TeamVodafone pair Skaife and Craig Lowndes dominated for the second year running and later predicted they were in a better position than leading into last year’s Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000, which they won.

With a small slice of luck going their way, the veteran pair first warded off a fast-finishing Shane Van Gisbergen in his SP Tools Falcon, stopped only by a late car issue, then held out team-mates Jamie Whincup/Andrew Thompson, and Trading Post Racing’s FPR pair of Will Davison/Luke Youlden.

“Last year was a fairytale finish and today was just extraordinary,” Skaife said after the event. “Any time in this series to have a 1-2 finish in such a competitive environment shows the team is working at a very high level. I have definitely pulled up better than last year and its great match fitness. This is the sort of hit-out that I need before Bathurst. (And) I’ll be better at Bathurst because of it.”

Van Gisbergen was absolutely flying and there was little doubt he would catch Lowndes until seven laps to go when he reported a problem back to his team. It was a shame for the young SP Tools Kiwi who was on target for a grandstand finish.

Ford Performance Racing’s Will Davison set the early pace in qualifying, taking pole position in combination with his experienced co-driver Luke Youlden. Their combination and strategy led to the front of the grid position ahead of his former HRT team-mate Garth Tander, who he won with at Phillip Island in 2009, and his co-driver Nick Percat with SP Tools Kiwi pair Shane Van Gisbergen and John McIntyre third.

Youlden became the 50th driver in Australian Touring Car Championship/V8 Supercars Championship history to record a pole position, while it was Davison’s fourth career pole and second this season for Ford Performance Racing.

L&H 500 Phillip Island
Race 19 – V8 Supercar Championship Series
1 TeamVodafone Craig Lowndes /Mark Skaife
2 TeamVodafone Jamie Whincup /Andrew Thompson
3 Trading Post FPR Falcon Will Davison /Luke Youlden