Experience won’t mean much: Whincup

Jamie Whincup isn’t counting on his experience winning Supercars championships in Sydney to beat out teammate Shane van Gisbergen.

The six-time champion has clinched half of his titles at the season-ending event at Olympic Park since 2008.

He is still in with a shot for an unprecedented seventh crown, trailing fellow Holden driver van Gisbergen by 191 points.

A total of 300 points is up for grabs over the weekend’s two races.

But Whincup said he doesn’t think his past successes at the street circuit gives him a notable advantage,

“I don’t think so,” he said.

“It’s good to have experience coming down to the last weekend at this place, but Shane’s been around long enough – he’s not a rookie.”

The Red Bull Racing pair have had almost a month to make peace after tensions boiled over in the penultimate round in Auckland.

Whincup spun his Kiwi teammate while dicing for second at Pukekohe Park, but has vowed not to repeat his mistakes.

“We’ll go there and race hard, race fair,” he declared.

‘”There’ll be nothing untoward.”

Van Gisbergen set a new lap record in practice on Friday, outpacing Whincup who was third quickest.

Temperatures were above 30 degrees across the day’s two sessions, but it’s expected to be much cooler on Saturday for qualifying and race one.

“I think there’ll be massive change, without doubt,” Whincup said.

“That’s a good thing for me when the car’s not so nice. Hopefully it goes in the right direction.”

Qualifying starts at 12.15pm (AEDT) on Saturday, followed by the first 74-lap race at 3.45pm.

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