WE copped a few messages in the wake of last Saturday’s race at the Dunlop Sydney 500 highlighting a numerical oddity among the podium finishers.
Specifically, that three consecutive numbers featured in the top three spots: 17, 18 and 19.
Now they didn’t finish in numerical sequence – although Brodie Kostecki did try very hard to put his #17 ahead of Anton De Pasquale’s #18.
But it prompted the question about whether that has happened previously in ATCC/Supercars history.
A search through our AN1 Data statistical database revealed that this was the fifth instance of it happening, and the first time in 25 years.
That was at Phillip Island in 2001, when eventual champion Mark Skaife (#1) headed Craig Lowndes (#00) and Jason Bright (#2). Please don’t @ us about #00 being listed between #10 and #11 in programs of the era, either…
Prior to that was at Oran Park in 1979, a rare round in featuring separate races for outright and under three-litre cars.
On that occasion, eventual champion Bob Morris (#7) beat home Allan Grice (#6) and Peter Brock (#05).
The other two instances happened in 1977, a year that featured domination from the Moffat Ford Dealers Falcons, as well as John Harvey’s lead Holden Dealer Team entry carrying #3.
And on both occasions, the numbers came home in sequence.
The first was at the Sandown sprint round and the second was at the Adelaide International Raceway 250km enduro.
In both races, eventual champion Allan Moffat (#1) led home teammate Colin Bond (#2) and Harvey.
You’ll notice another theme has emerged: in every previous instance of consecutive numbers appearing on the podium, the race winner has become that year’s champion.
Excellent news for Anton De Pasquale, Team 18 and Chevrolet if that continues this year…