The Grove Racing driver discovered himself among the many lead group in the course of the first security automotive of the race, which led to a clumsy change with Broc Feeney on the security automotive line.
Feeney had pitted whereas Reynolds had stayed out, the previous popping out of the lane as Reynolds rounded Hell Nook.
The pair crossed the security automotive line nearly on the identical time, with Feeney very barely forward, earlier than Reynolds blasted forward of Feeney within the queue.
Race officers famous that Reynolds was underneath investigation earlier than the restart, earlier than slapping him with a drive-through for passing underneath security automotive shortly afterwards.
He tried to redress with Feeney to keep away from the penalty, however race management was insistent that he nonetheless wanted to serve the drive-through.
That left Reynolds baffled, given he claims he had no thought who was forward on the line and was counting on instruction from race management if he wanted to redress behind the security automotive.
“Usually you race to the road and [race control is] the choose,” he informed Autosport.
“This time they had been simply the executioner, there was no choose happening.
Feeney was adjudged to have made it to the security automotive line first
Picture by: Edge Photographics
“You simply race to the road. He is come out of pitlane, so my pace is of course larger and I’ll go previous him anyway. I pulled in entrance and waited for them to inform me [if I had to redress].
“I used to be taking a look at him and I did not know the place the road was. I wanted them to inform me what was happening they usually did not. It ruined our day.”
Reynolds mentioned he would mull over whether or not to sort out race director James Taylor over the matter.
“I suppose I can convey it up within the drivers’ chat and hopefully they will cross it alongside,” he mentioned. “It is a fairly regular factor to swap the positions round underneath security automotive. It’s totally simple to do.”
After serving the penalty the automotive stayed on the lead lap, Reynolds and co-driver Garth Tander had been in a position to drag the automotive again to fifth on the finish of the race.
Nonetheless, Reynolds was left pissed off by a day of saving gas and working lengthy to try to offset the penalty.
“Our goal was to be better of the Fords, however to get our time again we needed to go off-strategy, do super-long stints and save loads of gas,” he mentioned.
“And it isn’t supreme as a result of the tyres put on out too quick round right here. It was a really laborious day. Attempting to make lap pace and save gas shouldn’t be enjoyable for any driver.”
One factor Reynolds was impressed with was teaming up with 2007 champion Tander, a five-time winner of the Bathurst 1000.
“Having Garth in my nook was unbelievable, he is simply so good,” he mentioned.
“Actually cool to work with, I actually loved my time with him. It was superior.”