Tander takes Bahrain pole
Toll HSV Dealer Team's Garth Tander has taken pole position for today's race one of the inaugural Desert 400 in Bahrain
Tander topped qualifying and maintained the position after the shootout. He was closely followed by Ford Performance Racing's Jason Bright, who topped the opening practice session yesterday.
The second row is comprised of a pair of Holdens, points leader Rick Kelly just edging out brother Todd, with rookie James Courtney completing the top five in a Ford. Championship outside will start from sixth in his Holden.
After missing the shootout in Tasmania, Triple Eight's Craig Lowndes made the top ten and will start ninth. However, he had been sixth fastest in qualifying and as in Tasmania, will start one place behind teammate Jamie Whincup.
Mark Skaife will start from tenth after qualifying fourth, making a mistake on his shootout lap and spinning down the order.
Mark Winterbottom in fifteenth and Russell Ingall in nineteenth haven't helped their title hopes with their efforts in qualifying, Winterbottom's poor grid position a surprise after setting the third fastest time in yesterday's practice session, and teammate Bright starting from the front row.
There is some good news down the grid however, with young rookie Jack Perkins starting 24th in the Team Sirromet Holden, three places ahead of his much more experienced teammate Paul Morris.
Pos Driver Car 1. Garth Tander Holden Commodore VZ 2. Jason Bright Ford Falcon BA 3. Rick Kelly Holden Commodore VZ 4. Todd Kelly Holden Commodore VZ 5. James Courtney Ford Falcon BA 6. Steven Richards Holden Commodore VZ 7. Greg Murphy Holden Commodore VZ 8. Jamie Whincup Ford Falcon BA 9. Craig Lowndes Ford Falcon BA 10. Mark Skaife Holden Commodore VZ 11. Paul Dumbrell Holden Commodore VZ 12. Will Davison Ford Falcon BA 13. Steven Johnson Ford Falcon BA 14. Dean Canto Holden Commodore VZ 15. Mark Winterbottom Ford Falcon BA 16. Jason Bargwanna Ford Falcon BA 17. Jason Richards Holden Commodore VZ 18. Lee Holdsworth Holden Commodore VZ 19. Russell Ingall Ford Falcon BA 20. Cameron McConville Holden Commodore VZ 21. John Bowe Ford Falcon BA 22. Max Wilson Ford Falcon BA 23. Brad Jones Ford Falcon BA 24. Jack Perkins Holden Commodore VZ 25. Steve Owen Holden Commodore VZ 26. Andrew Jones Holden Commodore VZ 27. Paul Morris Holden Commodore VZ 28. Marcus Marshall Ford Falcon BA 29. Warren Luff Ford Falcon BA 30. Chris Pither Holden Commodore VZ 31. Jose Fernandez Ford Falcon BA
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