The Sandown 500 has returned like the prodigal son.
Crompton didn't fly...
It is back, and thanks to all who made it happen. The Sandown 500 was always a great race and its demise in the late-1990s was one of the great tragedies of the modern age in this sport. Especially given that it was the dead boring Queensland Raceway that replaced it.
But now the traditional and challenging curtain raiser for Bathurst is back and fighting the local AFL finals - just as well the interstaters are dominating, you'd hate to see a half empty MCG while the sports fans are at Sandown! No longer will Sandown shut down the season, it will now herald the rising pulse rate as the series prepares for Bathurst.
We'll see the new driver pairings for the first time, some new faces and which teams have got their endurance package together before the others. And Sandown is a track where you need to have it spot-on, the two longs straights give the go pedal a workout, and the two tight turns at the end of them gives the picks a good working over.
And the best part of it is that if you sit in the Grandstand you can see most of the track.
... but he certainly sent Richars flying into the tyres.
Oddly, this is one of the few tracks in the country where the old AU Falcon didn't look like a lemon. Ambrose won... nay dominated last year. Radisich won a couple of years before, and Steve Ellery had his only podium finish here a little while back. But the last winner of the real Sandown 500 was Larry Perkins and Russell Ingall in a Commodore, with the two races prior to that both falling to Craig Lowndes and Greg Murphy in HRT Commodores.
So what can we expect post-blueprint? Who knows, with teams making such big steps every race with their new cars we can expect most of the leading runners to be masters of their machines by the time Sandown arrives. If the machine still rules then even Arnold Schwarzenegger won't be able to save your season.
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Fast Fact
With a covered grandstand that seats 10,000, and spectator viewing banks, Sandown has catering points around the circuit plus licensed restaurants in the complex. Merchandise is at rear of grandstand and paddock area.
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Trackside
Spectating with out man Stan
From my observations, covered grandstands at V8 meetings are almost as rare as David Thexton race wins. As most circuits host just one big meeting each year, they can't afford to build
facilities to rival the big footy stadiums. Sandown is a different kettle of fish, thanks to its other role - horse racing. To give paying punters a good view of both horses and horse-power, Sandown's owners maintain a stand that stretches halfway down the main straight.
It's a fabbo spot to watch the Melbourne 500 action, with over 90 per cent of the 3.1 kay track visible. A really good atmosphere builds on race day, particularly when it's wet (it's Melbourne, afterall!), when everyone retreats to the shelter of the stand. I recommend basing yourself in the stand, but at some stage wandering over to the circuit's backstretch. Head to Dandenong Road Corner, and watch the cars come straight towards you after cresting the hill and negotiating the kink. Magic stuff!
Overall, Sandown is a very pleasant place to spend a weekend. Without wishing to sound like Don Burke, you'll find yourself strolling across carefully-manicured lawns, and along perfectly-paved and petunia-lined walkways. If you're from Sydney, Adelaide or Bris Vegas, consider booking tickets on one of those discount airlines (I hear Plummet Airlines is cheap) and make a weekend of it. All interstate fans should visit Sandown at some stage.
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What to expect
Larry's inside word
Sandown is the first of the two-driver races, so that may have a huge impact on the Championship. The nature of the track encourages good racing, you can overtake here but it is hard on the brakes.
This is the first time we'll drive on the new bit, so that will be the only unknown for us. I hoped we'd have new stewards by now, especially since I am getting ready to pull on the helmet again. I hope they don't have it in for me.
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Flashback
Ford feast
Right from the minute they hit the track, it was clear Marcos Ambrose was the man to beat. He dominated practice and qualifying, and then did the same in the races. It was an emphatic win for the AU Falcon which finished its life as a race winner, something it rarely achieved in its four years at the top. Greg Murphy may have finished the weekend in second, but it never looked like he was going to beat Ambrose. Skaife was also on the podium, but this was a Ford weekend.
Round results in 2002
| 1 | Marcos Ambrose | Ford |
| 2 | Greg Murphy | Holden |
| 3 | Mark Skaife | Holden |
| 4 | David Besnard | Ford |
| 5 | John Bowe | Ford |
| 6 | Jason Bright | Holden |
| 7 | Rick Kelly | Holden |
| 8 | Tony Longhurst | Ford |
| 9 | Paul Weel | Ford |
| 10 | Steve Ellery | Ford |
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Be prepared
Guide to a good time
Take binoculars - the entire layout is visible, although at a distance.
Forget the wet weather gear. Sit in the mammoth stand, and you'll have more room in your bag for 'refreshments'.
Don't pick the flowers - a burgundy trenchcoated official is always watching.
Save your dollars - as all the team merchandise stands plus more will be in full swing.
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