Holden’s Jamie Whincup has broken the lap record to set the fastest qualifying time on Saturday ahead of the Sandown 500 V8 Supercar race.
After several lap records tumbled during practice, Whincup’s 1min 8.6203sec made him the fastest ever V8 driver around the outer Melbourne track.
The Red Bull Racing pilot’s lap late in the 20-minute qualifying session nudged out impressive youngster Chaz Mostert in the Wilson Security Ford (1:08.7111).
Another rising star, Scott McLaughlin, was third fastest in a Holden.
Whincup’s Red Bull teammate Craig Lowndes was fifth fastest, while Ford’s Will Davison was sixth and Mark Winterbottom 12th.
The first of two 20-lap qualifying races will be held later on Saturday.
That will be for co-drivers only, with their finish positions determining the grid for the series’ regular drivers in the second race – also on Saturday.
Where the drivers finish in the second race determines grid position for Sunday’s 161-lap race – the traditional lead-up to next month’s Bathurst 1000.