Winterbottom on Pole, but Where is Whincup?
Championship front-runners Mark Winterbottom and Craig Lowndes will start this afternoon’s race from the front row. But Jamie Whincup’s name did not appear in the top 10 at the end of qualifying for Race 32 at the Sargent Security Phillip Island 360.
“We were all lined up for two flying laps, I’m not sure what happened there, I only got one in,” Whincup said after the session.
“Thirteenth – we’ve got a fun, fun afternoon ahead of us.”
The V8 Supercars started the session on wet weather tyres, but as the track dried out there was the switch to slicks, and plenty of changes at the top.
Times started in the 1min43s, Shane van Gisbergen leading the way on the drying track.
Fabian Coulthard jumped to the top in the session, but it was a nervous moment for his Lockwood crew as he went into the gravel – but managed to rejoin.
Whincup looked on track, jumping to the top with around six minutes to go. Todd Kelly, Garth Tander, Lowndes and Alex Davison all sat at the top of the totem pole for a time – but it was Winterbottom who will start from p1, claiming his 29th career pole position, and starting along his Championship rival Lowndes.
"It was awesome, the car has been so good. When we roll out in qualifying and it's wet – I just want to use what I've got,” Winterbottom said.
"When it's like that it doesn't feel like you've got pressure but there was a fair bit going on."
Second row is Tander and Alex Davison, with Mostert, Coulthard, van Gisbergen, Jason Bright, David Reynolds and Will Davison making up the top 10.
Other to note include the first Erebus Mercedes home Tim Slade in 12th, Courtney in 15th, Todd Kelly the first Nissan in 16th and McLaughlin, fastest in practice, in 17th.
Click here for full results.
Race 32 kicks off at 3.45pm AEDT.
