Mark Winterbottom on top after day one

Mark Winterbottom was the fastest driver in the final practice session, setting the fastest lap of the day as FPR cars topped three of the four practice sessions at the Gold Coast 600.

Winterbottom set a best time of 1:12.349 in the FPR Ford Falcon, just ahead of Paul Dumbrell in the satellite Bottle-O Racing entry, with James Courtney third in the Dick Johnson Racing car.

The final session of the day saw the main championship drivers primarily taking part, after the two prior sessions were for the co-drivers or international runners only.

Garth Tander was the fastest Holden for HRT in fourth, whilst the two Triple Eight Holdens were seventh and 19th for Lowndes and Whincup respectively.