Ford's Anton De Pasquale has made a fast start to this year's Supercars championship, topping the time sheets in opening practice for the Sydney SuperNight.
The Shell V-Power Racing star, who won five races at Sydney Motorsport Park at the back end of last year's championship, clocked a fastest lap of one minute and 33.2091 seconds to top the 40-minute session.
"Interesting, cool way to start the year, whether it means too much going forward we don't know," De Pasquale told Fox Sports.
"We're all trying pretty hard and having a good time so it's good to be back."
On a drying track at the Eastern Creek-based circuit, Irwin Racing's Mark Winterbottom was second-fastest with a 1:33.4035 while Bathurst champion Chaz Mostert came home third after posting a 1:33.5442.
Conditions were much better at the end of the session than the start, which began with the track completely drenched and cars running full wet tyre setups.
"You've got to be opportunistic and when it dried out a little bit everyone just ran in and put the slicks on," Winterbottom told Fox Sports.
"The car was pretty good ... early days, I'd rather be there than down the back but conditions are going to change all weekend. In that session I think P2 is probably where we were in genuine terms.
"Good start to the season."
Defending champion Shane Van Gisbergen was an early victim of the conditions, spinning off the track and into the muddy grass before recovering and getting his Red Bull Ampol Racing Commodore back on the road.
Van Gisbergen had to settle for 16th after his early spin while new teammate Broc Feeney, appearing for the first time as the replacement for retired Jamie Whincup, was 10th fastest.
De Pasquale's teammate Will Davison was the 19th-fastest driver in the session.
Friday's action wraps up with a second 40-minute practice run from 5.10pm with a 77-lap race each on Saturday and Sunday.
