V8s: Tander takes pole at Ipswich

Some shine has been taken off Jamie Whincup's Midas touch after Holden's Garth Tander claimed pole position for the opening race of the V8 Supercars round at Ipswich.

Whincup missed out on a front row start for the first time this year after more problems adjusting to the new sprint tyres and will start Saturday's 120km race from 12th place on the grid.

The series leader had qualified either first or second in the championship's eight races to date - winning six of them.

But he had no luck on his own test track, Queensland Raceway.

Still scratching his head over how to set up his Holden with the soft tyres which make their 2010 debut at Ipswich, Whincup looked out of sorts and missed the top 10 qualifying round.

"We didn't quite get the set-up right," Whincup said.

"It's ultra competitive, if you are out a little bit you are mid-pack.

"But we will fight on."

The only man to have won a championship race aside from Whincup this year - Tander - is poised to make the Holden driver pay after claiming his third pole of the season.

Tander (1min 09.853sec) clocked the fastest lap in the top 10 shootout, ahead of Whincup's nearest championship rival - Ford's James Courtney (1:09.950) - and Shane van Gisbergen (1:09.980).

"We are pumped up to beat the Queensland boys at their home," Tander said, referring to Whincup, his teammate Craig Lowndes and Courtney.

Courtney was last to contest the top 10, one-lap shootout after being quickest in qualifying on Saturday morning.

He kept Tander sweating it out in the pits but narrowly failed to reel in the Holden driver's time.

Lowndes - who was the quickest in Friday's practice session - qualified eighth fastest in 1:10.308.

The surprise packet was Ford's Dean Fiore who qualified 10th.

In only his second full-time season, Fiore reached his first top 10 shootout of his career, with a previous best qualifying effort of 23rd.

The opening 120km race is scheduled to start at 4pm.

A 200km race will be held on Sunday.

Meanwhile, the top 10 qualifying session was delayed by almost an hour after a car flipped into the crowd during a support race.

A V8 Supercars spokesman said two spectators were treated and taken by ambulance to Ipswich Base Hospital.

There were no other reported injuries.

The Mini Challenge series driver Kain Magro was also taken to hospital for precautionary tests but was reportedly not injured.

No further details are available.

- AAP