Craig Lowndes has brushed aside a hairy practice day to take pole position for the first V8 Supercars race at Symmons Plains in Tasmania.

The five-time Bathurst champion denied Ford’s Mark Winterbottom by less than one 20th of a second, while series leader James Courtney placed third on Saturday.

Lowndes spent plenty of time on the grass during Friday’s wet practice day.

Shane Van Gisbergen missed his brake mark around the notorious turn four hairpin, charging into Ash Walsh’s Mercedes.