Craig Lowndes has the inside running for the start to the V8 Supercar season he is so desperate for.
The Holden driver will start from pole position for the season-opening Clipsal 500, defending champion and team-mate Jamie Whincup is several spots behind him and he has clearly built on the momentum from his storming finish to 2011.
Pipped for the championship by Whincup last year, Lowndes sizzled in today's top-10 shootout around the Adelaide street circuit to put himself on the front of the grid for Saturday's opening 250km race.
His 1min 21.2738sec lap edged out Holden's Garth Tander (1:21.2908), with Will Davison the fastest Ford as his Ford Performance Racing team also shone through a hectic day of practice and qualifying sessions.
Whincup will start from fifth on the grid for Saturday's opening 250km race, just behind surprise packet Jonathon Webb's Holden.