Motorsport: Lowndes claims pole for Ipswich 300's

Craig Lowndes. Photo / Paul Estcourt

Holden veteran Craig Lowndes claimed pole position for the Ipswich 300's opening V8 Supercars race on Saturday.

Lowndes, 37, clocked the fastest lap (1 minute, 09.80 seconds) ahead of Ford surprise packet Tim Slade (1:09.83).

Lowndes' teammate and series leader Jamie Whincup (1:10.11) was fourth fastest for the first of Saturday's two 22-lap races.

But powerhouse Holden Racing Team's rotten run continued - defending series champion James Courtney will start from 21st on the grid and teammate Garth Tander 20th.

Three-time series champion Lowndes has a chance to chip away at Whincup's championship lead after arriving at Queensland Raceway in second place on the drivers' standings, just 186 points behind his teammate.

Lowndes boasts six wins at the track - more than any other current driver - and produced a clean sweep of races at the Ipswich round in 2000, one of only three ever to do so at Queensland Raceway.

However, Lowndes has not won at the track - his team's test circuit - since 2005 and has not tasted victory yet this season.

Race one starts at 3.15pm (AEST) with the second commencing at 4pm - just 15 minutes after the opening event finishes.

The round concludes with a 65-lap race on Sunday.

- AAP