CAN anyone beat Triple Eight to the V8 Supercars championship?
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Not on the evidence out of Perth so far, where Craig Lowndes led the Red Bull Racing duo of Shane van Gisbergen and Jamie Whincup to a historic podium lockout.
The three are now perched in the top four of the championship standings, with only Scott McLaughlin wedged between them in third place.
All three had terrific days on Saturday at Barbagallo Raceway.
Lowndes roared through the field after a sharp strategic move to claim a first win of the season.
Whincup and Van Gisbergen scored a decent chunk of championship points with determined drives.
But perhaps most importantly for the Holden drivers' hopes, chief title rivals had bad days.
Volvo ace Scott McLaughlin was cruelled by a rainy qualifying session and finished outside the top ten.
Reigning champion Mark Winterbottom lost grip and copped a bump from Dale Wood before finishing 22nd.
"It was the worst day I've had in a while," he said.
Winterbottom, polesitter Cam Waters (12th) and Chaz Mostert (13th) all blamed tyre life for slipping down the order; a problem that could continue in Sunday's 200km race.
Not that it bothered Whincup, who retained his championship lead after finishing third.
"A great day for Triple Eight Racing ... a great day for the sport," he said.
