Winterbottom steals Bathurst pole

For a while it looked like Jim Beam Racing's Steven Johnson would take pole, holding out challenges from Lee Holdsworth, Greg Murphy and Craig Lowndes who got close but couldn't eclipse Johnson's effort.

That was before Holden Racing Team's Mark Skaife took to the track. By the end of the first sector it was clear he would be at the top of the tree, in the end taking nearly a second off the previous pole mark.

Garth Tander was the penultimate contender for pole, and was around the mark throughout the lap but unable to topple Skaife in the end, slower by less than a tenth of a second.

Finally, it was Winterbottom's turn, fastest in Friday qualifying. Fast but a little more ragged than Skaife, it was going to come down to the final sector to determine pole.

A small wiggle as Winterbottom turned left in the Chase gave hope back to Skaife, but Skaife's own final sector wasn't perfect either.

As Winterbottom crossed the line he popped to the top of the times, just over a tenth of a second faster than Skaife who will start second tomorrow.

Tander finished third just ahead of Johnson, with Oran Park winner Lee Holdsworth next just ahead of 2006 Bathurst winner Craig Lowndes.

The rest of the top ten comprises of Greg Murphy, James Courtney, Paul Raidisich and Russell Ingall, who was on track to a decent time before locking his rear brakes at the final corner and spinning.

The field is down to 30 cars after the Team BOC Ford Falcon of Damien White and Christian Murchison was withdrawn after the team realised the car was too damaged to repair for Sunday's race after White's crash in Friday qualifying.

Pos Drivers                            Car                   Time
 1. Mark Winterbottom/Steven Richards  Ford Falcon BF        2:07.0908
 2. Mark Skaife/Todd Kelly             Holden Commodore VE   2:07.1961
 3. Garth Tander/Rick Kelly            Holden Commodore VE   2:07.2871
 4. Steven Johnson/Will Davison        Ford Falcon BF        2:08.0782
 5. Lee Holdsworth/Dean Canto          Holden Commodore VE   2:08.1812
 6. Craig Lowndes/Jamie Whincup        Ford Falcon BF        2:08.2449
 7. Greg Murphy/Jason Richards         Holden Commodore VE   2:08.3672
 8. James Courtney/David Besnard       Ford Falcon BF        2:08.3911
 9. Paul Radisich/Craig Baird          Holden Commodore VE   2:08.4909
10. Russell Ingall/Luke Youlden        Ford Falcon BF        2:19.5966
11. Greg Ritter/Cameron McLean         Holden Commodore VE   2:08.4006
12. Paul Dumbrell/Paul Weel            Holden Commodore VE   2:08.4802
13. Jason Bright/Adam Macrow           Ford Falcon BF        2:08.6625
14. Glenn Seton/Nathan Pretty          Holden Commodore VE   2:08.6628
15. Andrew Jones/Simon Wills           Ford Falcon BF        2:08.9001
16. Richard Lyons/Allan Simonsen       Ford Falcon BF        2:08.9718
17. Marcus Marshall/Kayne Scott        Holden Commodore VE   2:08.9984
18. Cameron McConville/David Reynolds  Holden Commodore VE   2:09.0878
19. Mark Noske/Jay Verdnik             Holden Commodore VE   2:11.2633
20. Alex Davison/Andrew Thompson       Ford Falcon BF            -
21. Jason Bargwanna/Max Wilson         Ford Falcon BF        2:09.5378
22. Warren Luff/Alan Gurr              Ford Falcon BF        2:09.7122
23. Steve Owen/Tony D'Alberto          Holden Commodore VZ   2:09.7822
24. Matt Halliday/Owen Kelly           Ford Falcon BF        2:09.8141
25. John Bowe/Jonathon Webb            Ford Falcon BF        2:09.8464
26. Jack Perkins/Shane Price           Holden Commodore VE   2:10.0196
27. Paul Morris/Steve Ellery           Holden Commodore VE   2:10.0945
28. Fabian Coulthard/Chris Pither      Holden Commodore VZ   2:10.3498
29. Shane Van Gisbergen/John McIntyre  Ford Falcon BF        2:10.4038
30. Michael Caruso/Grant Denyer        Ford Falcon BF        2:11.5360