Qualifying: New record for Bowe

Veteran John Bowe took two seconds of the V8 Supercar lap record at the Mount Panorama circuit in qualifying for Sunday's Bathurst race

Oct 11, 2002, 8:58 AM

The double winner of the classic will now run 15th and last in Saturday's Shootout, which will decide the starting order for the 1,000km event.

"It's certainly a lap for the old guard, that's for sure," said Bowe. "The lap was a good, but nothing too special, if pressed I could have gone quicker again. My biggest concern is that it takes at least a couple of laps to get the tyres up to temperature, but I'll give it my best shot."

Mark Skaife was second fastest in his Holden, just two hundredths behind Bowe. Fellow Commodore driver Jason Bright was third quickest.

John Cleland was 17th fastest in his Ford Falcon, while the Yvan Muller/Andy Priaulx entry was 18th.

Former world 500cc motorcycle champion Wayne Gardner has been withdrawn from the event after crashing heavily at the first corner when his front brakes failed. He was knocked unconscious in the incident, and was subsequently diagnosed with mild concussion, forcing him to pull out.