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 Class Drivers Team (Sponsor) Car Class Drivers Team (Sponsor) Car 1 O Craig Lowndes Holden Racing Team Holden Commodore VT 35 O Jason Bargwanna Garry Rogers Motorsport Holden Commodore VS 2 O David Parsons Gibson Motorsport Holden Commodore VS 36 P Neil Schembri Schembri Motorsport Holden Commodore VS 3 P Steve Reed Lansvale Smash Repairs Holden Commodore VS 37 O Alan Taylor Alan Taylor Racing Holden Commodore VS 4 O Jason Bright Stone Brothers Racing Ford Falcon EL 38 O Mark Poole James Rosenberg Racing Holden Commodore VS 5 O Glenn Seton Glenn Seton Racing Ford Falcon EL 39 P Chris Smerdon Challenge Motorsport Holden Commodore VS 7 O Darren Hossack Gibson Motorsport Holden Commodore VS 43 O Paul Weel Paul Weel Racing Ford Falcon EL 9 O Alan Jones Longhurst Racing Ford Falcon EL 44 P Mal Rose Mal Rose Racing Holden Commodore VS 10 O Mark Larkham Larkham Motorsport Ford Falcon EL 45 P Shane Beikoff Shane Cruickshank Racing Holden Commodore VS 11 O Larry Perkins Perkins Engineering Holden Commodore VT 46 O John Faulkner John Faulkner Racing Holden Commodore VS 14 P Mike Imrie Imrie Motorsport Holden Commodore VS 48 P D'Arcy Russell Rod Smith Racing Holden Commodore VS 16 O Melinda Price Perkins Engineering Holden Commodore VS 49 O Greg Crick Greg Crick Motorsport Holden Commodore VS 17 O Dick Johnson Dick Johnson Racing Ford Falcon EL 50 O Greg Murphy Holden Racing Team Holden Commodore VT 18 O John Bowe Dick Johnson Racing Ford Falcon EL 54 P Simon Emerzidis Emerzidis Motorsport Ford Falcon EL 20 P Darren Palmer Palmer Promotions Holden Commodore VS 55 P Rod Nash Rod Nash Racing Holden Commodore VS 22 O Danny Osborne Colourscan Motorsport Ford Falcon EL 60 P Nathan Pretty Pretty Motorsport Holden Commodore VS 23 P Ray Hislop Ray Hislop Racing Ford Falcon EF 72 P Robert Smith Robert Smith Racing Holden Commodore VS 24 O Paul Romano Romano Racing Holden Commodore VS 75 O Anthony Tratt Paul Little Racing Ford Falcon EL 25 O Tony Longhurst Longhurst Racing Ford Falcon EL 77 P Richard Mork V8 Racing Holden Commodore VR 26 P Peter Doulman Doulman Automotive Holden Commodore VS 79 P Mike Conway Conway Racing Ford Falcon EL 27 O Terry Finnigan Terry Finnigan Racing Team Holden Commodore VS 96 O Wayne Gardner Wayne Gardner Racing Holden Commodore VS 28 O Mark McLaughlin Playscape Racing Ford Falcon EF 99 P Mick Donaher Clive Wiseman Racing Holden Commodore VS 32 O Tomas Mezera Tomas Mezera Motorsport Holden Commodore VT 134 P Alan Heath Power Racing Ford Falcon EL 34 O Garth Tander Garry Rogers Motorsport 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 151V8 Bathurst 2, 1998, page 243 Excluded 17 DNSV8 Bathurst 2, 1998, page 244 CT 99 Mick Donaher Dean Lindstrom Clive Wiseman Racing Holden VS Commodore Engine failure on warm-up lap 37 Source:
Broadcast Network 10 broadcast the race for the second consecutive year, dating back to the 1997 5.0L race. Barry Sheene provided commentary in the booth for the first part of the race before moving to pit-lane for the remainder. Greg Rust was involved in the Bathurst broadcast for the first time.
Network 10 Hosts: Bill Woods, Matthew WhiteBooth: Leigh Diffey, Mark Oastler, Barry SheenePit-lane: Greg Rust
References
Statistics Provisional position - #5 Glenn Seton - 2:11.4634 Pole position - #1 Mark Skaife - 2:09.8945 Fastest lap - #1 Craig Lowndes - 2:12.7771 Average speed - 149 km/h
External links Official race results Official V8 Supercar website CAMS Manual reference to Australian titles race results 1998 FAI 1000 Classic and 1998 AMP Bathurst 1000 images