Garth Tander and HRT score final pole of 2012

Garth Tander has taken his third pole position of the 2012 season after coming out on top in a red flag interrupted qualifying session at Sydney Olympic Park.

The Holden Racing Team driver knocked Will Davison from the top spot by 0.12s with a 1:27.63s time set with less than 15 seconds remaining.

While Davison made a mistake on his final lap and could not improve, Tander ran another 1:27.63s to cement the pole.

The session was held in cool and overcast conditions, with Tander’s time almost two seconds faster than Tim Slade’s Race 29 pole effort set in a hot and sunny Saturday Top 10 Shootout.

“It’s great to get pole because we had a tough day yesterday with no cool suit,” said Tander post-session.

“I wouldn’t say it’s pleasant out there today but it’s certainly going to be less brutal,” he added of the cooler conditions.

“I’m certainly looking forward to today’s race more than yesterday.”

Davison will start second ahead of James Courtney, Jonathon Webb, Craig Lowndes, Mark Winterbottom, James Moffat, Tim Slade, Fabian Coulthard and Steve Owen.

Davison is assured the $20,000 prize for the most poles of the season as the only driver that could have usurped him, Jamie Whincup, had a disastrous session.

The TeamVodafone Holden will start just 24th after causing the third and final red flag by dislodging the Turn 7 apex tyre bundle in a uncharacteristic spin with five minutes of the session remaining.

Earlier red flags had been called due to an electrical problem stranding Russell Ingall and a major mechanical failure stopping the Kelly Racing Holden of Karl Reindler.

Whincup later said he was surprised to be pulled out of the car by his crew after returning to the pitlane following his spin.

“I clearly don’t know the rules,” he said.

“I didn’t think that if you dislodged tyres to cause the red flag you’d have to sit out.

“They even took my fastest lap away so I got heavily shafted.”

Although securing the season pole award, Davison was disappointed to be starting second for the second consecutive day.

“It’s funny, that (getting the $20,000) was the main goal for the weekend, but I’m quite short sighted at the moment because I didn’t maximise my car then,” he said.

“I was quite a bit up on my (last) lap then and made a blue so I’m kicking myself.”

Fujitsu Racing’s Alex Premat did not compete in the session after suffering from severe dehydration in yesterday’s grueling 250km  race. A decision on whether he will compete at all today will be made in the coming hours.

The 30th and final race of the 2012 V8 Supercars Championship is set to kick-off at 1505 local time.

Result: V8 Supercars Race 30 Qualifying, Sydney Olympic Park