# 1998 FAI 1000

The 1998 FAI 1000 Classic was the second running of the Australia 1000 race, first held after the organisational split over the Bathurst 1000 the previous year. It was the 41st race that traces its lineage back to the 1960 Armstrong 500 held at Phillip Island. 1998 was the 36th year in which a touring car endurance race had been held at the Mount Panorama Circuit.
The event, which was contested by V8 Supercars, was held on 15 November 1998 at the Mount Panorama Circuit just outside Bathurst.
The event's naming rights sponsor was FAI Insurance.

## Entry list

| No. | Class | Drivers | Team (Sponsor) | Car | No. | Class | Drivers | Team (Sponsor) | Car |
| 1 | O | Craig Lowndes Mark Skaife | Holden Racing Team (Holden, Mobil 1) | Holden Commodore VT | 35 | O | Jason Bargwanna Jim Richards | Garry Rogers Motorsport (Valvoline, Cummins) | Holden Commodore VS |
| 2 | O | David Parsons Simon Wills | Gibson Motorsport (Wynn's) | Holden Commodore VS | 36 | P | Neil Schembri Gary Quartly | Schembri Motorsport (Gearbox Motorsport) | Holden Commodore VS |
| 3 | P | Steve Reed Trevor Ashby | Lansvale Smash Repairs (PPG) | Holden Commodore VS | 37 | O | Alan Taylor Bill Attard Stephen Bell | Alan Taylor Racing (The Xerox Shop) | Holden Commodore VS |
| 4 | O | Jason Bright Steven Richards | Stone Brothers Racing (Pirtek) | Ford Falcon EL | 38 | O | Mark Poole Tony Scott | James Rosenberg Racing (Gawler Farm Machinery) | Holden Commodore VS |
| 5 | O | Glenn Seton Neil Crompton | Glenn Seton Racing (Ford Credit) | Ford Falcon EL | 39 | P | Chris Smerdon Charlie Cox | Challenge Motorsport (Vittoria Coffee) | Holden Commodore VS |
| 7 | O | Darren Hossack Darren Pate | Gibson Motorsport (Wynn's) | Holden Commodore VS | 43 | O | Paul Weel Neal Bates | Paul Weel Racing (K&J Thermal Products) | Ford Falcon EL |
| 9 | O | Alan Jones Adam Macrow | Longhurst Racing (Komatsu) | Ford Falcon EL | 44 | P | Mal Rose Allan McCarthy | Mal Rose Racing (Ming, Steal Stopper) | Holden Commodore VS |
| 10 | O | Mark Larkham Brad Jones | Larkham Motorsport (Mitre 10) | Ford Falcon EL | 45 | P | Shane Beikoff Shane Cruickshank Andy Lloyd | Shane Cruickshank Racing (V8 Supercars Board Game, Union Steel) | Holden Commodore VS |
| 11 | O | Larry Perkins Russell Ingall | Perkins Engineering (Castrol) | Holden Commodore VT | 46 | O | John Faulkner Todd Kelly | John Faulkner Racing (Betta Electrical, Fisher & Paykel) | Holden Commodore VS |
| 14 | P | Mike Imrie Rodney Crick | Imrie Motorsport (Armor All, Saabwreck) | Holden Commodore VS | 48 | P | D'Arcy Russell Rod Wilson | Rod Smith Racing (Playboy) | Holden Commodore VS |
| 16 | O | Melinda Price Kerryn Brewer | Perkins Engineering (Castrol) | Holden Commodore VS | 49 | O | Greg Crick Dean Crosswell | Greg Crick Motorsport (Ericsson, Trust Bank) | Holden Commodore VS |
| 17 | O | Dick Johnson Steven Johnson | Dick Johnson Racing (Shell Helix) | Ford Falcon EL | 50 | O | Greg Murphy Mark Noske | Holden Racing Team (Holden, Mobil 1) | Holden Commodore VT |
| 18 | O | John Bowe Cameron McConville | Dick Johnson Racing (Shell Helix) | Ford Falcon EL | 54 | P | Simon Emerzidis Garry Willmington | Emerzidis Motorsport (Simon's Earthworks) | Ford Falcon EL |
| 20 | P | Darren Palmer Ian Palmer Domenic Beninca | Palmer Promotions (Hippies Underwear) | Holden Commodore VS | 55 | P | Rod Nash Darren Edwards | Rod Nash Racing (Autopro, Budweiser) | Holden Commodore VS |
| 22 | O | Danny Osborne Brett Peters | Colourscan Motorsport (Colourscan Printing) | Ford Falcon EL | 60 | P | Nathan Pretty Nicole Pretty Grant Johnson | Pretty Motorsport (DeWalt) | Holden Commodore VS |
| 23 | P | Ray Hislop Tim Briggs | Ray Hislop Racing (NHP Electrical Engineering) | Ford Falcon EF | 72 | P | Robert Smith David Parsons | Robert Smith Racing (Smith's Truck Sales) | Holden Commodore VS |
| 24 | O | Paul Romano Steven Ellery | Romano Racing (Siemens Mobile) | Holden Commodore VS | 75 | O | Anthony Tratt Bob Jones | Paul Little Racing (Toll) | Ford Falcon EL |
| 25 | O | Tony Longhurst Geoff Brabham | Longhurst Racing (Castrol) | Ford Falcon EL | 77 | P | Richard Mork Bill Sieders | V8 Racing (v8racing.com, CareFlight) | Holden Commodore VR |
| 26 | P | Peter Doulman John Cotter | Doulman Automotive (Gatorade) | Holden Commodore VS | 79 | P | Mike Conway Chris Hones | Conway Racing (OAMPS Insurance) | Ford Falcon EL |
| 27 | O | Terry Finnigan Peter Gazzard | Terry Finnigan Racing Team (Sony) | Holden Commodore VS | 96 | O | Wayne Gardner Paul Stokell | Wayne Gardner Racing (Coca-Cola, Donut King) | Holden Commodore VS |
| 28 | O | Mark McLaughlin Ashley Stichbury Kevin Waldock | Playscape Racing (CBS Drill and Blast) | Ford Falcon EF | 99 | P | Mick Donaher Dean Lindstrom | Clive Wiseman Racing (Ultra Tune) | Holden Commodore VS |
| 32 | O | Tomas Mezera Alain Menu | Tomas Mezera Motorsport (Densitron) | Holden Commodore VT | 134 | P | Alan Heath Ken Douglas | Power Racing (West Terrace 4x4) | Ford Falcon EL |
| 34 | O | Garth Tander Cameron McLean | Garry Rogers Motorsport (Valvoline, Cummins) | Holden Commodore VS | | | | | |
| Source: |||||||||||
| Icon | Class |
| O | Outright |
| P | Privateers |

## Results
### Top 10 shootout

| Pos | No | Driver | Team | Car | Time |
| 1 | 1 | Mark Skaife | Holden Racing Team | Holden VT Commodore | 2:09.8945 |
| 2 | 25 | Tony Longhurst | Longhurst Racing | Ford EL Falcon | 2:10.4492 |
| 3 | 5 | Glenn Seton | Glenn Seton Racing | Ford EL Falcon | 2:10.8801 |
| 4 | 10 | Mark Larkham | Larkham Motor Sport | Ford EL Falcon | 2:10.9059 |
| 5 | 46 | John Faulkner | John Faulkner Racing | Holden VS Commodore | 2:12.2551 |
| 6 | 18 | John Bowe | Dick Johnson Racing | Ford EL Falcon | 2:12.3975 |
| 7 | 96 | Wayne Gardner | Wayne Gardner Racing | Holden VS Commodore | 2:12.9215 |
| 8 | 35 | Jason Bargwanna | Garry Rogers Motorsport | Holden VS Commodore | 2:12.9773 |
| 9 | 11 | Larry Perkins | Perkins Engineering | Holden VT Commodore | 2:13.0273 |
| DNS | 50 | Greg Murphy | Holden Racing Team | Holden VT Commodore | |
* Mark Skaife became the first driver to lap a touring car around the 6.213 km (3.861 mi) Mount Panorama Circuit in under 2 minutes and 10 seconds. Skaife qualified his Holden Racing Team VT Commodore in 2:09.8945. His time was 2.93 seconds faster than his own time set in the twin-turbo, 4WD Nissan Skyline R32 GT-R in 1991, the fastest Group A time on The Mountain, and 3.96 seconds faster than George Fury's, Group C time in 1984 in a Nissan Bluebird Turbo on the old 6.172 km (3.835 mi) (pre-Caltex Chase) circuit. * Greg Murphy did not take part in the Top 10 shootout after badly damaging his car in a crash during Friday practice.

### Race

| Pos | Class | No | Drivers | Team | Car | Laps | Time/Retired | Grid |
| 1 | OC | 4 | Jason Bright Steven Richards | Stone Brothers Racing | Ford EL Falcon | 161 | 6:42:23.9039 | 15 |
| 2 | OC | 11 | Larry Perkins Russell Ingall | Perkins Engineering | Holden VT Commodore | 161 | +10.3162 | 9 |
| 3 | OC | 35 | Jason Bargwanna Jim Richards | Garry Rogers Motorsport | Holden VS Commodore | 161 | +10.6552 | 8 |
| 4 | OC | 10 | Mark Larkham Brad Jones | Larkham Motor Sport | Ford EL Falcon | 161 | +1:43.4170 | 4 |
| 5 | OC | 5 | Glenn Seton Neil Crompton | Glenn Seton Racing | Ford EL Falcon | 160 | +1 lap | 3 |
| 6 | OC | 1 | Craig Lowndes Mark Skaife | Holden Racing Team | Holden VT Commodore | 159 | +2 laps | 1 |
| 7 | OC | 7 | Darren Hossack Darren Pate | Gibson Motorsport | Holden VS Commodore | 158 | +3 laps | 20 |
| 8 | OC | 25 | Tony Longhurst Geoff Brabham | Longhurst Racing | Ford EL Falcon | 157 | +4 laps | 2 |
| 9 | OC | 43 | Paul Weel Neal Bates | Paul Weel Racing | Ford EL Falcon | 155 | +6 laps | 22 |
| 10 | CT | 44 | Mal Rose Allan McCarthy | Mal Rose Racing | Holden VS Commodore | 154 | +7 laps | 27 |
| 11 | OC | 16 | Melinda Price Kerryn Brewer | Perkins Engineering | Holden VS Commodore | 151 | +10 laps | 33 |
| 12 | OC | 24 | Paul Romano Steven Ellery | Romano Racing | Holden VS Commodore | 151 | +10 laps | 17 |
| 13 | OC | 96 | Wayne Gardner Paul Stokell | Wayne Gardner Racing | Holden VS Commodore | 149 | +12 laps | 7 |
| 14 | CT | 23 | Ray Hislop Tim Briggs | Briggs Motor Sport | Ford EL Falcon | 147 | +14 laps | 36 |
| 15 | OC | 37 | Alan Taylor Bill Attard Stephen Bell | Scotty Taylor Racing | Holden VS Commodore | 146 | +15 laps | 42 |
| 16 | CT | 48 | D'arcy Russell Rod Wilson | Rod Smith Racing | Holden VS Commodore | 144 | +17 laps | 41 |
| 17 | CT | 79 | Mike Conway Chris Hones | Cadillac Productions | Ford EL Falcon | 144 | +17 laps | 32 |
| 18 | CT | 26 | Peter Doulman John Cotter | Doulman Automotive | Holden VS Commodore | 141 | +20 laps | 24 |
| 19 | CT | 45 | Shane Beikoff Shane Cruickshank Andy Lloyd | Shane Cruickshank | Holden VS Commodore | 134 | +27 laps | 44 |
| 20 | CT | 14 | Mike Imrie Rodney Crick | Imrie Motorsport | Holden VS Commodore | 122 | +39 laps | 29 |
| DNF | OC | 27 | Terry Finnigan Peter Gazzard | Terry Finnigan | Holden VS Commodore | 136 | Engine | 14 |
| DNF | OC | 46 | John Faulkner Todd Kelly | John Faulkner Racing | Holden VS Commodore | 136 | Engine | 5 |
| DNF | CT | 3 | Steve Reed Trevor Ashby | Lansvale Smash Repairs | Holden VS Commodore | 131 | Electrical | 23 |
| DNF | CT | 20 | Ian Palmer Domenic Beninca Darren Palmer | Palmer Promotions | Holden VS Commodore | 121 | Crash | 38 |
| DNF | OC | 22 | Danny Osborne Brett Peters | Colourscan Racing | Ford EL Falcon | 115 | Diff failure | 31 |
| DNF | CT | 54 | Simon Emerzidis Garry Willmington | Emerzidis Motorsport | Ford EL Falcon | 101 | Engine | 26 |
| DNF | CT | 36 | Neil Schembri Gary Quartly | Schembri Motorsport | Holden VS Commodore | 100 | Engine | 40 |
| DNF | OC | 50 | Greg Murphy Mark Noske | Holden Racing Team | Holden VT Commodore | 86 | Tyre failures | 10 |
| DNF | CT | 60 | Nathan Pretty Grant Johnson Nicole Pretty | Pretty Motorsport | Holden VS Commodore | 85 | Alternator | 39 |
| DNF | OC | 18 | John Bowe Cameron McConville | Dick Johnson Racing | Ford EL Falcon | 80 | Engine | 6 |
| DNF | OC | 17 | Dick Johnson Steven Johnson | Dick Johnson Racing | Ford EL Falcon | 60 | Crash | 12 |
| DNF | CT | 39 | Chris Smerdon Charlie Cox | Challenge Motorsport | Holden VS Commodore | 60 | Tailshaft | 30 |
| DNF | OC | 9 | Alan Jones Adam Macrow | Longhurst Racing | Ford EL Falcon | 58 | Crash | 11 |
| DNF | OC | 2 | David Parsons Simon Wills | Gibson Motorsport | Holden VS Commodore | 57 | Crash | 18 |
| DNF | CT | 72 | Robert Smith David Parsons | Robert Smith Racing | Holden VS Commodore | 56 | Crash | 28 |
| DNF | CT | 134 | Alan Heath Ken Douglas | Power Racing | Ford EL Falcon | 54 | Crash | 34 |
| DNF | OC | 34 | Garth Tander Cameron McLean | Garry Rogers Motorsport | Holden VS Commodore | 49 | Suspension | 13 |
| DNF | CT | 77 | Richard Mork Bill Sieders | V8 Racing | Holden VR Commodore | 48 | Engine | 45 |
| DNF | OC | 75 | Anthony Tratt Bob Jones Garry Waldon | Paul Little Racing | Ford EL Falcon | 47 | Engine | 25 |
| DNF | OC | 28 | Mark McLaughlin Ashley Stichbury Kevin Waldock | Playscape Racing | Ford EL Falcon | 40 | Electrical | 35 |
| DNF | OC | 38 | Mark Poole Tony Scott | James Rosenberg Racing | Holden VS Commodore | 34 | Engine | 21 |
| DNF | CT | 55 | Rod Nash Darren Edwards | Rod Nash Racing | Holden VS Commodore | 9 | Tailshaft | 43 |
| DNF | OC | 32 | Tomas Mezera Alain Menu | Tomas Mezera Motorsport | Holden VT Commodore | 0 | Clutch | 19 |
| DSQ | OC | 49 | Greg Crick Dean Crosswell | Greg Crick Motorsport | Holden VS Commodore | 151 | Excluded | 17 |
| DNS | CT | 99 | Mick Donaher Dean Lindstrom | Clive Wiseman Racing | Holden VS Commodore | | Engine failure on warm-up lap | 37 |
| Source: |||||||||