26 Oct 2008

Whincup takes first blood

7:28 am on 26 October 2008

Jamie Whincup narrowly pipped defending series champion Garth Tander by just .26 of a second to win the opening V8 Supercars race at Surfers Paradise.

Mark Winterbottom was third, close behind Tander.

It wasn't a great day for the New Zealand drivers, with the best of them Steven Richards in 11th.

Greg Murphy was on the wrong side of a skirmish and did not finish.

The deciding two 27-lap races are today.