Chaz Mostert bounced back from his Clipsal 500 woes to record the fastest time in the opening V8 Supercars session of the weekend at Albert Park.
The Prodrive Ford driver traded the top spot with stable-mate David Reynolds for much of the 30 minute hit-out.
Mostert eventually recorded the two quickest times of the session, with his best of 1:58.78s coming after the chequered flag.
“The guys have done a fantastic job to straighten the car out,” said Mostert, who endured a heavy accident on the final lap of the Sunday race in Adelaide less than two weeks ago.
“It's good to come out and have some pace. It's only early days and everyone has a mixed bag in terms of tyres but it's a good start.”
Teams have just two sets of pre-marked tyres for practice, with many of those who endured misfortune in Adelaide benefiting from better rubber.
Scott McLaughlin and Will Davison set late quick times to end up second and third ahead of Mark Winterbottom, Shane van Gisbergen and Reynolds, who had a positive first hit-out in his FG X.
The track proved typically slippery in the early going, with several, including eventual seventh fastest man Craig Lowndes, surviving some wild off-track moments.
Clipsal 500 winner James Courtney wound up eighth fastest ahead of Todd Kelly and James Moffat in the leading Nissans.
The factory squad endured a difficult opening practice for Michael Caruso's brand new chassis, which failed to complete a flying lap due to electrical issues.
The team completed the car yesterday, leaving no time for a pre-event shakedown.
Marcos Ambrose, who has this weekend moved back to the chassis he debuted in last year's Sydney 500, ended up 22nd, ahead only of Volvo substitute driver Chris Pither and rookie Andre Heimgartner.
The second V8 Supercars practice of the weekend will get underway at 1510 local time.
Result: V8 Supercars Practice 1, Albert Park
1 |
Pepsi Max Crew |
Chaz Mostert |
Ford Falcon FG/X |
01:58.78 |
|
2 |
Wilson Security Racing GRM |
Scott McLaughlin |
Volvo S60 |
01:59.11 |
00:00.33 |
3 |
Erebus Motorsport V8 |
Will Davison |
Mercedes E63 AMG |
01:59.20 |
00:00.42 |
4 |
Pepsi Max Crew |
Mark Winterbottom |
Ford Falcon FG/X |
01:59.35 |
00:00.57 |
5 |
Team TEKNO Darrell Lea |
Shane Van Gisberge |
Holden Commodore VF |
01:59.38 |
00:00.59 |
6 |
The Bottle-O Racing Team |
David Reynolds |
Ford Falcon FG/X |
01:59.39 |
00:00.61 |
7 |
Red Bull Racing Australia |
Craig Lowndes |
Holden Commodore VF |
01:59.55 |
00:00.76 |
8 |
Holden Racing Team |
James Courtney |
Holden Commodore VF |
01:59.61 |
00:00.83 |
9 |
Nissan Motorsport |
Todd Kelly |
Nissan Altima |
01:59.75 |
00:00.97 |
10 |
Nissan Mororsport |
James Moffat |
Nissan Altima |
01:59.81 |
00:01.03 |
11 |
Walkinshaw Racing |
Lee Holdsworth |
Holden Commodore VF |
01:59.84 |
00:01.06 |
12 |
Erebus Motorsport V8 |
Ashley Walsh |
Mercedes E63 AMG |
01:59.91 |
00:01.13 |
13 |
Repair Management Aust Racing |
Nick Percat |
Holden Commodore VF |
01:59.92 |
00:01.13 |
14 |
Red Bull Racing Australia |
Jamie Whincup |
Holden Commodore VF |
01:59.96 |
00:01.18 |
15 |
Supercheap Auto Racing |
Tim Slade |
Holden Commodore VF |
02:00.01 |
00:01.23 |
16 |
Team BOC |
Jason Bright |
Holden Commodore VF |
02:00.23 |
00:01.45 |
17 |
Freightliner Racing |
Fabian Coulthard |
Holden Commodore VF |
02:00.29 |
00:01.51 |
18 |
Nissan Motorsport |
Rick Kelly |
Nissan Altima |
02:00.55 |
00:01.77 |
19 |
Holden Racing Team |
Garth Tander |
Holden Commodore VF |
02:00.63 |
00:01.84 |
20 |
Team Cooldrive |
Tim Blanchard |
Holden Commodore VF |
02:00.98 |
00:02.20 |
21 |
Team GB Galvanizing |
Dale Wood |
Holden Commodore VF |
02:01.13 |
00:02.35 |
22 |
DJR Team Penske |
Marcos Ambrose |
Ford Falcon FG/X |
02:01.23 |
00:02.45 |
23 |
Wilson Security Racing GRM |
Chris Pither |
Volvo S60 |
02:01.32 |
00:02.53 |
24 |
Super Black Racing |
Andre Heimgartner |
Ford Falcon FG |
02:01.85 |
00:03.07 |
Nissan Motorsport |
Michael Caruso |
Nissan Altima |