Lowndes takes pole positions for both Race 4 and 5
Craig Lowndes is off to a flying start in Tasmania.
Photo by: Supercars
With the V8 Supercars double qualifying sessions coming to a close ahead of today’s sprint races, it was Red Bull Racing driver, Craig Lowndes, who captured both pole positions on a sunny day in Tasmania.
Although Lowndes had his ups and downs yesterday during the very wet practice sessions, the weather improved today which allowed the 40-year old to show why he’s still the people’s champion.
Practice 1
With Lowndes posting a 0:51.655 during the first 10-minute session, he was followed very closely by Mark Winterbottom who was only .047s off of the Red Bull driver’s time. With Lowndes and ‘Frosty’ occupying the front row, Holden Racing Team (HRT) driver, James Courtney will start beside Erebus Motorsports’ Will Davison with David Reynolds completing the top-five starting grid for Race 4.
Shane van Gisbergen was involved in an incident with Erebus driver, Ash Walsh, after the former locked up the rear wheels and skidded into the back of the latter. As a result, the ‘Gis’ was penalized two grid positions and also will be starting the race with damage to the front end.
Practice 2
With Lowndes once again pushing out the fastest time with a slightly quicker 0:51.621, his teammate and six-time champion, Jamie Whincup, found his form and slotted into second which will allow Red Bull to lock-out the front row for Race 5.
Courtney once was once again just outside the front row and will start beside Reynolds.
A surprise for many was the addition of newcomer, Andre Heimgartner, to the top-five. The young Kiwi just received the new Ford Falcon FG X and seems to be putting its new aero package to immediate good use.
Pye in for Ambrose
Scott Pye, who is stepping into the shoes of Marcos Ambrose, didn’t have the performance he was looking for with a 15th and an 18th during the qualifying sessions.
Top ten
Completing the top ten were Garth Tander, Winterbottom, Scott McLaughlin, Davison and van Gisbergen.
Grid for race 4
Pos | Driver | Car | Time | Gap |
1 | Craig Lowndes | Holden | 51.6558 | - |
2 | M.Winterbottom | Ford | 51.7030 | 0.0472 |
3 | James Courtney | Holden | 51.7675 | 0.1117 |
4 | Will Davison | Mercedes | 51.7889 | 0.1331 |
5 | David Reynolds | Ford | 51.7942 | 0.1384 |
6 | S.van Gisbergen | Holden | 51.8378 | 0.1820 |
7 | Chaz Mostert | Ford | 51.8875 | 0.2317 |
8 | Jamie Whincup | Holden | 51.9057 | 0.2499 |
9 | Garth Tander | Holden | 51.9852 | 0.3294 |
10 | Tim Slade | Holden | 52.0973 | 0.4415 |
11 | A.Heimgartner | Ford | 52.1210 | 0.4652 |
12 | Todd Kelly | Nissan | 52.1442 | 0.4884 |
13 | Fabian Coulthard | Holden | 52.1596 | 0.5038 |
14 | Lee Holdsworth | Holden | 52.1926 | 0.5368 |
15 | Scott Pye | Ford | 52.1959 | 0.5401 |
16 | James Moffat | Nissan | 52.2040 | 0.5482 |
17 | Scott McLaughlin | Volvo | 52.2061 | 0.5503 |
18 | Dale Wood | Holden | 52.2363 | 0.5805 |
19 | Rick Kelly | Nissan | 52.2420 | 0.5862 |
20 | Ashley Walsh | Mercedes | 52.2641 | 0.6083 |
21 | Michael Caruso | Nissan | 52.2727 | 0.6169 |
22 | Jason Bright | Holden | 52.2829 | 0.6271 |
23 | Nick Percat | Holden | 52.3908 | 0.7350 |
24 | David Wall | Volvo | 52.4557 | 0.7999 |
25 | Tim Blanchard | Holden | 52.6047 | 0.9489 |
Grid for race 5
Pos | Driver | Car | Time | Gap |
1 | Craig Lowndes | Holden | 51.6213 | - |
2 | Jamie Whincup | Holden | 51.7188 | 0.0975 |
3 | James Courtney | Holden | 51.7550 | 0.1337 |
4 | David Reynolds | Ford | 51.8263 | 0.2050 |
5 | A.Heimgartner | Ford | 51.8336 | 0.2123 |
6 | Garth Tander | Holden | 51.8663 | 0.2450 |
7 | M.Winterbottom | Ford | 51.8817 | 0.2604 |
8 | Scott McLaughlin | Volvo | 51.9132 | 0.2919 |
9 | Will Davison | Mercedes | 51.9332 | 0.3119 |
10 | S.van Gisbergen | Holden | 51.9398 | 0.3185 |
11 | Lee Holdsworth | Holden | 51.9442 | 0.3229 |
12 | Todd Kelly | Nissan | 51.9518 | 0.3305 |
13 | Fabian Coulthard | Holden | 51.9520 | 0.3307 |
14 | Chaz Mostert | Ford | 51.9531 | 0.3318 |
15 | Tim Slade | Holden | 51.9663 | 0.3450 |
16 | Rick Kelly | Nissan | 52.0023 | 0.3810 |
17 | Jason Bright | Holden | 52.0702 | 0.4489 |
18 | Scott Pye | Ford | 52.1055 | 0.4842 |
19 | Dale Wood | Holden | 52.1556 | 0.5343 |
20 | Ashley Walsh | Mercedes | 52.2204 | 0.5991 |
21 | James Moffat | Nissan | 52.2912 | 0.6699 |
22 | Nick Percat | Holden | 52.3292 | 0.7079 |
23 | Michael Caruso | Nissan | 52.3578 | 0.7365 |
24 | David Wall | Volvo | 52.4435 | 0.8222 |
25 | Tim Blanchard | Holden | 52.5512 | 0.9299 |
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