Holden’s Michael Caruso shocked the V8 Supercars championship contenders to top the timesheets in Friday’s practice for the Gold Coast 600.

Caruso clocked a lap of one minute and 11.6912 seconds on the 2.96km Surfers Paradise street circuit to post the quickest time of the day.

Ford’s Mark Winterbottom came second with a 1:11.7891 to be the highest-placed of the championship-chasing drivers, while Bathurst runner-up David Reynolds continued his recent hot form to post the third fastest time of the day with a 1:11.9380.

Holden’s Jamie Whincup finished fifth quickest while teammate Craig Lowndes was the 10th fastest driver as some others struggled with the uncompromising concrete-lined circuit.

Holden’s Garth Tander fell victim to the new high kerbs on the circuit, breaking a suspension spring midway through the session while Holden’s Jonathan Webb also damaged his car during the final run of the day.

Earlier, Webb’s partner for the weekend, German Marc Lieb, proved the fastest of the international co-drivers taking part in this weekend’s race, topping the timesheets in both sessions reserved for the overseas guests.

Lieb was the quickest with a 1:12.4673 to finish ahead of Australian IndyCar star Ryan Briscoe (1:12.6980) and France’s Simon Pagenaud (1:12.7036).

The action resumes on Saturday with qualifying and a top-10 shootout in the morning before a 300km race starting at 1.40pm (AEST).