'I'll count that as a pole' says Whincup

He doesn't claim $2000 from Armor All or add it to his pole position tally, but Jamie Whincup says his fastest qualifying effort for today's Wilson Security Sandown 500 counts as a pole for him.

The Red Bull Holden Commodore driver three times sat atop the 20 minute session, responding to faster times set by Volvo's Scott McLaughlin and the Holden Racing Team's Garth Tander.

His third fastest lap in succession on the same set of Dunlops control tyres not only meant co-driver Paul Dumbrell would start from pole position for his 20 lap race, but also re-set his own practice lap record.

"It just proves it's not about the money or the stats, it's about the satisfaction," said Whincup. "It's a pole for me, it's as good as any other pole.

"No points for pole, but plenty of satisfaction. That is the main thing."

Whincup also revealed the fast times only came about after the team took a punt on car setup midway through the 20 minute session.

"We made some demon tweaks. I am pretty proud of the engineers. They put their balls on the chopping block and it paid off.

"The car absolutely lit up, so it was a really good feeling.

"The tyre was going off (on the third lap) but the cars in front of me were coming back to me so I was getting more and more of a slipstream. I got a huge tow on the third lap and that's what it is all about around here, trying to get a slipstream."

Whincup's efforts means Dumbrell lines up from pole for the co-drivers race, with Tander's partner Warren Luff alongside and McLaughlin's Volo co-driver Alex Premat on row two with Mark Winterbottom's FPR Falcon co-driver Steve Owen.

The finishing position for the race will determine the starting rid for the regular drivers' race. The finishing order of that race will in turn determine the starting grid for tomorrow's Pirtek Enduro Cup opener.

"Jamie has given me a good opportunity to stay out of drama," said Dumbrell. "It should be good, at the end of the day most of the guys have done plenty of racing.

"We all know there is no points for this race, whereas two years ago there was, so there was a significant amount more pressure. Now it's just about getting the best possible grid position."