Hot off the back of victory at the Betta Electrical 500 at Sandown, Craig Lowndes (Team Betta Electrical) has set the fastest time in the opening two-hour practice session for this weekend's Super Cheap Auto 1000 at Bathurst.

Lowndes, who will share the driving duties with Frenchman Yvan Muller, muscled his Falcon around the Mount Panorama circuit in a time of 2:08.1715 to be just 0.0479 of a second faster than Mark Skaife. Defending two-time Series champion Marcos Ambrose (Pirtek Racing) was third.

Lowndes, who has already scored three wins this season, has further sent out a warning to other teams that he'll have a strong package this weekend.

"That's the quickest lap I've done around here," said Lowndes.

"With the long two-hour session we were able to make improvements and we are very happy with the position that we are currently in. The good news is that we are confident of refining the package for tomorrow and the weekend.

"The car was especially good over the top of the Mountain. Overall it's very easy to drive fast and for Yvan there won't be any surprises.

"The track was very quick for a Thursday. Tomorrow it should be even quicker and our car is up to the challenge with plenty of grip and our engines are very strong."

For Ambrose it was a solid start to the weekend

"This is probably the best start to a weekend we've had at Bathurst," said Ambrose.

"The track had a lot of grip and the pace was certainly on.

"There's still a lot to come from the car and all the team. We are all pretty relaxed and looking forward to the weekend.

"It's important that I go well this weekend from a championship and personal point of view. I really want to win the race and that will help out the championship."

The two-hour session brought two major incidents. Russell Ingall (Caltex Racing) had contact with the wall at Forrest's Elbow and although it appeared to be a relatively minor scrape, damage to the suspension, differential and the Watts linkage will have his crew busy tonight.

There's also plenty of work for Team BOC after Dale Brede crashed his Falcon heavily at the some corner. That team has already started work on repairs and the Falcon is expected to be ready by tomorrow morning.

Tomorrow's program includes two practice sessions and the all-important qualifying session in the afternoon.

Sandown – Top-10 Practice #1 - Bathurst

1. Lowndes / Muller Team Betta Electrical Ford Falcon BA 2:08.1715

2. T. Kelly / Skaife Holden Racing Team Holden Commodore Æ®.0479

3. Ambrose / Luff Pirtek Racing Ford Falcon BA Æ®.1844

4. Murphy / Weel Super Cheap Auto Holden Commodore Æ®.3907

5. S. Richards / Dumbrell Castrol Racing Holden Commodore Æ®.5655

6. Jim Richards / Courtney Holden Racing Team Holden Commodore Æ®.7857

7. Bargwanna / Winterbottom Orrcon Steel Racing Ford Falcon BA Æ®.9733

8. Johnson / Davison Westpoint Racing Ford Falcon BA Ư.0463

9. R. Kelly / Tander HSV Dealer Team Holden Commodore Ư.2785

10. Seton / Canto Westpoint Racing Ford Falcon BA Ư.4356

f**k YER go lowdnes but i do hope marcus can win before he leaves for the usa

be a good thing for him

agreed

heheh he was on the radio this morning telling murphy or some d**k holden drive that claimed they were doing 300kmhr down conrod he was lieing as lowndes was nto doing 300..

GO LOWNDES!

Go Lowndes. I hope he wins over Ambrose and Ingall. Ingall has apparently stacked his car and is using a reserve car for the race.

Ambrose for 2nd and Ingall for 3rd.

Don't REALLY care as long as it's a Ford 1/2/3.

Reminder for Canberra peeps. If you want to spend Bathurst Sunday at Concorde/My place watching the race + BBQ. Come out to Braddon tonight and see us. It's BYO grog and food.

I really do hope ford wins this year.. haha

my bro actually bet this chick if ford wins he gets her for the night and she'll do anything, but she said if holden wins she gets him for the night.. win win situation! lucky C***! lol

that is lucky!


mm lowndes has the fastest tiem in qual! WOOHOO!

be a good shootout tomoz