Lowndes, Whincup on V8s front row

V8 Supercar championship leader Jamie Whincup has earned a front row grid spot for the opening race at Barbagallo Raceway, near Perth, today.

Ford driver Whincup qualified second fastest, and will share the front row of the grid with Team Vodafone teammate Craig Lowndes who took pole position in qualifying.

Lowndes clocked a 57.1862 second lap, edging out Whincup by just five-thousandths of a second.

Whincup's nearest championship rival Will Davison will start just behind him, qualifying fourth during the top 10 shootout.

Whincup holds a 122-point lead over Holden's Davison going into the final four races of the championship.

Saturday's 42-lap race will be followed by an 84-lap race at Barbagallo on Sunday, before the final two races of the season in Sydney next month.

- AAP