Ipswich may be in Craig Lowndes’ sights but Bathurst is on his mind.
The Supercars great has relished a return to the track for this weekend’s Ipswich SuperSprint after the “whirlwind” since announcing a fortnight ago he would retire from full-time driving at season’s end.
Lowndes said he had no regrets about his shock call and would be “pushing hard” for an unprecedented 13th win at his final Ipswich event.
He has so far made good on his threat, finishing third fastest in Friday’s opening practice at Ipswich’s Queensland Raceway behind Holden’s Jamie Whincup and Rick Kelly of Nissan.
But the 44-year-old Lowndes reckoned his Supercars swansong wouldn’t be complete without conquering Mount Panorama one more time.
Lowndes is equal third on the all-time Bathurst winners’ list with six victories behind Jim Richards (seven) and his idol Peter Brock (nine).
“I would love to be in the top three, four in the championship at the end of the year, that’s our aim – a win at Bathurst along the way and then see what happens,” the fifth-placed Lowndes told Fox Sports.
“I wake up every morning and don’t regret it (retirement) so it obviously has been the right decision for me.
“It’s been a whirlwind since (retirement announcement) …a lot of support and messages coming though.
“I am looking forward to getting my head back in a race car this weekend.”
Lowndes and Garth Tander are the only drivers to have contested all 21 previous Ipswich rounds.
Lowndes hoped to make his Ipswich finale count.
“I said to the other drivers just because I am retiring, it doesn’t mean I am going to be in Mr Cruisy mode – I am going to be pushing hard now,” Lowndes said.
So far so good for Lowndes who finished third fastest in opening practice, just 0.175 of a second behind pace setter Whincup.
There was speculation Lowndes was pushed into retirement by his Red Bull Racing team but the veteran driver said the only drama was getting the announcement’s timing right.
Lowndes and RBR boss Roland Dane first discussed his retirement “a few years ago”.
“You are trying to find the right time. But I think we are on a high, we are having great performances and I think it is a good time to finish on a high,” Lowndes said.
Dane has this week angrily dismissed talk that RBR shoved Lowndes into retirement.
RBR are yet to announce whether they will replace Lowndes or even run a third car next year.
Supercars stars Whincup and Shane van Gisbergen feature in RBR’s two main entries.
Nissan’s Simona de Silvestro – a former IndyCar driver – has been strongly linked to RBR.
The second 45-minute practice session begins at 1445 AEDT.
Qualifying and a 39-lap race will be held on Saturday before Sunday’s 65-lap finale.