Lowndes wins race one at Symmons Plains

Craig Lowndes has closed up on the two championship leaders with a win at Symmons Plains, with team-mate Whincup finishing sixth and points leader Courtney 11th.

Garth Tander had started on pole, but Lowndes drove straight into the lead at the start from his second place grid spot, and took his first solo win since Barbagallo last year to close in to just 188 points behind DJR Ford driver James Courtney.

Tander went on to finish second, and Greg Murphy had his best career result in over two years finishing third, after announcing he was leaving the team just a few days ago.

Paul Dumbrell, who has just signed to race the Bottle-O Ford Falcon again in 2011, finished fourth and was the top of the Ford drivers, with Ford Performance Racing’s Mark Winterbottom just behind in fifth.

Whincup finishes sixth, and as a result has also closed in on Courtney. The reigning champion is now just 41 points behind the Dick Johnson Racing driver in the standings.

Race Two and a separate qualifying session will take place on Sunday.