# 2009 Hamilton 400

The 2009 Hamilton 400 was the second race meeting of the 2009 V8 Supercar Championship Series. It was held on the weekend of 17–19 April around the inner city streets of Hamilton, in New Zealand. The 2009 Hamilton 400 was the second running of the event.

## Rule change

The qualifying procedure was changed with a qualifying session to be held for each of the two races, instead of one session for both races.

## Race 3
### Qualifying

Qualifying was held on Saturday 18 April, and was split into two sessions and followed with a top ten shootout. Jamie Whincup was fastest in qualifying for Team Vodafone but Mark Winterbottom secured his ninth pole position by just seven 10,000ths of a second. Steven Johnson and Michael Caruso produced unexpectedly good lap to qualify on the second row, particular for Caruso to be the top Holden on the grid.

### Race

Jason Bright changed his engine after qualifying and stalled on dummy grid. Fiore and D'Alberto started from the pitlane. Caruso was slow away from the second row as Winterbottom stormed away from Whincup, Johnson, Tander, Holdsworth, Lowndes and Courtney. Whincup dived into the lead at turn 6 to lead the opening lap. D'Alberto crashed on the third lap at turn 7. D'Alberto restarts but the following lap Murphy and Slade, separately, crashed at the same point. Murphy was out with bent steering. A safety car was called for D'Alberto's car prior to the Nash Commodore restarting.
Perkins spun at the restart trying to avoid Dumbrell. Dumbrell had a spin a lap later, tangling with Van Gisbergen. Pitstops began around lap 20, beginning with Jason Bright. Craig Lowndes was an early stopper. James Courtney and Fabian Coulthard were big climbers through the field before Courtney stopped early on lap 24. Tander stalled in his pitstop and was passed by four cars as he exited.
Lowndes brushed the wall at turn 7 on lap 37, causing him to pit into the garage for mechanical work and rejoined losing some laps. Marcus Marshall also had an engine fail late in the running after clobbering a tyre bundle on the back chicane. Fiore retired after a clash with Cameron McConville, while Ingall slowed in late lap with mechanical problems. A shambolic safety car restart that saw faster cars mixed up with the mechanically wounded cars of Ingall and Caruso caused Courtney to hit the back of Tander's Commodore, slowing both cars in the later laps.
Whincup stormed away at the final restart to win from Winterbottom with Lee Holdsworth continuing his early season good form to finish third ahead of the consistent Steven Johnson

## Race 4

Race 4 was held on Sunday 19 April.

### Qualifying

The new format for Sunday qualifying made its debut, a return to traditional qualifying methods with all cars on the track together. The session was red flagged late in the session with many of the faster runners caught out just warming up for their final runs at pole after Tim Slade crashed. Steven Johnson was fastest at the time, securing only his second pole position, his previous, Canberra in 2001, also a street circuit. Teammate James Courtney started alongside as Ford dominated the timesheet occupying eight of the top ten position with the only Holdens the garry Rogers Motorsport duo of Michael Caruso and Lee Holdsworth occupying the third row of the grid behind Steven Richards and Jamie Whincup.

### Race

Dean Fiore started from pitlane while Tim Slade's car was too heavily damaged to continue. Johnson ran away from the start to lead while Steven Richards jumped past James Courtney for second as the safety car came out to attend a collision between Mark Winterbottom and the wall. Todd Kelly, being pressured by Jason Bargwanna, then struck Winterbottom. Kelly limped back to the pits while Winterbottom was stranded on the track with broken steering.
Whincup, unable to make progress against Johnson, Richards and Courtney, pitted early to try to get clear air, but it was a slow stop. Johnson slow built up a lead with Courtney moving into second on lap 22. Richards, suffering rear tyre problems, soon succumbed to Holdsworth and Caruso.
By lap 24 leading cars were pitting in numbers. Johnson pitted on lap 26 from the lead. Johnson rejoined behind Whincup but ahead of Holdsworth. Caruso pitted from second on lap 28, stalling briefly, rejoining behind Lowndes and Richards, just ahead of Coulthard. Coulthard claimed a position up the back straight from Caruso. Todd Kelly crashed the wall with steering, already repaired once.
Courtney finally pitted from the lead on lap 32, rejoining behind Whincup, in front of Johnson and Holdsworth. Richards was now holding fifth ahead of Lowndes and Coulthard. Richards spun off track on lap 46, dumping a number of positions. Two laps later Shane van Gisbergen took Rick Kelly off track with an overtaking move gone wrong at the hairpin. Both recovered. Lowndes broke the front left corner of the car, leaving suspension and wheel deranged after clipping the tyre bundle at the back straight chicane. Ingall pulled into the pits trailing smoke with just two laps to go.
Whincup cleared out to win from the Dick Johnson Racing pair of Courtney and Johnson with Holdsworth's fourth position vaulting him past Will Davison into second place in the championship pointscore.

## Results
### Qualifying Race 3

| Pos | No | Name | Car | Team | Top Ten | Part 2 | Part 1 |
| Pole | 5 | Mark Winterbottom | Ford FG Falcon | Ford Performance Racing | 1:23.8053 | 1:23.6730 | |
| 2 | 1 | Jamie Whincup | Ford FG Falcon | Triple Eight Race Engineering | 1:23.8060 | 1:23.6232 | |
| 3 | 17 | Steven Johnson | Ford FG Falcon | Dick Johnson Racing | 1:24.0691 | 1:23.8551 | |
| 4 | 34 | Michael Caruso | Holden VE Commodore | Garry Rogers Motorsport | 1:24.0801 | 1:24.1777 | |
| 5 | 2 | Garth Tander | Holden VE Commodore | Holden Racing Team | 1:24.0862 | 1:23.9327 | |
| 6 | 33 | Lee Holdsworth | Holden VE Commodore | Garry Rogers Motorsport | 1:24.1885 | 1:24.1704 | |
| 7 | 888 | Craig Lowndes | Ford FG Falcon | Triple Eight Race Engineering | 1:24.3101 | 1:23.8543 | |
| 8 | 18 | James Courtney | Ford FG Falcon | Dick Johnson Racing | 1:24.4742 | 1:24.1192 | |
| 9 | 15 | Rick Kelly | Holden VE Commodore | Kelly Racing | 1:24.5275 | 1:24.0438 | |
| 10 | 7 | Todd Kelly | Holden VE Commodore | Kelly Racing | 1:24.5789 | 1:24.1021 | |
| 11 | 9 | Shane van Gisbergen | Ford FG Falcon | Stone Brothers Racing | | 1:24.2719 | |
| 12 | 22 | Will Davison | Holden VE Commodore | Holden Racing Team | | 1:24.2794 | |
| 13 | 11 | Jack Perkins | Holden VE Commodore | Kelly Racing | | 1:24.3279 | |
| 14 | 10 | Paul Dumbrell | Holden VE Commodore | Walkinshaw Racing | | 1:24.3472 | |
| 15 | 77 | Marcus Marshall | Ford BF Falcon | Team IntaRacing | | 1:24.4468 | |
| 16 | 4 | Alex Davison | Ford FG Falcon | Stone Brothers Racing | | 1:24.5732 | |
| 17 | 51 | Greg Murphy | Holden VE Commodore | Tasman Motorsport | | 1:24.7332 | |
| 18 | 39 | Russell Ingall | Holden VE Commodore | Paul Morris Motorsport | | 1:24.7985 | |
| 19 | 25 | Jason Bright | Ford BF Falcon | Britek Motorsport | | 1:34.2732 | |
| 20 | 8 | Jason Richards | Holden VE Commodore | Brad Jones Racing | | 1:35.3031 | |
| 21 | 111 | Fabian Coulthard | Ford FG Falcon | Paul Cruickshank Racing | | | 1:24.7554 |
| 22 | 6 | Steven Richards | Ford FG Falcon | Ford Performance Racing | | | 1:24.9339 |
| 23 | 24 | David Reynolds | Holden VE Commodore | Walkinshaw Racing | | | 1:24.9360 |
| 24 | 3 | Jason Bargwanna | Holden VE Commodore | Tasman Motorsport | | | 1:24.9723 |
| 25 | 67 | Tim Slade | Holden VE Commodore | Paul Morris Motorsport | | | 1:25.0216 |
| 26 | 333 | Michael Patrizi | Ford BF Falcon | Paul Cruickshank Racing | | | 1:25.1275 |
| 27 | 14 | Cameron McConville | Holden VE Commodore | Brad Jones Racing | | | 1:25.6558 |
| 28 | 021 | Dean Fiore | Holden VE Commodore | Team Kiwi Racing | | | 1:25.9853 |
| 29 | 16 | Dale Wood | Holden VE Commodore | Kelly Racing | | | 1:26.1629 |
| EXC | 55 | Tony D'Alberto | Holden VE Commodore | Rod Nash Racing | | | |

### Race 3

| Pos | No | Name | Team | Laps | Time/retired | Grid | Points |
| 1 | 1 | Jamie Whincup | Team Vodafone | 59 | 1:27:20.3645 | 2 | 150 |
| 2 | 5 | Mark Winterbottom | Ford Performance Racing | 59 | +1.5s | 1 | 138 |
| 3 | 33 | Lee Holdsworth | Garry Rogers Motorsport | 59 | +2.3s | 6 | 129 |
| 4 | 22 | Will Davison | Holden Racing Team | 59 | +5.6s | 12 | 120 |
| 5 | 17 | Steven Johnson | Dick Johnson Racing | 59 | +8.1s | 3 | 111 |
| 6 | 111 | Fabian Coulthard | Paul Cruickshank Racing | 59 | +8.6s | 21 | 102 |
| 7 | 15 | Rick Kelly | Jack Daniels Racing | 59 | +9.9s | 9 | 96 |
| 8 | 7 | Todd Kelly | Jack Daniels Racing | 59 | +11.6s | 10 | 90 |
| 9 | 4 | Alex Davison | Stone Brothers Racing | 59 | +14.1s | 16 | 84 |
| 10 | 8 | Jason Richards | Brad Jones Racing | 59 | +15.4s | 20 | 78 |
| 11 | 2 | Garth Tander | Holden Racing Team | 59 | +17.3s | 5 | 72 |
| 12 | 24 | David Reynolds | Walkinshaw Racing | 59 | +17.6s | 23 | 69 |
| 13 | 18 | James Courtney | Dick Johnson Racing | 59 | +18.1s | 8 | 66 |
| 14 | 333 | Michael Patrizi | Paul Cruickshank Racing | 59 | +18.7s | 26 | 63 |
| 15 | 6 | Steven Richards | Ford Performance Racing | 59 | +19.6s | 22 | 60 |
| 16 | 14 | Cameron McConville | Brad Jones Racing | 59 | +28.3s | 27 | 57 |
| 17 | 9 | Shane van Gisbergen | Stone Brothers Racing | 59 | +39.8s | 11 | 54 |
| 18 | 10 | Paul Dumbrell | Walkinshaw Racing | 58 | + 1 lap | 14 | 51 |
| 19 | 11 | Jack Perkins | Kelly Racing | 58 | + 1 lap | 13 | 48 |
| 20 | 55 | Tony D'Alberto | Rod Nash Racing | 58 | + 1 lap | 30 | 45 |
| 21 | 25 | Jason Bright | Britek Motorsport | 58 | + 1 lap | 19 | 42 |
| 22 | 16 | Dale Wood | Kelly Racing | 58 | + 1 lap | 29 | 39 |
| 23 | 39 | Russell Ingall | Paul Morris Motorsport | 58 | + 1 lap | 18 | 36 |
| 24 | 888 | Craig Lowndes | Team Vodafone | 55 | + 4 laps | 7 | 33 |
| 25 | 34 | Michael Caruso | Garry Rogers Motorsport | 52 | + 7 laps | 4 | 30 |
| DNF | 021 | Dean Fiore | Team Kiwi Racing | 56 | Accident | 28 | |
| DNF | 77 | Marcus Marshall | Team IntaRacing | 53 | Engine | 15 | |
| DNF | 3 | Jason Bargwanna | Tasman Motorsport | 44 | | 24 | |
| DNF | 67 | Tim Slade | Paul Morris Motorsport | 17 | | 25 | |
| DNF | 51 | Greg Murphy | Tasman Motorsport | 5 | Steering | 17 | |

### Qualifying Race 4

| Pos | No | Name | Car | Team | Time |
| Pole | 17 | Steven Johnson | Ford FG Falcon | Dick Johnson Racing | 1:24.1606 |
| 2 | 18 | James Courtney | Ford FG Falcon | Dick Johnson Racing | 1:24.2377 |
| 3 | 6 | Steven Richards | Ford FG Falcon | Ford Performance Racing | 1:24.2430 |
| 4 | 1 | Jamie Whincup | Ford FG Falcon | Team Vodafone | 1:24.2932 |
| 5 | 34 | Michael Caruso | Holden VE Commodore | Garry Rogers Motorsport | 1:24.2962 |
| 6 | 33 | Lee Holdsworth | Holden VE Commodore | Garry Rogers Motorsport | 1:24.3214 |
| 7 | 9 | Shane van Gisbergen | Ford FG Falcon | Stone Brothers Racing | 1:24.3568 |
| 8 | 888 | Craig Lowndes | Ford FG Falcon | Team Vodafone | 1:24.3960 |
| 9 | 111 | Fabian Coulthard | Ford FG Falcon | Paul Cruickshank Racing | 1:24.4171 |
| 10 | 5 | Mark Winterbottom | Ford FG Falcon | Ford Performance Racing | 1:24.4447 |
| 11 | 51 | Greg Murphy | Holden VE Commodore | Tasman Motorsport | 1:24.4647 |
| 12 | 39 | Russell Ingall | Holden VE Commodore | Paul Morris Motorsport | 1:24.4872 |
| 13 | 15 | Rick Kelly | Holden VE Commodore | Jack Daniel's Racing | 1:24.5692 |
| 14 | 10 | Paul Dumbrell | Holden VE Commodore | Walkinshaw Racing | 1:24.6161 |
| 15 | 25 | Jason Bright | Ford BF Falcon | Britek Motorsport | 1:24.6622 |
| 16 | 55 | Tony D'Alberto | Holden VE Commodore | Rod Nash Racing | 1:24.6660 |
| 17 | 7 | Todd Kelly | Holden VE Commodore | Jack Daniel's Racing | 1:24.6824 |
| 18 | 8 | Jason Richards | Holden VE Commodore | Brad Jones Racing | 1:24.7050 |
| 19 | 2 | Garth Tander | Holden VE Commodore | Holden Racing Team | 1:24.7090 |
| 20 | 22 | Will Davison | Holden VE Commodore | Holden Racing Team | 1:24.7151 |
| 21 | 4 | Alex Davison | Ford FG Falcon | Stone Brothers Racing | 1:24.7493 |
| 22 | 24 | David Reynolds | Holden VE Commodore | Walkinshaw Racing | 1:24.7151 |
| 23 | 3 | Jason Bargwanna | Holden VE Commodore | Tasman Motorsport | 1:24.8507 |
| 24 | 11 | Jack Perkins | Holden VE Commodore | Kelly Racing | 1:24.7671 |
| 25 | 333 | Michael Patrizi | Ford BF Falcon | Paul Cruickshank Racing | 1:25.2186 |
| 26 | 67 | Tim Slade | Holden VE Commodore | Paul Morris Motorsport | 1:25.4154 |
| 27 | 16 | Dale Wood | Holden VE Commodore | Kelly Racing | 1:25.5536 |
| 28 | 14 | Cameron McConville | Holden VE Commodore | Brad Jones Racing | 1:25.6336 |
| 29 | 77 | Marcus Marshall | Ford BF Falcon | Team IntaRacing | 1:25.6799 |
| 30 | 021 | Dean Fiore | Holden VE Commodore | Team Kiwi Racing | 1:26.0984 |

## Standings

* After Round 2 of 14
| Pos | No | Name | Team | Points |
| 1 | 1 | Jamie Whincup | Team Vodafone | 600 |
| 2 | 33 | Lee Holdsworth | Garry Rogers Motorsport | 498 |
| 3 | 22 | Will Davison | Toll Holden Racing Team | 483 |
| 4 | 17 | Steven Johnson | Jim Beam Racing | 462 |
| 5 | 111 | Fabian Coulthard | Paul Cruickshank Racing | 354 |