FIVE years ago it was the cause of bitter disappointment, but now when it comes to discussing the safety car at Mount Panorama Red Bull Holden Racing Team star Jamie Whincup can muster a laugh.
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Adding to a number of rules changes already introduced by Supercars this season, come this year's Bathurst 1000 lapped cars will be permitted to pass the safety car.
It's a decision Whincup, a man who has four race wins to his name this season, is in favour of.
"So the change there is if you're a lapped car you're allowed to pass the safety car and get up the road a bit and get your lap back," Whincup said.
"So what that's going to mean is there are more cars on the lead lap, which is only a good thing, plus you're not going to have that lapped traffic getting in the way of the race with 10 laps to go.
"So that's a positive, to be able to change the rules and hopefully it works."
Whincup says that a safety car is "inevitable at some stage" during the Bathurst 1000 and he knows all to well how it can impact the race.
In 2015 he was in position to win the endurance classic when, with 24 laps remaining, Scott Pye hit the wall at Reid Park to trigger a safety car.
As he headed up Mountain Straight Whincup thought he was 'green lighted' to pass the safety car and did so. But it was ruled to be an illegal move, he was black flagged and ultimately finished 18th.
I think the racing the last few months has been some of the best we've seen.
- Jamie Whincup
The new safety car rule is one Whincup hopes will add to what he feels has been quality, exciting racing this season.
Bathurst will also feature a compulsory front brake rotor change between lap 55 and lap 120 in another rule change.
"We've worked really hard to change the racing and make it as good as we can and I think the racing the last few months has been some of the best we've seen," he said.
"I think that the sprint format has been fantastic, the racing has been good we've mixed the tyre strategy up which has really spiced it up and we've had a few different winners as well, so I don't think you could ask for much more from a sporting point of view."