"I say this every year, it always comes down to a handful of points in the last race on the last day," he said.
"It's just an absolute dogfight. It has been huge one right from the start of the year.
"I expect it to go right to the last race ... it all comes down to who is leading on the last lap of the last race."
Winterbottom's Ford Performance Racing teammate Will Davison came in fifth behind veteran Russell Ingall, who wisely used his soft compound tyres at the start of the race to maximise his track position.
Nonetheless Davison's result keeps him above Lowndes in the title standings, although all four contenders are separated by a mere 152 points.
Winterbottom said he was happy with his weekend results of a second and third.
"Eastern Creek doesn't suit our cars as well as probably Sandown will, I always thought this was a bit of a danger round," he said.
"We've gained points, we've got two podiums and got a straight car.
"It's a good result."
The next stop in the V8 Supercars championship is the first of this year's endurance races, the Sandown 500 on September 16.
That will be followed by the marquee Bathurst 1000 on October 7.
- AAP
