Motorsport: Super fast practice sets scene

Craig Lowndes during practice for the Hamilton 400. Photo / Getty Images

It may only be practice, but the V8 Supercars drivers were on the pace yesterday as the third round of the series began in Hamilton.

It was the first time drivers were able to use soft compound tyres around the streets of Frankton and the quickest drivers were well under last year's efforts.

When the dust settled after the final run in the afternoon, nine drivers were under the existing lap record of 1m 23.2s held by Garth Tander and 24 of the 28 drivers were within a single second.

Craig Lowndes was quickest in 1m 22.8s closely followed by Jamie Whincup and Kiwi Shane van Gisbergen.

Many drivers attributed the quick lap times not only to the soft rubber, but also the removal of the tyre bundle at the notorious chicane that has been the undoing of several drivers in the past.

"The first session was dry right through but the last session started to change with some swirling rain," said Lowndes.

"The chicane is different without all the tyre barriers but it's also frustrating not knowing how much you can cut with the loop [sensor that records how much a car cuts the chicane] in place.

"We were breaking the loop without even touching the barrier. It's one of the things we'll have to work on to get right."

Van Gisbergen was the best of the Kiwi drivers but he took it with a pinch of salt.

"The car was pretty good straight out of the truck and P3 all day is positive but there are no points for practice.

"Last year I think I was second-fastest in practice and then qualified 24th so I'm not going to say much more."

Van Gisbergen's speed bodes well for qualifying today but Lowndes and Whincup look good while Tander may be foxing back in ninth.

Rain is forecast for later today so practice times could be irrelevant but if it stays fine look to the top drivers to shave up to another second off their times.

While the V8 Supercars will sort out their grid positions today in qualifying and the top 10 shoot-out, the Kiwi drivers were going at it hammer and tongs yesterday to sort out who had bragging rights going into today's first BNT V8s race.

The championship is nicely poised with just this round to see who will be this year's title winner. Angus Fogg has his nose in front of Craig Baird by a mere 32 points with John McIntyre a further 12 points back.

At the end of the day McIntyre left the circuit with pole position with series leader Fogg alongside him. Tim Edgell pulled a fast one to sit third on the grid with Andy Knight next to him.