Skaife sets hot pace in qualifying
Mark Skaife set a blistering pace as he topped the times for this weekend's Super Cheap Auto 1000 at Bathurst
Skaife continued his form from the earlier practice sessions as he made it into the 2:06 bracket, setting a time of 2:06.9764 in his Holden Racing Team Commodore, just over a tenth of a second ahead of Jason Bright in his Ford Performance Racing Falcon.
Skaife's time was just over a tenth slower than the fastest-ever lap set three years ago by Greg Murphy.
Third fastest was Rick Kelly in the Toll HSV Dealer Team Holden he will share with brother Todd, edging out the Tasman Motorsport Holden of Jason Richards. After a troubled year, fifth fastest for Super Cheap Auto Racing's Greg Murphy effort was a great result.
The top ten is completed by reigning series champion Russell Ingall, points leader Craig Lowndes, Steven Richards, Dean Canto and Steven Johnson.
Steven Richards looked unlikely to participate in qualifying after a 250+ km/h spin on Conrod Straight yesterday when he bounced off the walls on both sides of the track, but the car was repaired in time for the start of practice this morning.
These top ten cars will compete tomorrow in a shootout to determine the top ten grid positions.
James Courtney just missed out as he qualified 11th, one place ahead of the pairing of veteran Jim Richards and rookie Ryan Briscoe. While the leading Toll HSV Dealer Team and Triple Eight cars are third and fifth respectively, their teammates are well down the order in 26th and 20th respectively.
Paul Weel crashed in morning practice and didn't run in qualifying, Alan Gurr and Kayne Scott also failing to take to the track in qualifying.
Dale Brede has qualified in 25th, however his teammate Mark Porter was injured in a V8 Supercar development series race and was airlifted from the track, leaving the car's participation on Sunday under a heavy cloud.
Pos Drivers Car Time 1. Mark Skaife/Garth Tander Holden Commodore VZ 2:06.9764 2. Jason Bright/Mark Winterbottom Ford Falcon BA 2:07.0967 3. Rick Kelly/Todd Kelly Holden Commodore VZ 2:07.6780 4. Jason Richards/Andrew Jones Holden Commodore VZ 2:07.6922 5. Greg Murphy/Cameron McConville Holden Commodore VZ 2:07.8530 6. Russell Ingall/Luke Youlden Ford Falcon BA 2:07.8768 7. Craig Lowndes/Jamie Whincup Ford Falcon BA 2:07.8939 8. Steven Richards/Paul Dumbrell Holden Commodore VZ 2:07.9130 9. Dean Canto/Lee Holdsworth Holden Commodore VZ 2:07.9895 10. Steven Johnson/Will Davison Ford Falcon BA 2:08.1109 11. James Courtney/Glenn Seton Ford Falcon BA 2:08.3054 12. Jim Richards/Ryan Briscoe Holden Commodore VZ 2:08.4501 13. Alex Davison/Grant Denyer Ford Falcon BA 2:08.5662 14. David Brabham/Matt Halliday Ford Falcon BA 2:08.7346 15. Steve Ellery/Paul Morris Holden Commodore VZ 2:08.7617 16. Greg Ritter/Cameron McLean Holden Commodore VZ 2:08.7723 17. Jason Bargwanna/Craig Baird Ford Falcon BA 2:08.8672 18. John Bowe/Brad Jones Ford Falcon BA 2:09.0520 19. Steve Owen/Tony Longhurst Holden Commodore VZ 2:09.1141 20. Allan Simonsen/Richard Lyons Ford Falcon BA 2:09.4248 21. Warren Luff/Adam Macrow Ford Falcon BA 2:09.5219 22. David Besnard/Max Wilson Ford Falcon BA 2:09.7001 23. Fabian Coulthard/Paul Radisich Holden Commodore VZ 2:09.7200 24. Owen Kelly/Mark Noske Holden Commodore VZ 2:09.8579 25. Dale Brede/Mark Porter Ford Falcon BA 2:09.9120 26. Tony D'Alberto/Anthony Tratt Holden Commodore VZ 2:09.9785 27. Shane Price/Jack Perkins Holden Commodore VZ 2:10.0334 28. Marcus Marshall/Jonathan Webb Ford Falcon BA 2:10.7325 29. Jose Fernandez/Tony Ricciardello Ford Falcon BA 2:11.4185
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