Motorsport: Waters/Stanaway grab pole in chaotic qualifying

Youngsters Cam Waters and Kiwi Richie Stanaway will start the Sandown 500 from pole position after the impressive pair combined to win Saturday's qualifying race.

Stanaway produced another stellar drive in the co-drivers' race and handed the Monster Energy Drinks Ford over to regular driver Waters in third place. Waters made a terrific start to the main game driver's race and held off the challengers to secure pole for the first endurance race of the season.

"It has been a perfect day for us. I had a good run in my race and qualified the car in a good position," Stanaway said.

"We made a few tweaks to the car for Cam's race and he did an amazing job in that run.
"Amazing result for the team and looking forward to tomorrow."

Championship leader Scott McLaughlin and Frenchman Alex Premat will start on the front row in their Shell V-Power Ford while David Reynolds and Luke Youlden will be third after a very strong Saturday.

Title contender Jamie Whincup, who has secured pole at this race the past three years with Paul Dumbrell, will start on the second row.

Former Super Black Racing driver Chris Pither made up a number of spots and combined with Dale Wood to secure seventh place on the grid in a stunning result for Erebus Racing to back up the work of Reynolds and Youlden.

The co-drivers' race was red-flagged a lap early after a massive accident involving the Holden Todd Hazelwood and 2016 Bathurst winner Jono Webb.

The latter tried to force his way to the inside of a left-hander at the end of the main straight and left the young Hazelwood nowhere to go. They made contact and Hazelwood careered off into the bank in a spectacular crash at high speed. The car made massive impact with the wall and was torn to bits as it rolled and came to a stop upside down.

After a scary few moments the development series driver exited the car and walked unhurt to the medical car.

Todd Hazelwood survived a scary crash. Photo / Getty Images

The day proved another tough challenge in what is becoming a frustrating season for defending series champion Shane van Gisbergen.

The Red Bull Holden driver was caught out with the wrong set-up in qualifying and buried the car in the mid-pack for the co-driver race. Young Matt Campbell was not in an ideal starting spot and was turned around on the first lap by Taz Douglas. Starting at the back of the field for the main game race, van Gisbergen fought his way to 19th, meaning they will start the 500 again in that troubled mid-pack zone.

Stablemate Craig Lowndes will also be at the back of the field for the 500 after his car developed a mechanical problem in the qualifying race.