Heimgartner pips Waters in Practice 2

A last-gasp Andre Heimgartner has edged Cam Waters in final NTI Townsville 500 practice.

Heimgartner denied Shane van Gisbergen a Friday practice double, with the points leader third.

The session ran green for its entirety, with teams completing refuelling practice throughout.

It was Heimgartner’s 1:13.419s, set at the death, which proved quickest.

Chaz Mostert was a distant fourth, 0.3s back, with Macauley Jones an impressive fifth.

Such was Heimgartner's pace, that he lowered his own benchmark after firing to the top.

Bryce Fullwood was seventh, helping Brad Jones Racing to three cars in the top 10. 

"The track's evolving so fast," Heimgartner said.

"We managed to make some good changes and we went with the track evolution.

"It's really nice, we've got a solid base to start, obviously a BJR car around here is good.

"Couldn't be a happier end to Friday."

Anton De Pasquale was the first driver into the 1:13s when he turned in a 1:13.935s.

Van Gisbergen lowered the benchmark to a 1:13.537s, before Waters went a scant 0.01s quicker.

It was Heimgartner, however, who made his Dunlop Hard tyres work best of all as the session wound down.

Heimgartner set consecutive laps that would have been good enough for top spot.

Will Davison was 0.06s ahead of Fullwood, with Todd Hazelwood, Nick Percat and Scott Pye rounding out the top 10.

De Pasquale ended up 11th, some 0.5s off Heimgartner's pace.

The top 22 drivers were covered by 0.99s, with James Golding clocking the most laps with 17.

Cars will return to the track for ARMOR ALL Qualifying at 9:50am local time on Saturday.

Drivers will fight for pole in the Top Ten Shootout at 12:00pm, which will set the grid for the 88-lap Race 19.

The race will commence at 2:45pm.