Jones rim 'lucky to hold on' after Winterbottom hit

Brad Jones Racing driver Macauley Jones says a damaged rim "was lucky to hold on” following a dramatic first-lap clash with Mark Winterbottom in Sydney.

Jones and Winterbottom’s races unraveled on lap 1 after a collision at Turn 2, taking both drivers out of contention at Sydney Motorsport Park.

Team 18 veteran Winterbottom, who started 15th, locked up and speared right towards Jones, who was sent spinning into the outfield.

Winterbottom pitted with a broken steering arm and came home 25th, nine laps behind winner Chaz Mostert.

“Not a good day. Unfortunate for Macauley, didn’t want to see him off the track, but then we got damage, and it was a nothing race, really,” Winterbottom said.

Jones pressed on after the hit, nursing his Pizza Hut Camaro to lap 24, when he made his one and only stop of the race.

Speaking in team communications after the race, Jones revealed he was carrying a broken rim from the incident, which he felt was “lucky” to make it through the first stint.

"Had a bit of damage from the hit on the first lap,” Jones said.

"The rim was lucky to hold on to be honest, most of the spokes are all cracked. Big chip missing out of it so that was lucky.

"That and a bit of tow damage in the left rear but other than that nothing major."

The incident put Jones on a one-stopper, and with the race running green, he was unable to get himself back in the fight. Jones did, however, get back to 20th, past both Blanchard drivers and wildcard Lochie Dalton.

“With no Safety Car and being 25 seconds behind, that kind of hurt us,” Jones said.

"And then doing the one stop strategy, which at the time it's definitely the right decision but it's hard when you are 20 seconds further back than what you want to be.

"You come out straight when everyone else has done their second pit stop which then you lose a lot of time… unfortunately but it's all part of the game."

Supercars will return to the track on Sunday for Boost Mobile Qualifying at 12:05pm AEST, before the Top Ten Shootout at 1:40pm. The Panasonic Air Conditioning Sydney SuperNight will conclude with Race 16 at 4:05pm.