Record-equalling V8 win for Craig Lowndes

CRAIG Lowndes became the name on everyone's lips with a record-equalling V8 Supercars season-opening win in Adelaide.

HE may not have been the man fans had come to see but Craig Lowndes became the name on everyone's lips with a record-equalling V8 Supercars season-opening win in Adelaide.

Lowndes was the first to admit top billing in Adelaide went to two-time MotoGP world champion Casey Stoner, who concluded his debut in the V8 second tier category with a gutsy 14th placing in race two today.

But Lowndes soon began turning heads with the 90th win of his glittering 17-year career, equalling Mark Skaife's record.

There was a sense of excitement when all 28 competitors arrived on the Adelaide grid in brand new vehicles under new Car of the Future specifications, including Nissan and Mercedes for the first time in two decades.

But there was a feeling of deja vu when the dust settled on the season opener and a Triple Eight Holden had again emerged triumphant.

Relegated to second on the drivers' championship the past two years by Triple Eight teammate - and four-time title winner - Jamie Whincup, Lowndes appears sick of the bridesmaid tag judging by his blistering effort in the 78-lap race on Saturday.

Lowndes finished more than 20 seconds - an Adelaide race record - ahead of Ford Performance Racing's Will Davison with Whincup third.

However, Lowndes claimed the majority of the 80,200-strong crowd at the Adelaide circuit had come to see Stoner.

“He is a mega star in his own right,” he said.

But Lowndes will be a hard act to follow in the opening round's final 250km race on Sunday.

He took the lead on lap 32 and at one stage led by 25 seconds before becoming more conservative when oil hit the track, almost bringing Lowndes undone with 13 laps left.

“I had not been thinking about it (win No.90). It will be satisfying when I beat the record but I think that is a long way away,” Lowndes said.

Triple Eight's Holden team and Ford Performance Racing combined to win all 30 races last season.

And it seems rivals have plenty to do if they are to stop the V8's “big two” judging by Saturday's results.

Overall, Holden grabbed eight of the top 10 placings.

Two of Ford's six-strong contingent failed to finish due to mechanical dramas including top driver Mark Winterbottom.

Nissan's four-pronged assault of Rick Kelly (11th), James Moffatt (14th), Michael Caruso (second last) and Todd Kelly (DNF) was a mixed bag.

So too was Mercedes - Tim Slade (15th) and Lee Holdsworth (17th) provided hope but Maro Engel finished last after battling mechanical issues.

“Today you are seeing the same faces but the Car of the Future throws in a different mix - you will see over time different results no doubt about that,” Lowndes said.

AAP