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After starting 26th Bright finished 15th in a wet race #2, then improved one position further in the final race of the weekend.

It was a complete contrast to the start of the Queen’s Birthday long weekend where Bright struggled throughout practice (27th fastest), before gearbox problems saw him qualify 28th. A fresh gearbox and engine was hastily fitted to the Fujitsu Racing Falcon before the opening race, but oil surge forced an early retirement.

The Fujitsu Racing Team re-grouped after the opening race and dug deep during Monday's races, not only providing Bright with a faster car but also performing excellent pit stops throughout each race.

The final race finished in near darkness with vision proving a challenge for Bright.

“To everyones credit we dug deep today and to jump into the top 15 was a credit to everyone’s hard work,” said Bright.

“I was very disappointed with how we started the weekend. We had a myriad of little problems which plagued us throughout practice and then into qualifying and race #1.

“Our car pace today, especially in the final race, was very good. I believe it to be the best handling car I’ve ever had at Sandown. We do have an issue with straight-line speed, but we will do a full analysis on that during this coming week.

“One of the areas that our practice woes effected us was with our brake set-up. We ran brake duct that were too small and cooked our front brakes in that last race.

“At the end in the dark I was getting blinded by the gear-shift LED lights we run on the steering wheel. I wear glasses and it was refracting the ultra bright light.

“I’m looking forward to Darwin. We’ll do a lot of work before heading north to ensure we are on the pace from the outset.

It was a relieved Fujitsu Racing Chief Engineer Geoff Slater at the end of the weekend.

“Monday was a big improvement over our issues this weekend,” said Slater.

“The wet race #2 really helped us as it evened the playing field and Jason could attack. Importantly we kept that good pace for the final race.

“It shows the character of this team to fight-back today. Other teams or individuals could have thrown their hands up in the air, but the pride in this group brought everyone together to ensure we had a good car today.

“In Perth we really showed that we can mix it with the best. Earlier this weekend it appeared we would be nowhere near our competition, but we hit back strongly with Jason racing and passing good teams and drivers.”

The next round of the SKYCITY Triple Crown at Darwin’s Hidden Valley Raceway on July 4 – 6.

2008 V8 Supercar Championship Series
Round 5, Sandown International Raceway, Melbourne, VIC

Championship points after 5 of 14 rounds
1. Mark Winterbottom 1124
2. Garth Tander 1072
3. Jamie Whincup 1062
4. Rick Kelly 1028
5. Craig Lowndes 897
6. Steve Richards 839
7. James Courtney 811
8. Lee Holdsworth 760
9. Will Davison 752
10.Todd Kelly 726
24. Jason Bright 470

RESULTS: Round Points
1. Jamie Whincup 286
2. Mark Winterbottom 252
3. James Courtney 234
4. Shane Van Gisbergen 228
5. Russell Ingall 212
6. Craig Lowndes 186
7. Garth Tander 176
8. Todd Kelly 170
9. Steven Johnson 170
10. Rick Kelly 146
24. Jason Bright 82
RESULTS: Race Three
1. Jamie Whincup – 39 laps
2. Mark Winterbottom
3. James Courtney
4. Shane Van Gisbergen
5. Todd Kelly
6. Russell Ingall
7. Will Davison
8. Lee Holdsworth
9. Steve Richards
10. Steven Johnson
14. Jason Bright

RESULTS: Race Two
1. Craig Lowndes – 39 laps
2. Shane Van Gisbergen
3. Jamie Whincup
4. James Courtney
5. Steven Johnson
6. Mark Winterbottom
7. Russell Ingall
8. Todd Kelly
9. Garth Tander
10. Cameron McConville
15. Jason Bright

RESULTS: Race One
1. Jamie Whincup – 39 laps
2. Mark Winterbottom
3. Craig Lowndes
4. Russell Ingall
5. Garth Tander
6. James Courtne! y
7. Rick Kelly
8. Fabian Coulthard
9= E Shane Van Gisbergen
10. Mark Skaife
DNF Jason Bright – 11 laps

RESULTS: Qualifying
1. Jamie Whincup 1:09.6987
2. Mark Winterbottom 1:10.0184
3. Will Davison 1:10.0328
4. Rick Kelly 1:10.0588
5. Fabian Coulthard 1:10.0800
6. Russell Ingall 1:10.1399
7. Steve Richards 1:10.1750
8. Todd Kelly 1:10.1754
9. Craig Lowndes 1:10.2646
10. Jason Richards 1:10.5183
28. Jason Bright 1:11.6990