Russell Ingall tops practice round after spying on Craig Lowndes

MOTORSPORT: Stealth is not usually Russell Ingall's strength.

MOTORSPORT: Stealth is not usually Russell Ingall's strength.

What do you expect from a V8 Supercars driver dubbed "The Enforcer"?

But Ingall reckoned spying on Holden star Craig Lowndes' recent test session gave him valuable data before topping the Ipswich round's practice time sheets yesterday.

Ingall, 48, wound back the years to clock the fastest lap time, 1min 9.68sec, from championship contender Lowndes (1m 09.87s) and Ford's Lee Holdsworth (1m 09.98s).

Series leader Jamie Whincup of Holden (1m 10.04s) topped the first 20-minute session and was fifth in the final period in an ominous sign before the two-race weekend.

Ingall claimed he "snooped around" at Lowndes' test session at Queensland Raceway last week to get a heads-up on what was required to be an Ipswich contender.

"I had the timer out and he was down to some pretty good numbers _ that will be the mark I reckon," said Ingall of Lowndes, who swept the Ipswich round last year.

But Holden's Ingall may well be the benchmark this time.

The 2005 series champion has finished in the top three in 18 of 29 races at Queensland Raceway and in the top 10 23 times.

One of only three current drivers to have contested every Ipswich round since its 1999 inception, Ingall will be full of confidence before his 212nd V8 race start _ placing him equal-third on the all-time list alongside the late Peter Brock.

But Ingall _ in his 17th consecutive season _ said he had higher priorities in his twilight years.

"It's just nice to still be breathing," he laughed. "I think these sorts of days become more special because it's nice to know you can still pull a lap time and be competitive." But podiums have been rare of late for Ingall, ranked 20th in the championship.

He couldn't help but take the mickey out of his recent form _ or lack thereof _ when he spoke to the media after his surprise success yesterday.

"Is this a press conference?" Ingall said as he lapped up the limelight.

But Ingall sounded a warning to drivers hoping for a dramatic change after the notoriously bumpy Queensland Raceway's resurfacing, saying he was surprised by the lack of improvement in grip.

"After 10 laps you are going to be hanging on to the big girl," he said.

Ingall's joy was in complete contrast to Ford championship rivals Mark Winterbottom and Will Davison.

Twelve months after their disastrous Ipswich round, No 2-ranked driver Winterbottom _ just 100 points behind Whincup _ and No 3 Davison appear to be back to square one.

Winterbottom failed to finish in the top 15 times yesterday and Davison never cracked the top 10.

The round starts with a 140km race today and concludes with a 200km event tomorrow.

AAP