John Bowe and Steven Johnson will share the front row for the opening round of the Touring Car Masters at the Clipsal 500.
In humid conditions, Johnson jumped to the top of the timesheets on his first lap in anger.
However, he was unseated by Bowe in his Torana SL/R just seconds later and, despite improving next time around, Johnson could not take pole off the twice Bathurst 1000 winner.
Instead, Johnson suffered a recurrence of the oil line issue which sidelined his Team Johnson Mustang during Practice 2.
His efforts were still enough for a P2 starting berth, with Ryan Hansford (Holden Torana SL/R) lining up third on the grid on his TCM debut.
The 20-minute qualifying session came to a premature end when Cameron Mason (Ford Mustang) twice spun on his own oil, making the Turn 11 tyre wall on the second occasion.
The 10-lap opening race will be run at 1430 ACDT on Friday.
Stadium Super Trucks
Matt Brabham earned pole position in Stadium Super Trucks.
Brabham was one of four drivers to hold the top spot in a highly competitive second qualifying session.
The 2016 Dakar Rally winner Toby Price set the early pace before Brabham went to the top.
Category founder Robby Gordon and defending champion Sheldon Creed then found themselves in a shootout with Brabham.
Each of the trio spent time on top in the final minute before Brabham went fastest for good after the chequered flag.
The young Australian will thus have to come from the rear of the field in the opening race under the reverse grid format.
The race will run for eight laps from 1245 ACDT.
Aussie Racing Cars
Kel Treseder won an opening race book-ended by two big crashes.
Treseder beat Craig Woods to the first corner, just ahead of a multi-car accident.
James Duckworth turned Luke Fraser around, causing Adam Uebergang to lose control and make heavy contact with the wall on driver’s left as he attempted to sidestep the drama.
Troy Dontas cannoned into the wall on driver’s right when he hit Bill Hynes as the field checked up.
The Safety Car took control before a one-lap run to the chequered flag.
Woods, who had been passed by Ben Walsh just before the yellows appeared, lost two more places upon the restart when he got crossed up over the Turn 7 exit kerb.
Brothers Craig and Grant Thompson then ended up hard in the wall at the end of Brabham Straight, the latter having speared down the inside of the field at Turn 9.
Treseder held off Walsh to take his sixth race win in Aussie Racing Cars, with Jaie Robson third.
Race 2 will be held over nine laps from 1355 ACDT on Friday.
Improved Production
Chris Brown won Race 1 in his Toyota Sprinter after early leader Myles Bond retired with mechanical issues in his Datsun 1200.
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