Shane van Gisbergen has provisionally claimed pole position in Adelaide with the result pending a stewards investigation that has sparked the rivalry between Triple Eight and DJR Team Penske.
The Red Bull Holden Racing Team driver posted a stunning 1:19.83s to jump to the top of the time sheets with the final lap in the session and claim the first pole for the new Holden ZB Commodore.
Van Gisbergen's effort smashed the previous benchmark from Shell V-Power Racing's Scott McLaughlin by 0.4s.
However, there were questions marks over the result as van Gisbergen appeared to cross the yellow line that determines the confines of the track at the exit of Turn 7, prompting a post session stewards investigation.
McLaughlin was left to settle for second despite a strong lap, although the driver and team feel van Gisbergen breached track limits.
“We're aware that the (track limits) line got extended, but there's also another line further down the track you can't go across on,” said McLaughlin.
“The yellow line determines the track limits and obviously his (SVG) car was over it so whether the stewards agree with our teams' view, but certainly, it is questionable, but we'll push on as a team.
“Position two is still great job for everyone here and you know, I'm absolutely stoked, but from our point, the rule book is what it states.”
DJR Team Penske boss Ryan Story believes it is a clear cut decision that needs to be made by the stewards that would promote his driver to pole.
“Well, the car went outside the track limits, a bit like in footy, if the ball goes out of bounds they throw it in. It's pretty straight forward I think from where we sit,” said Story.
“The big story is really how quick that car is. We had nothing for him then.
“He was well up before then anyway, reality is, all four wheels went outside the lines and it's pretty crystal clear where we sit.”
Triple Eight boss Roland Dane offered a forthright view of the incident claiming that if his driver is given a penalty “we should all go home”.
“It sounds like the sore loser department to me,” said Dane.
“The car was straight and we weren't in Turn 7 any more, that's finished; we were on the straight.
“If Shane gets a penalty for that, we might as well all go home.
“(It's) absolutely ridiculous to even be talking about it. They know that, but if you're not a good loser, then you can't be a good winner.”
Walkinshaw Andretti United's James Courtney was third fastest after an impressive final sector which briefly put him on top of the times before McLaughlin and van Gisbergen's efforts.
The lap was greeted by roar from the team following a difficult 2017 campaign for the squad.
Courtney's lap surpassed David Reynolds' time which pushed the Erebus Motorsport driver to fourth.
“It wasn't a bad lap, little bit scrappy, little bit messy everywhere. All in all, it's good to make the shootout,” said Reynolds.
Jamie Whincup in his repaired Red Bull Holden held sway at halfway having posted a 1:20.69s with the second attempt in the shootout, but could only manage fifth, while Tickford Racing's Mark Winterbottom was sixth.
Kelly set the initial benchmark lap with a 1:20.92 straight out of the box which proved enough to put the Castrol-backed Nissan into seventh spot.
Milwaukee Racing's Will Davison produced a tidy lap to claim eighth on the grid to continue the new look team's impressive start to the season.
The top 10 was completed by Brad Jones Racing's Nick Percat and Preston Hire Racing's Lee Holdsworth.
The opening race of the Supercars season is scheduled to begin at 1520 local time.
Results: Armor All Top 10 Shootout for Race 1
Pos | Num | Team/Sponsor | Driver | Car | Lap time | Split |
1 | 97 | Red Bull Holden Racing Team | Shane van Gisbergen | Holden Commodore ZB | 1:19.8304 | |
2 | 17 | Shell V-Power Racing Team | Scott McLaughlin | Ford Falcon FG/X | 1:20.2587 | 0:00.4283 |
3 | 25 | Mobil 1 Boost Mobile Racing | James Courtney | Holden Commodore ZB | 1:20.3793 | 0:00.5489 |
4 | 9 | Erebus Penrite Racing | David Reynolds | Holden Commodore ZB | 1:20.4004 | 0:00.5700 |
5 | 1 | Red Bull Holden Racing Team | Jamie Whincup | Holden Commodore ZB | 1:20.6941 | 0:00.8637 |
6 | 5 | The Bottle-O Racing Team | Mark Winterbottom | Ford Falcon FG/X | 1:20.7722 | 0:00.9418 |
7 | 15 | Nissan Motorsport | Rick Kelly | Nissan Altima | 1:20.9229 | 0:01.0925 |
8 | 230 | Milwaukee Racing | Will Davison | Ford Falcon FG/X | 1:20.9467 | 0:01.1163 |
9 | 8 | Blackwoods Racing | Nick Percat | Holden Commodore ZB | 1:21.4658 | 0:01.6354 |
10 | 18 | Preston Hire Racing | Lee Holdsworth | Holden Commodore ZB | 1:21.4922 | 0:01.6618 |