Ford have struck first in the lead-up to Sunday’s first endurance race of the V8 Supercar Championship at Sandown.
The Ford Performance Team was quickest in practice before the two sprint races later in the day.
Will Davison snared the fastest qualifying time for the first race which will be for co-drivers.
It means Davison’s teammate John McIntyre starts his sprint from pole position.
Holden Racing Team’s Garth Tander was second fastest in the session, ahead of New Zealander Shane Van Gisbergen.
Series leader Jamie Whincup struggled on the slippery track and could manage no better than 10th quickest, meaning his co-driver Paul Dumbrell will have to try to carve his way through the field to give Whincup a better starting spot in race two.
Whincup is defending a slender one point lead over Ford’s Mark Winterbottom going into the Sandown 500, the traditional lead into next month’s showcase Bathurst 1000.