Lowndes: I believe we can do it

Craig Lowndes believes he and Steven Richards can bring it to teammates Jamie Whincup and Paul Dumbrell today and challenge for the Wilson Security Sandown 500 win.

Despite starting from seventh on the grid - while their Red Bull competitors hold ARMOR ALL Pole Position - Lowndes feels they can prevent their teammates from taking their second consecutive win at the 500.

"We believe so - I think there's no doubt about that," Lowndes told v8supercars.com.au.

"The car's got speed, we've just got to find a way forward and get into a position where we can use it.

"And of course the last 30 laps of the race is when it's all going to begin...It doesn't really matter where you start, you just have to stay out of trouble. And if you stay out of trouble half the battle's done, so we'll see where we end up at the end of the first stint."

While the team had not yet determined strategy, Lowndes believed Richards would start the race, with co-drivers often running first, completing their 54 required laps and handing the car over to the Championship driver.

And although it has caught Lowndes out before, he isn't concerned double stacking would be a problem, though the #888 will not have track position over its sister car in the opening laps.

"I think again they'll look at strategies and make sure that doesn't happen because that's obviously a threat, or an issue. But I can't see it being a problem tomorrow," he said.

"I think there's no doubt that what we've done at the last couple of meetings, we've gone in with different strategies and seen what plays out.

"But I think the guys are pretty smart, that issue shouldn't occur or arise tomorrow. If it does, it's one of those things we have to deal with and get on with it."

While the #1 pair dominated Saturday, sitting on top of the qualifying session and subsequent co-driver and driver races, #888 had a tougher day, Lowndes coming home ninth in the sessionand ultimately moved up two spots across the races for the grid.

An engine scare in Lowndes' run threatened to see the #888 tumble further back in the order, but the problem - a foul plug, which Lowndes mused could have been from being on the limiter for so long when he exited the pits - was resolved before the start of the race.

Lowndes debuts a new car this weekend, chassis 888A-039 and last year, when Whincup did the same, he and Dumbrell won the event.

Another stat that falls in their favour is that the pole sitter has not won at Sandown since 1996 - and a win would clinch a number Lowndes would be "delighted" to have under his belt, equaling the late, great Peter Brock for nine '500' race wins.

"I think the car speed is there, we just have to put ourselves in a position to use it. There's no doubt Jamie's car's quite fast and strong and we'll see what we can do," he said.

While Richards was clearly one of the most valuable co-drivers of last year's Pirtek Enduro Cup, he had trouble getting off the start-line at Sandown in 2013, and dropped he and Mark Winterbottom down the order.

"No doubt you're always nervous when you watch your co-driver start, no matter who it is," Lowndes said.

"So when you're not in the car you're always on edge, probably pacing, and just making sure and waiting to get in there and get cracking."

It almost seemed inevitable Lowndes and Richards would pair up eventually - despite competing against one another in the category for almost two decades, they have never teamed for the endurance races before.

"I actually made a comment earlier in the week that we're like an old married couple! So yeah we have known each other for a long time and we have raced against each other for a number of races, and I can honestly say I don't think we had contact or any problems so it's nice to drive with Steve. His character and personality really suits and I think he fits into the team really well."

Sitting third in the Championship, Lowndes is 213 points away from Whincup and 78 from second-placed Winterbottom heading into the race, worth 300.

Shane van Gisbergen, who is just 34 behind, is also threatening, with the Commodore he shares with Jonathon Webb starting from the front row this afternoon.

The V8 Supercars will be on-track from 10.35am for a 20-minute warm-up, with the 500km race beginning at 1.40pm AEST.