Shane van Gisbergen has put himself in the box seat to secure the Supercars title this afternoon by taking the Armor All Pole Award for the penultimate race of the season.

Van Gisbergen swept to his seventh pole of the season and the ninth in a row for Triple Eight with a 1:26.63s best.

The time came in a blistering two-lap run at the halfway mark of the 20 minute session that saw the Kiwi 0.35s clear of the field.

Van Gisbergen left little on the table during his laps, rubbing the right-hand doors of his Commodore down the fence as he searched for speed.

The 27-year-old can finish as low as fifth in today’s race, even if Whincup wins, and still seal the title a day early.

Whincup set his best time during a late flurry that followed a red flag called to reset the tyre bundle at Turn 2, which had been knocked by Tim Slade.

The final effort lifted Whincup from fourth to second, 0.10s adrift of Van Gisbergen.

Scott McLaughlin and Craig Lowndes also improved late to lockout the second row as they battle for third in the championship.

Garth Tander was demoted from third to fifth in the closing stages and will share the third row with team-mate James Courtney.

David Reynolds, Mark Winterbottom, Chaz Mostert and Rick Kelly completed the top 10.

DJR Team Penske’s lacklustre practice form continued with Fabian Coulthard and Scott Pye managing just 12th and 19th respectively.

The 250km Race 28 will get underway at 1545 local time.

Result: Virgin Australia Supercars Championship Coates Hire Sydney 500 Qualifying Race 28