Whincup snatches pole
07/10/2010 02:57:36 AM
A crucial mistake by Craig Lowndes in the top 10 shootout has allowed Holden team-mate Jamie Whincup to snatch pole position for Saturday's V8 Supercars race in Townsville.
Lowndes made the perfect start to his day by qualifying fastest for the shootout but came unstuck going into a turn before eventually crossing the line in 10th place.
Two-time defending champion Whincup, who was second in qualifying, had no peer as he scorched around the street circuit in one minute 13.3223 seconds.
Ford Performance Racing's Mark Winterbottom will start from second on the grid for Saturday's 200km race after clocking 1:13.6361 while Garth Tander was third (1:13.8638).
Championship leader James Courtney had to settle for fifth place (1:13.9123) with team-mate Steven Johnson next in line.
Courtney leads the standings by just 57 points from Whincup, while Lowndes, rising Kiwi star Shane van Gisbergen and Winterbottom are all poised within the top five.
The opening race in Townsville begins at 3.05pm (AEST) with a second 200km race on Sunday.
Top 10 Shootout
1 Jamie Whincup Holden 1:13.3223
2 Mark Winterbottom Ford 1:13.6361
3 Garth Tander Holden 1:13.8638
4 Jason Bright Holden 1:13.8859
5 James Courtney Ford 1:13.9123
6 Steven Johnson Ford 1:13.9416
7 Fabian Coulthard Holden 1:14.0071
8 Lee Holdsworth Holden 1:14.0149
9 Shane van Gisbergen Ford 1:14.5248
10 Craig Lowndes Holden 1:14.6617