# 2002 V8 Supercars Eastern Creek round

The 2002 Eastern Creek V8 Supercar round was the third round of the 2002 V8 Supercar Championship Series. It was held on the weekend of 26 to 28 April at the Eastern Creek Raceway, New South Wales Australia.
The round was dominated by Mark Skaife, who took pole position and won every race of the weekend. These results helped further cement his lead in the championship. Marcos Ambrose was second for the round whilst the podium was rounded out by Craig Lowndes.

## Race results
### Pre-qualifying

In a tense pre-qualifying session, several key drivers failed to qualify for the event. Paul Morris and Steve Owen collided, resulting in a puncture for the former toward the end of the session. He was unable to improve on his time and thus became one of the casualties. It was also said to be the first time Wayne Gardner failed to qualify for a motor race. Despite rule changes introduced the round prior in an attempt to aid those who had to undertake pre-qualifying, the system was still universally unpopular with the teams and drivers.
| Pos | No | Name | Team | Vehicle | Time |
| 1 | 21 | Brad Jones | Brad Jones Racing | Ford Falcon (AU) | 1:33.0200 |
| 2 | 5 | Glenn Seton | Glenn Seton Racing | Ford Falcon (AU) | 1:33.2849 |
| 3 | 27 | Neil Crompton | 00 Motorsport | Ford Falcon (AU) | 1:33.4170 |
| 4 | 71 | Greg Ritter | Dick Johnson Racing | Ford Falcon (AU) | 1:33.5169 |
| 5 | 3 | Cameron McConville | Lansvale Racing Team | Holden Commodore (VX) | 1:33.5503 |
| 6 | 10 | Mark Larkham | Larkham Motor Sport | Ford Falcon (AU) | 1:33.5718 |
| 7 | 40 | Cameron McLean | Paragon Motorsport | Ford Falcon (AU) | 1:33.5740 |
| Did not qualify ||||||
| 8 | 24 | Paul Romano | Romano Racing | Holden Commodore (VX) | 1:33.6100 |
| 9 | 36 | Wayne Gardner | Stone Brothers Racing | Ford Falcon (AU) | 1:33.7429 |
| 10 | 29 | Paul Morris | Paul Morris Motorsport | Holden Commodore (VX) | 1:33.8544 |
| 11 | 75 | Anthony Tratt | Paul Little Racing | Ford Falcon (AU) | 1:34.1156 |
| 12 | 22 | Dugal McDougall | McDougall Motorsport | Holden Commodore (VX) | 1:35.0030 |
| 13 | 14 | Steve Owen | Imrie Motor Sport | Holden Commodore (VX) | 1:35.1333 |

### Qualifying

Friday afternoon's qualifying session provided a few surprises. Brazilian Max Wilson clocked the second-fastest time in just his third weekend in the category. Series veteran John Faulkner stunned the paddock by qualifying in fourth place after years of struggling with budget and equipment. Lowndes qualified outside the top 10 whilst the Dick Johnson Racing Falcon's struggled, with their inexplicable lack of pace leaving them in the mid-pack as they attempted to find a solution. Skaife meanwhile set the benchmark, with a time nearly half a second faster than the rest of the pack, to take provisional pole position.
| Pos | No | Name | Team | Vehicle | Time |
| 1 | 1 | Mark Skaife | Holden Racing Team | Holden Commodore (VX) | 1:31.8873 |
| 2 | 65 | Max Wilson | Briggs Motor Sport | Ford Falcon (AU) | 1:32.3208 |
| 3 | 34 | Garth Tander | Garry Rogers Motorsport | Holden Commodore (VX) | 1:32.3955 |
| 4 | 46 | John Faulkner | John Faulkner Racing | Holden Commodore (VT) | 1:32.4509 |
| 5 | 31 | Steven Ellery | Steven Ellery Racing | Ford Falcon (AU) | 1:32.4681 |
| 6 | 51 | Greg Murphy | Kmart Racing Team | Holden Commodore (VX) | 1:32.4739 |
| 7 | 4 | Marcos Ambrose | Stone Brothers Racing | Ford Falcon (AU) | 1:32.4802 |
| 8 | 8 | Russell Ingall | Perkins Engineering | Holden Commodore (VX) | 1:32.4995 |
| 9 | 16 | Steven Richards | Perkins Engineering | Holden Commodore (VX) | 1:32.6782 |
| 10 | 9 | David Besnard | Stone Brothers Racing | Ford Falcon (AU) | 1:32.7186 |
| 11 | 2 | Jason Bright | Holden Racing Team | Holden Commodore (VX) | 1:32.7706 |
| 12 | 15 | Todd Kelly | Kmart Racing Team | Holden Commodore (VX) | 1:32.8048 |
| 13 | 00 | Craig Lowndes | 00 Motorsport | Ford Falcon (AU) | 1:32.8511 |
| 14 | 888 | John Bowe | Brad Jones Racing | Ford Falcon (AU) | 1:32.8647 |
| 15 | 02 | Rick Kelly | Holden Racing Team | Holden Commodore (VX) | 1:32.8716 |
| 16 | 18 | Paul Radisich | Dick Johnson Racing | Ford Falcon (AU) | 1:32.9025 |
| 17 | 17 | Steven Johnson | Dick Johnson Racing | Ford Falcon (AU) | 1:32.9815 |
| 18 | 5 | Glenn Seton | Glenn Seton Racing | Ford Falcon (AU) | 1:33.0320 |
| 19 | 71 | Greg Ritter | Dick Johnson Racing | Ford Falcon (AU) | 1:33.0703 |
| 20 | 27 | Neil Crompton | 00 Motorsport | Ford Falcon (AU) | 1:33.1175 |
| 21 | 40 | Cameron McLean | Paragon Motorsport | Ford Falcon (AU) | 1:33.1346 |
| 22 | 021 | Jason Richards | Team Kiwi Racing | Holden Commodore (VT) | 1:33.1425 |
| 23 | 66 | Tony Longhurst | Briggs Motor Sport | Ford Falcon (AU) | 1:33.1488 |
| 24 | 11 | Larry Perkins | Perkins Engineering | Holden Commodore (VX) | 1:33.1661 |
| 25 | 3 | Cameron McConville | Lansvale Racing Team | Holden Commodore (VX) | 1:33.2054 |
| 26 | 21 | Brad Jones | Brad Jones Racing | Ford Falcon (AU) | 1:33.2267 |
| 27 | 43 | Paul Weel | Paul Weel Racing | Ford Falcon (AU) | 1:33.2354 |
| 28 | 35 | Jason Bargwanna | Garry Rogers Motorsport | Holden Commodore (VX) | 1:33.2659 |
| 29 | 600 | Simon Wills | Briggs Motor Sport | Ford Falcon (AU) | 1:33.3197 |
| 30 | 54 | Craig Baird | Rod Nash Racing | Holden Commodore (VX) | 1:33.2054 |
| 31 | 10 | Mark Larkham | Larkham Motor Sport | Ford Falcon (AU) | 1:33.9715 |
| 32 | 7 | Rodney Forbes | 00 Motorsport | Ford Falcon (AU) | 1:34.3204 |

### Top Ten Shootout

| Pos | No | Name | Team | Vehicle | Time |
| 1 | 1 | Mark Skaife | Holden Racing Team | Holden Commodore (VX) | 1:31.3824 |
| 2 | 4 | Marcos Ambrose | Stone Brothers Racing | Ford Falcon (AU) | 1:32.0264 |
| 3 | 46 | John Faulkner | John Faulkner Racing | Holden Commodore (VT) | 1:32.3034 |
| 4 | 31 | Steven Ellery | Steven Ellery Racing | Ford Falcon (AU) | 1:32.3773 |
| 5 | 51 | Greg Murphy | Kmart Racing Team | Holden Commodore (VX) | 1:32.5073 |
| 6 | 34 | Garth Tander | Garry Rogers Motorsport | Holden Commodore (VX) | 1:32.5614 |
| 7 | 8 | Russell Ingall | Perkins Engineering | Holden Commodore (VX) | 1:32.6291 |
| 8 | 65 | Max Wilson | Briggs Motor Sport | Ford Falcon (AU) | 1:32.7077 |
| 9 | 9 | David Besnard | Stone Brothers Racing | Ford Falcon (AU) | 1:32.7970 |
| 10 | 16 | Steven Richards | Perkins Engineering | Holden Commodore (VX) | 1:32.8942 |

### Race 1

| Pos | No | Name | Team | Vehicle | Laps | Time / Retired | Grid |
| 1 | 1 | Mark Skaife | Holden Racing Team | Holden Commodore (VX) | 13 | 20min 12.5059sec | 1 |
| 2 | 4 | Marcos Ambrose | Stone Brothers Racing | Ford Falcon (AU) | 13 | + 2.820 s | 2 |
| 3 | 46 | John Faulkner | John Faulkner Racing | Holden Commodore (VT) | 13 | + 11.393 s | 3 |
| 4 | 51 | Greg Murphy | Kmart Racing Team | Holden Commodore (VX) | 13 | + 13.565 s | 5 |
| 5 | 8 | Russell Ingall | Perkins Engineering | Holden Commodore (VX) | 13 | + 15.528 s | 7 |
| 6 | 31 | Steven Ellery | Steven Ellery Racing | Ford Falcon (AU) | 13 | + 20.147 s | 4 |
| 7 | 9 | David Besnard | Stone Brothers Racing | Ford Falcon (AU) | 13 | + 22.668 s | 9 |
| 8 | 34 | Garth Tander | Garry Rogers Motorsport | Holden Commodore (VX) | 13 | + 22.898 s | 6 |
| 9 | 00 | Craig Lowndes | 00 Motorsport | Ford Falcon (AU) | 13 | + 23.314 s | 13 |
| 10 | 16 | Steven Richards | Perkins Engineering | Holden Commodore (VX) | 13 | + 24.168 s | 10 |
| 11 | 15 | Todd Kelly | Kmart Racing Team | Holden Commodore (VX) | 13 | + 24.664 s | 12 |
| 12 | 888 | John Bowe | Brad Jones Racing | Ford Falcon (AU) | 13 | + 25.322 s | 14 |
| 13 | 02 | Rick Kelly | Holden Racing Team | Holden Commodore (VX) | 13 | + 26.194 s | 15 |
| 14 | 18 | Paul Radisich | Dick Johnson Racing | Ford Falcon (AU) | 13 | + 26.949 s | 16 |
| 15 | 17 | Steven Johnson | Dick Johnson Racing | Ford Falcon (AU) | 13 | + 31.418 s | 17 |
| 16 | 5 | Glenn Seton | Glenn Seton Racing | Ford Falcon (AU) | 13 | + 32.198 s | 18 |
| 17 | 021 | Jason Richards | Team Kiwi Racing | Holden Commodore (VT) | 13 | + 32.739 s | 22 |
| 18 | 27 | Neil Crompton | 00 Motorsport | Ford Falcon (AU) | 13 | + 33.623 s | 20 |
| 19 | 71 | Greg Ritter | Dick Johnson Racing | Ford Falcon (AU) | 13 | + 35.635 s | 19 |
| 20 | 21 | Brad Jones | Brad Jones Racing | Ford Falcon (AU) | 13 | + 36.320 s | 26 |
| 21 | 65 | Max Wilson | Briggs Motor Sport | Ford Falcon (AU) | 13 | + 37.997 s | 8 |
| 22 | 66 | Tony Longhurst | Briggs Motor Sport | Ford Falcon (AU) | 13 | + 38.633 s | 23 |
| 23 | 11 | Larry Perkins | Perkins Engineering | Holden Commodore (VX) | 13 | + 38.930 s | 24 |
| 24 | 35 | Jason Bargwanna | Garry Rogers Motorsport | Holden Commodore (VX) | 13 | + 39.197 s | 28 |
| 25 | 43 | Paul Weel | Paul Weel Racing | Ford Falcon (AU) | 13 | + 39.613 s | 27 |
| 26 | 54 | Craig Baird | Rod Nash Racing | Holden Commodore (VX) | 13 | + 41.036 s | 30 |
| 27 | 40 | Cameron McLean | Paragon Motorsport | Ford Falcon (AU) | 13 | + 42.390 s | 21 |
| 28 | 10 | Mark Larkham | Larkham Motor Sport | Ford Falcon (AU) | 13 | + 42.868 s | 31 |
| 29 | 7 | Rodney Forbes | 00 Motorsport | Ford Falcon (AU) | 13 | + 43.650 s | 32 |
| Ret | 2 | Jason Bright | Holden Racing Team | Holden Commodore (VX) | 8 | Engine | 11 |
| Ret | 600 | Simon Wills | Briggs Motor Sport | Ford Falcon (AU) | 8 | Retired | 29 |
| Ret | 3 | Cameron McConville | Lansvale Racing Team | Holden Commodore (VX) | 4 | Retired | 25 |

### Race 2

| Pos | No | Name | Team | Vehicle | Laps | Time / Retired | Grid |
| 1 | 1 | Mark Skaife | Holden Racing Team | Holden Commodore (VX) | 39 | 1hr 1min 53.0093sec | 1 |
| 2 | 4 | Marcos Ambrose | Stone Brothers Racing | Ford Falcon (AU) | 39 | + 2.144 s | 2 |
| 3 | 00 | Craig Lowndes | 00 Motorsport | Ford Falcon (AU) | 39 | + 27.157s | 9 |
| 4 | 34 | Garth Tander | Garry Rogers Motorsport | Holden Commodore (VX) | 39 | + 31.984 s | 8 |
| 5 | 15 | Todd Kelly | Kmart Racing Team | Holden Commodore (VX) | 39 | + 49.156 s | 11 |
| 6 | 46 | John Faulkner | John Faulkner Racing | Holden Commodore (VX) | 39 | + 51.706 s | 3 |
| 7 | 51 | Greg Murphy | Kmart Racing Team | Holden Commodore (VX) | 39 | + 57.211 s | 4 |
| 8 | 17 | Steven Johnson | Dick Johnson Racing | Ford Falcon (AU) | 39 | + 1:08.673 s | 15 |
| 9 | 18 | Paul Radisich | Dick Johnson Racing | Ford Falcon (AU) | 39 | + 1:09.122 s | 14 |
| 10 | 888 | John Bowe | Brad Jones Racing | Ford Falcon (AU) | 39 | + 1:09.467 s | 12 |
| 11 | 16 | Steven Richards | Perkins Engineering | Holden Commodore (VX) | 39 | + 1:10.317 s | 10 |
| 12 | 27 | Neil Crompton | 00 Motorsport | Ford Falcon (AU) | 39 | + 1:12.583 s | 18 |
| 13 | 2 | Jason Bright | Holden Racing Team | Holden Commodore (VX) | 39 | + 1:12.732 s | 30 |
| 14 | 3 | Cameron McConville | Lansvale Racing Team | Holden Commodore (VX) | 39 | + 1:13.589 s | 32 |
| 15 | 5 | Glenn Seton | Glenn Seton Racing | Ford Falcon (AU) | 39 | + 1:14.493 s | 16 |
| 16 | 10 | Mark Larkham | Larkham Motor Sport | Ford Falcon (AU) | 39 | + 1:19.112 s | 28 |
| 17 | 66 | Tony Longhurst | Briggs Motor Sport | Ford Falcon (AU) | 39 | + 1:20.994 s | 22 |
| 18 | 9 | David Besnard | Stone Brothers Racing | Ford Falcon (AU) | 39 | + 1:22.099 s | 7 |
| 19 | 600 | Simon Wills | Briggs Motor Sport | Ford Falcon (AU) | 39 | + 1:24.775 s | 31 |
| 20 | 54 | Craig Baird | Rod Nash Racing | Holden Commodore (VX) | 39 | + 1:27.556 s | 26 |
| 21 | 31 | Steven Ellery | Steven Ellery Racing | Ford Falcon (AU) | 39 | + 1:28.857 s | 6 |
| 22 | 02 | Rick Kelly | Holden Racing Team | Holden Commodore (VX) | 39 | + 1:29.119 s | 13 |
| 23 | 11 | Larry Perkins | Perkins Engineering | Holden Commodore (VX) | 39 | + 1:32.342 s | 23 |
| 24 | 21 | Brad Jones | Brad Jones Racing | Ford Falcon (AU) | 39 | + 1:32.589 s | 20 |
| 25 | 021 | Jason Richards | Team Kiwi Racing | Holden Commodore (VX) | 39 | + 1:52.595 s | 17 |
| 26 | 35 | Jason Bargwanna | Garry Rogers Motorsport | Holden Commodore (VX) | 38 | + 1 lap | 24 |
| 27 | 65 | Max Wilson | Briggs Motor Sport | Ford Falcon (AU) | 38 | + 1 lap | 21 |
| 28 | 7 | Rodney Forbes | 00 Motorsport | Ford Falcon (AU) | 38 | + 1 lap | 29 |
| 29 | 8 | Russell Ingall | Perkins Engineering | Holden Commodore (VX) | 38 | + 1 lap | 5 |
| 30 | 43 | Paul Weel | Paul Weel Racing | Ford Falcon (AU) | 35 | + 4 laps | 25 |
| Ret | 40 | Cameron McLean | Paragon Motorsport | Ford Falcon (AU) | 29 | Retired | 27 |
| Ret | 71 | Greg Ritter | Dick Johnson Racing | Ford Falcon (AU) | 21 | Retired | 19 |

### Race 3

| Pos | No | Name | Team | Vehicle | Laps | Time / Retired | Grid |
| 1 | 1 | Mark Skaife | Holden Racing Team | Holden Commodore (VX) | 39 | 1hr 1min 55.1475sec | 1 |
| 2 | 00 | Craig Lowndes | 00 Motorsport | Ford Falcon (AU) | 39 | + 4.280 s | 3 |
| 2 | 34 | Garth Tander | Garry Rogers Motorsport | Holden Commodore (VX) | 39 | + 8.771 s | 4 |
| 4 | 4 | Marcos Ambrose | Stone Brothers Racing | Ford Falcon (AU) | 39 | + 9.916 s | 2 |
| 5 | 51 | Greg Murphy | Kmart Racing Team | Holden Commodore (VX) | 39 | + 12.455 s | 7 |
| 6 | 15 | Todd Kelly | Kmart Racing Team | Holden Commodore (VX) | 39 | + 12.652 s | 5 |
| 7 | 2 | Jason Bright | Holden Racing Team | Holden Commodore (VX) | 39 | + 14.340 s | 13 |
| 8 | 888 | John Bowe | Brad Jones Racing | Ford Falcon (AU) | 39 | + 50.713 s | 10 |
| 9 | 18 | Paul Radisich | Dick Johnson Racing | Ford Falcon (AU) | 39 | + 54.055 s | 9 |
| 10 | 3 | Cameron McConville | Lansvale Racing Team | Holden Commodore (VX) | 39 | + 1:06.005 s | 14 |
| 11 | 71 | Greg Ritter | Dick Johnson Racing | Ford Falcon (AU) | 39 | + 1:08.704 s | 32 |
| 12 | 16 | Steven Richards | Perkins Engineering | Holden Commodore (VX) | 39 | + 1:09.062 s | 11 |
| 13 | 35 | Jason Bargwanna | Garry Rogers Motorsport | Holden Commodore (VX) | 39 | + 1:09.327 s | 26 |
| 14 | 27 | Neil Crompton | 00 Motorsport | Ford Falcon (AU) | 39 | + 1:10.149 s | 12 |
| 15 | 9 | David Besnard | Stone Brothers Racing | Ford Falcon (AU) | 39 | + 1:11.469 s | 18 |
| 16 | 66 | Tony Longhurst | Briggs Motor Sport | Ford Falcon (AU) | 39 | + 1:11.947 s | 17 |
| 17 | 21 | Brad Jones | Brad Jones Racing | Ford Falcon (AU) | 39 | + 1:12.209 s | 24 |
| 18 | 021 | Jason Richards | Team Kiwi Racing | Holden Commodore (VX) | 39 | + 1:13.341 s | 25 |
| 19 | 65 | Max Wilson | Briggs Motor Sport | Ford Falcon (AU) | 39 | + 1:13.670 s | 27 |
| 20 | 11 | Larry Perkins | Perkins Engineering | Holden Commodore (VX) | 39 | + 1:14.472 s | 23 |
| 21 | 600 | Simon Wills | Briggs Motor Sport | Ford Falcon (AU) | 39 | + 1:21.053 s | 19 |
| 22 | 40 | Cameron McLean | Paragon Motorsport | Ford Falcon (AU) | 39 | + 1:40.677 s | 31 |
| 23 | 10 | Mark Larkham | Larkham Motor Sport | Ford Falcon (AU) | 39 | + 1:41.187 s | 16 |
| 24 | 17 | Steven Johnson | Dick Johnson Racing | Ford Falcon (AU) | 39 | + 1:46.379 s | 8 |
| 25 | 02 | Rick Kelly | Holden Racing Team | Holden Commodore (VX) | 39 | + 1:55.280 s | 22 |
| 26 | 43 | Paul Weel | Paul Weel Racing | Ford Falcon (AU) | 38 | + 1 lap | 30 |
| 27 | 8 | Russell Ingall | Perkins Engineering | Holden Commodore (VX) | 31 | + 8 laps | 29 |
| 28 | 7 | Rodney Forbes | 00 Motorsport | Ford Falcon (AU) | 30 | + 9 laps | 28 |
| Ret | 46 | John Faulkner | John Faulkner Racing | Holden Commodore (VX) | 36 | Retired | 6 |
| Ret | 31 | Steven Ellery | Steven Ellery Racing | Ford Falcon (AU) | 29 | Retired | 21 |
| Ret | 5 | Glenn Seton | Glenn Seton Racing | Ford Falcon (AU) | 5 | Retired | 15 |
| Ret | 54 | Craig Baird | Rod Nash Racing | Holden Commodore (VX) | 4 | Retired | 20 |