But importantly, they signal FPR's emergence as a legitimate threat to defending champion Whincup and Holden when the championship resumes in Tasmania later this month.
"We've proven that we've come a very long way as a team,'' Winterbottom said.
"This round was a big test for us. We expected to do well at Adelaide.
"Last year we qualified 10th here and ran around 15th.
"We needed to do well here to prove to ourselves we can be competitive everywhere.''
Not only did Winterbottom have speed, he was able to showcase some daring.
He pulled off a final lap passing manoeuvre to secure his race two victory, zipping past Ford rival Shane van Gisbergen at turn six around the Albert Park street circuit.
Davison finished third, with Whincup fifth and Team Vodafone's Craig Lowndes retiring with mechanical problems.
Davison was also pleased to see Winterbottom win after running him wide in the opening lap of the race as four cars jostled for the early lead.
"I got a great launch and I was pretty keen to get to the lead. I was keen to sneak up the inside of Frosty (Winterbottom), then I locked the wheel and had to do everything to avoid him,'' Davison said.
"First rule is not to touch your teammate. I was very happy to see him get the win.''
Holden driver Jason Bright's Team BOC face a heavy damage bill for the non-championship round after his Commodore was slammed into the wall early in race one following a tangle with Michael Patrizi.
Both cars were damaged but neither driver was hurt.
Two more V8 races are scheduled for the weekend - one on Saturday and one on Sunday.
- AAP
