Holdsworth makes a strong start

Lee Holdsworth is pleased to have started the Sydney NRMA 500 in strong form, especially considering the significance of the event to him.

Holdsworth was fastest in the second practice session today and makes race start number 300 this weekend

It is also his final outing for Erebus Motorsport V8 in the Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG. He will make the swap to Charlie Schwerkolt Racing in 2015.

"It's early days, I am not going to get excited yet, but obviously starting the weekend with a good car is always a positive," said Holdsworth.

"Obviously there are a lot of reasons to make this a good one.

"I have always been quick around here and know the track well, so hopefully we can stay on top of it for qualifying and the races."

With the track having been washed clean repeatedly in recent days by rain and more wet weather forecast, Holdsworth said the conditions of the Sydney Olympic Park street track were set to play a big role in determining results.

"There are car parks on the exits of a lot of the turns, where cars have been sitting dripping oil.

"So that is cleaning up as we go along and that second session was definitely faster than the first one.

"The rain is going to bring some oil up as well, so that is going to be a very slippery first session if the rain does come."

Holdsworth led Jamie Whincup by 0.06sec in the day's second practice session - click here for more information.