Pither surprise pole winner at Ipswich

New Zealander Chris Pither has snared the first pole position of his Supercars career for Saturday’s race at Queensland Raceway.

Pither clocked a fastest lap of one minute and 10.0378 seconds at the 3.12km circuit to take pole ahead of Prodrive Racing Australia teammate Chaz Mostert.

It will be the first time in 49 Supercars races Pither has started from position No.1 on the grid.

“I had to pinch myself coming down pitlane,” Pither told Fox Sports.

“Didn’t think we’d manage it this year but an absolutely amazing feeling.”

Mostert will start second ahead of a Triple Eight Race Engineering second row which boasts championship leader Jamie Whincup and Craig Lowndes.

Whincup’s teammate Shane Van Gisbergen will start from fifth while defending champion Mark Winterbottom is seventh on the grid.

Ford’s Scott Pye didn’t take part in qualifying after a spectacular crash during practice an hour beforehand.

Pye walked away unharmed after brake failure left him helpless as his car arrowed off track into a tyre bundle at turn three.

DJR/Team Penske is confident Pye’s car will be replaced in time for Saturday’s race, which starts at 4.10pm.

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