Holden’s Jamie Whincup emerged from a day of destruction at Surfers Paradise on Saturday to strengthen his grip on this year’s V8 Supercars championship.

In a race twice forced to restart after spectacular multi-car pile-ups on the starting line, Whincup surged to a commanding 209 points championship lead with just eight races left.

He and French co-driver Sebastien Bourdais took the victory in the shortened 79-lap race ahead of Holden’s Jonathan Webb and German co-driver Marc Lieb.

Championship rival Mark Winterbottom, partnering with Australian IndyCar driver Will Power this weekend, finished third.

But the Ford driver, who is now level with veteran Craig Lowndes on 2713 championship points in equal second after Lowndes finished sixth, says he’s running out of time to stop Whincup claiming a fourth V8s title.

“It’s not good enough,” Winterbottom told AAP.

“We’ve got to try and beat him to win this championship. You’ve just got to try and keep winning each race and if you can keep winning it puts pressure on them.

“Third was a really good effort from the dramas we had … that could be as good as a win if it all falls into place for you (but) deep down you’ve got to beat him week-in, week-out.

“Otherwise it’s going to come down to Homebush (final event) and the only way you can beat him is if he doesn’t turn up.”

Both Whincup and Winterbottom were counting their blessings after six cars failed to even complete a lap on Saturday following some spectacular crashes at the start and subsequent restart.

In the original race start, IndyCar driver James Hinchcliffe bogged Michael Caruso’s No.33 Commodore, sparking a multi-car pile-up.

Ex-Formula One driver Vitantonio Liuzzi and Simon Pagenaud collided before young American driver Ricky Taylor was launched onto his roof and wound up upside-down just past the start line.

After a half-hour delay, chaos reigned again at the restart with France’s Nicholas Minassian stalling and his compatriot Franck Montagny clipping him to again halt the race.

Despite the dramas, Whincup said he had no issue with handing the responsibility for starting Sunday’s 300km race to Bourdais.

“They are seriously tough cars to get off the line … but that’s part of the sport,” Whincup said.

“We’re not wrapped up in cotton-wool.”

Sunday’s action begins with qualifying at 11.10am AEST before the race gets underway at 1.40pm AEST.