Michael Caruso has closed the gap on Championship leader Tony D’Alberto in race one of the Fujitsu V8 Supercar Series at Phillip Island today.

Caruso blitzed the start, moving from fourth to first before the first corner to enjoy clean air for the rest of the race.

Caruso’s fifth race win of the season was clearly his best giving him the chance to keep an eye on the fight for points behind him. 

“It is the best win of the season,” Caruso said.

“We didn’t have a good car in qualifying. We took a gamble because the track conditions change over the weekend and between races. We definitely had a great start and everyone was fighting behind.”

The battle for third heated up on lap 14 with Jonathon Webb and Dale Wood jostling side by side when D’Alberto tried to take advantage.

There was a touch between Wood and D’Alberto which caused D’Alberto to lose control and hit the wall causing tyre and minor panel damage.

“I was up the inside and starting to accelerate out of the corner and got turned around; he was out of shape and tussling with Jonathon, I’m not sure what was going on.”

D’Alberto managed to join the field in tenth position and moved up to ninth before the end of the race.

Kayne Scott in second position was forced to drive defensively as he fended off pressure from Webb resulting in Caruso extending his lead by 1.1 second

The Championship deciding race is tomorrow and D’Alberto has a 21 point buffer to race two pole sitter Caruso.

If Caruso enjoys the same clear run he did today to win tomorrow D’Alberto will have to finish 7^th to take out the Championship.

If D’Alberto finishes 8^th Caruso will win the Championship on a round win count back Caruso’s three wins versus D’Alberto’s two.

The final race of the 2007 Fujitsu Series is tomorrow at 2.10pm.