Jamie Whincup has given himself a chance of adding another Sandown trophy to a bulging trophy room after taking pole for Sunday’s V8 Supercars 500 kilometre race.
With co-driver Paul Dumbrell, Whincup led Saturday’s three-stage qualifying from start to finish, repeating their pole position effort at the Melbourne track from last year where the pair also triumphed.
The lack of championship points didn’t reduce the intensity of racing, with both series drivers and co-drivers involved in ferocious fighting for position.
Whincup held off a steely challenge from Shane Van Gisbergen, with the pair to occupy the front row for the endurance classic.
But the championship leader’s qualifying effort could have turned out so differently, with Dumbrell forcing the team to spend an uncomfortable hour under a cloud.
Race stewards investigated but cleared the number one car of jumping the start of the co-drivers race, much to the team’s relief.
It was fitting reward for the Red Bull Racing team, with Whincup beginning the day by setting a new practice record of 1:08.5730.
His nearest challenger for the V8 Supercars title, Ford’s Mark Winterbottom, completed his best qualifying effort in several races to finish third, with New Zealander Scott McLaughlin fourth.
Holden Racing Team drivers Garth Tander and James Courtney locked out the third row, ensuring they stay in calculations.
The three-stage rolling qualifying format first asked championship drivers to complete a 20-minute fastest lap session.
That shootout set a grid for a 20-lap race between co-drivers before the series drivers picked up their positions for a final 20-lap qualifying race.
After setting a lap record with the third of three flying laps around the famed circuit, Whincup’s car led all day.
Aside from his starting mishap, Dumbrell impressed during his race, putting some distance between himself and the field.
Van Gisbergen’s co-driver Jonathon Webb showed he isn’t a second-tier driver with a sharp run through the field to set up his team-mate’s second position.