"We've had podiums and we've had shockers, so it's been hit and miss.
"But when you've got a good car, you go in confident; you don't really look at history too much.
"It's an important round for me and I think our car's going to be really strong. I can't wait."
This season is shaping as the 2013 Bathurst winner's best shot at winning his first V8s title after a decade of attempts.
The man who has dominated the past five years, Holden's Jamie Whincup, is languishing in seventh position, 480 points behind.
His teammate Lowndes, though, appears to be Winterbottom's biggest threat at the front of the pack.
Fellow PRA drivers Chaz Mostert and David Reynolds are also in contention, sitting third and fourth in the championship race.
Five-time champion now commentator Mark Skaife declared this month that if Winterbottom didn't win this year, he never would.
"He says that every year, I try not to listen to what he says too much," Winterbottom said.
The 31-year-old said SMSP was a "strange place", given the variability in temperature across the weekend.
"It's really temperamental and probably one of the most difficult places to get right."
Sydney Park
• This year marks 25 years since SMSP opened, and the 20th time it's hosted a touring car championship round.
• Nine drivers have won the past 10 races there - all bar one (Mark Skaife) will compete this weekend.
• Holden is just one away from becoming the first manufacturer to score 300 pole positions in Australian touring car/V8 Supercars championship history.
• Just three of the past 13 races at the track have been won by polesitters.
- AAP
