Sprint Gas burns up the track

Sprint Gas Racing has claimed the fastest time in Saturday's early practice session at the Bathurst 1000, with Jason Richards and Jim Murphy setting a scorching pace around the Mt Panorama circuit.

The New Zealand-born Sprint Gas pair posted a time of 2:06.9076 in the fifth lap of a 15-lap run for the team, edging out the Toll Holden Racing team of Mark Skaife and Garth Tander by .2501 of a second.

For Ford, Craig Lowndes and Jamie Whincup came in third for Team Vodafone, setting a time of 2:07.2057, while Jim Beam Racing was further back, Will Davison and Steve Johnson posting 2:07.2057.

Steve Richards and Mark Winterbottom made it three Ford teams in the top five, the Ford Performance Racing team earning a 2:07.8624 time.