Pitstop: Bathurst bust-ups and air blue

Greg Murphy and Marcos Ambrose should be thankful that there was video but no sound on screen for the screaming match after the collision that ended their Bathurst race.

Television cameras relayed their toe-to-toe confrontation on the track beside the wrecks of their cars. Viewers got the drift of their exchange of views but not the detail - which was just as well because the authorities had promised heavy fines for any bad language on air.

Four-figure fines for every f-word were stipulated to avoid the embarrassment caused by some of the league players' earthy language after the grand final the previous weekend.

The video, however, probably helped their cause. After studying the collision from every angle officials ruled that "it was not likely to be clearly established that there had been a breach of the rules by either driver. Accordingly no further action was taken".

Second overlooked

The Murphy-Ambrose affair so dominated the Bathurst post-race discussions that Jason Richards' second placing in the race was hardly acknowledged in Australia. The only mention in one newspaper was in the results.

Which was a huge injustice because the Nelson-born Kiwi and his Aussie partner, Jamie Whincup, produced a stunning result for the Tasman Motorsport team, part-owned by Murphy's father, Kevin.

They were always up with the pace, avoided silly mistakes and were beaten by probably the best-funded Holden team led by Mark Skaife.

Chilly on mountain

Television viewers would have had sympathy for Craig Lowndes and Yvan Muller as they endured the chill of driving their Ford without a windscreen after it was smashed by a flying wheel.

But they may not have realised just how cold it was for everyone around Mt Panorama on race day. There was snow 50km away at Lithgow and the temperature on the start line at 10am was 4C with a wind chill of -5C.

The scantily-clad pit girls who started in Holden red were Ford blue before the formalities had finished.

Hot seat

It didn't make the headlines but there was a New Zealand winner in the first car across the line in the Bathurst 1000.

Mark Skaife was sitting in a race seat designed and built in Petone by Racetech, the company owned by former national rally champion David Black.

The Holden Racing Team has been using the seat for a couple of years and it has won plaudits from the world motorsport controlling body, FIA, for its safety.

Kiwi leads kiwi

Fabian Coulthard's V8 Supercar drive ended prematurely but the Aucklander more than made amends in the Carrera Cup Porsche races.

He won both of the completed races and was leading the other when it was aborted. He has regained the lead in the championship from fellow Kiwi Jim Richards.

High-speed brothers

While Brendon Hartley has secured a contract to drive for the Red Bull junior team, his brother, Nelson, has also had good news.

Out of the blue he got the chance to drive a Formula Ford for Jeremy Shaw in the national championship and has the prospect of a full season of midgets at Western Springs with the chance of a trip to the US.