Motorsport: Ford duo set pace

Ford duo Jamie Whincup and Craig Lowndes' hopes of a fourth successive Bathurst 1000 win got a boost when they set the fastest time in opening practice yesterday.

Whincup and Lowndes led the way with a 2min 07.345 lap time on a day several teams served notice they will nudge Greg Murphy's long-standing lap record of 2:06.8594.

Holden's Jason Bargwanna and Mark Noske were second fastest, with Ford duo Steve Johnson and James Courtney third.