MARK'S BEST RACE
“This logo comes from the official Clipsal 500 Site ”
The Adelaide 500 is one of the toughest events of the year in Touring Cars. The event is
made up of two 250 km, 78-lap endurance races, complete with compulsory pit stops
for fuel and tyres around the tight, concrete-walled Adelaide Street Circuit. Race One is
on Saturday, with the finishing positions making up the grid for Race Two on Sunday.
The Adelaide 500 in the year 2000 was the second year of the event. In 1999, Mark's
race ended too early, due to problems with his back. This is one of the main reasons
he didn't win the Championship that year, after losing important points there. This race
had fast become Mark's nemesis. But when the 2000 race came around his luck changed.
After not finishing Race One, due to an engine problem, he was forced to start from
the back for Race Two. But ever the Champion, he didn't give up. He won the race from
the back, even with a Stop/Go penalty thrown in for speeding in pitlane, and a trip down
the escape road at Wakefield Corner with only two laps remaining in the race, giving
him the overall Race win and what he calls his Best Race.
** "The drive of my career, bar none. Obviously, I'd rather not start
from the rear but it worked out pretty well ", Mark Skaife **
“This quote comes from The Official 2000 Holden Racing Team Annual”
Mark (Centre) on the podium after winning the 2000 Adelaide 500.
(On the left is Jason Bargwanna, on the right is Garth Tander)
"This photo was taken by Jane Alexander © 2000"
** "The Clipsal 500 is probably the toughest race on the whole
schedule, a real test on both car and driver. The Adelaide circuit is
like a tunnel which traps heat and fumes, adding to the stress on
the driver ", Mark Skaife **
“This quote comes from The Official 2000 Holden Racing Team Annual”
Mark in the rain at the 2000 Adelaide 500.
"This photo was taken by Jane Alexander © 2000"
Here is a summary of Race Two.....
As I previously said, Mark started off the back of the grid, in position 38, as a result of
not finishing Race One. By lap 3, Mark was already up to 28th.
It began to rain around Lap 22, so Mark went into the pits for wets, which constituted his
compulsory tyre stop. On Lap 26 he went back to the pits for his compulsory fuel stop,
just before the Safety Car came on to the track due to the heavy rain. Both Holden Racing
Team cars had completed their compulsory pit stops by Lap 26, leaving them free to run
to the finish.
The rain was starting to clear by Lap 34, but there was still a significant amount of water
on the track. During this time, the lap times dropped around 16 seconds a lap.
By Lap 36, Mark was up to 5th, 18.12 seconds behind the leader.
Around Lap 39 it started to rain again.
By Lap 40, Mark was up to 3rd and the rain was much heavier.
Lap 41, and Mark was up to 2nd.
On Lap 45, Mark was given a black flag for speeding in pitlane. On Lap 46, he went in for
his stop/go penalty. He returned to the race still in 2nd, just in front of a 3-way battle for
3rd with Greg Murphy, Jason Bargwanna and Garth Tander. Later on that lap, Mark ran
wide and Greg Murphy snuck into 2nd.
On Lap 47, Mark passed Greg Murphy in the hairpin leading on to the Pit Straight, putting
him back into 2nd.
A dry line began to appear on the track around Lap 53.
Lap 63, and smoke started blowing from Craig Lowndes' car, who was in 1st. He went
in to the pits, where the mechanics were looking under the bonnet. Shortly afterwards, Craig
got out of the car, his race was over.
This put Mark into the lead, 4.3 seconds ahead of Garth Tander in 2nd. By Lap 72, his
lead was 8.13 seconds.
On Lap 77, and with a lead of 9 seconds over Garth Tander, Mark went straight ahead
at the Wakefield Road right-hander, but came back onto the track still in the lead.
Lap 78, the final lap, Mark crossed the line in First Position, and won the Adelaide 500 from
last on the grid!! He finished with a 7.10 second lead over Garth Tander. It was his first
endurance win with the Holden Racing Team. As Mark crossed the line, he said on the pit
to car radio "This is the best drive of my career".
Mark's Interview with Mark Oastler on the Podium.....
** Mark Oastler, "There must be something about the Holden Racing
Team and starting off the back of the grid in Adelaide, it seems to
be the magic formula" **
** Mark, "Well, I mean, the thing you've got to say Mark, is that, probably
Craig's drive last year was the best of his career and I've got to say
that today my drive was the best of mine. It's the best thing about
this team, it's the 'no give up' team. If you're at the back of the grid
you still press on and certainly for Holden today, obviously, to be on
the podium is just unbelievable. Great job fellas" **
** Mark Oastler , "Now that 160 points you get from that win lifts you to
Second on the Shell Championship Table. That's a much better way
to leave Adelaide than it was last year, isn't it? " **
** Mark, "Well, I mean, I said to you yesterday, that, sort of this place was
my nemesis, now I love the place. So we'll be back again and, you
know, we can't wait to come back, it's just fantastic!!" **
** Mark Oastler, "Put your hands together folks, Mark Skaife, sensational,
on the streets of Adelaide in 2000!! " **
For more information on the Adelaide 500, follow
the link on my "Links" Page to the official site.
“This logo comes from the official Clipsal 500 Site ”
** The Official Holden Racing Team Site **
*********** Mark Skaife "There Goes My Hero" ************