“It was a dumb mistake," the veteran admitted, "I was heading towards Catherine there for a while. We saved the tyre thankfully because it would have really hurt us to come back in and change it.”

Behind Lowndes, the unusual make-up of the leading order was completed by Rick Kelly, poleman Garth Tander, Paul Dumbrell, Holdsworth, Russell Ingall and Shane van Gisbergen as Holden dominated the top positions.

In the championship picture, a sub-par tenth by leader Jamie Whincup didn't result in the shortening of his points lead as closest rival Will Davison managed an even lowlier 18th. Mark Winterbottom was only 17th, while Tony d'Alberto and Jason Bargwanna posted the only retirements in the 69-lap encounter. Whincup currently has 1272 points to Davison's 1128 as the field heads to the first Dunlop Townsville 400 in Townsville over 10-12 July.