 9.
Winterbottom told his team via radio that Russell had cost him the race win as he lost vital time while the Erebus Holden driver unlapped himself.
Russell’s tyres were 10 laps newer than that of Winterbottom, whose lead was being rapidly diminished by the charging Scott McLaughlin and Craig Lowndes behind.
Winterbottom eventually held on to take a narrow victory, while Russell took the flag as the last of the lead lap runners in 21st.
“I was on a different tyre strategy to him and trying to unlap myself,” Russell told Speedcafe.com.
“If we had a Safety Car then I needed to be on the lead lap in order to improve my position.
“It’s an awkward situation for them but I’m not just going to roll over and be lapped by everyone.
“I’m in this to try and make a career of it, not sit back and be laps down.
“If any other driver says any different then they shouldn’t be driving.
“At the end of the day I did the pass cleanly and he won the race.
“I don’t think we affected his race too much, but would he have done the same thing to me? Yeah, he would have. 100 percent.”
While angered by the situation during the heat of battle, Winterbottom was measured in his criticism of Russell post-race.
The Ford driver had himself charged through a number of lead lap runners during Saturday’s race while trying to regain ground lost from an early off and unschedule pitstop.
“It was frustrating,” he admitted.
“When you pass someone you take off but he just didn’t take off.
“Not only did he pass me and cost me a second and a half, he created heaps of aero wash.
“It was frustrating, but it is what it is. He was trying to get his position back… like I was doing yesterday.”
McLaughlin and Lowndes arrived on the back of Winterbottom with two laps to go but, despite its extra pace, the Volvo proved unable to find a way by.
Winterbottom carefully blocked the inside line at the exit of Turn 6 on the penultimate lap before showing strong commitment under brakes at the following corner.
A half-move by McLaughlin at Turn 7 saw him lose momentum and allowed Winterbottom just enough breathing space to hold on over the final lap.
“It was just about not letting the tyre slip. It was wheel spinning in fourth so you’re trying not to get the wheel spin too early,” said Winterbottom.
“His tyres were a fair bit newer but not enough to drive straight past. I just had to keep it really narrow and stay tight because the track is a little grippier on the inside.
“I went really deep into seven because surprisingly it was still strong under brakes. Drive was the thing that went.
“It’s nice that he didn’t crash me off to get it because some guys would have.”
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