Ford Performance Racing’s Mark Winterbottom has finished day one of the L&H 500 at Phillip Island on top of the time sheets. The Falcon driver was only .165 seconds ahead of championship leader Garth Tander setting up a fascinating battle between two of the main contenders for this years Australian V8 Supercar championship.

Most of the main teams waited till the end of the day to show their hand with many of the main drivers sitting out the earlier sessions.

Tander's Commodore was again fastest for the General

James Courtney was third fastest overall in the Stone Brothers Falcon with another Ford for Will Davison next. 

Rick Kelly was the next fastest Holden after Tander back in fifth place ahead of a much improved Jason Bright in sixth place in the Fujitsu Falcon.

Once again Greg Ritter showed his class, a part timer in the main series, he bested GRM’s number one driver Lee Holdsworth to be seventh and eighth respectively.

Russell Ingall was back in ninth place with young New Zealand driver Shane Van Gisbergan rounding out the top ten in the second of the Stone Brothers Fords.

It was a slow start for Team Vodafone with Jamie Whincup, Craig Lowndes and British Touring Car star Fabrizio Giovanardi all taking turns in the #888 car.

Whincup just edged out Lowndes but Giovanardi was still off the pace back in 29th place. In his own car the number 88 Giovanardi was even further back in position 34 with his team-mate British openwheeler driver Marc Hynes back in 39th place.

Less than one second covers the first 13 cars and with changeable weather predicted for tomorrow and rain on Sunday the weekend is looking a tad more interesting than some of the previous snorefests dished up by the Supertaxis over the past few months.

The Seven Network will televise the L&H 500 live over both days for Australian viewers.