Lowndes takes 97th victory in V8s

Craig Lowndes brought his V8 Supercars win tally up to 97 by controlling race two of the Barbagallo weekend.

After his fade from an early lead to sixth in race one, there was no stopping Triple Eight Holden driver Lowndes in the second event, as he maintained his advantage from pole.

Race one winner Scott McLaughlin's Volvo held second initially, but was jumped by both Mark Winterbottom and Jamie Whincup in the pit stops. Although Winterbottom could not get any closer to Lowndes than McLaughlin had been able to, the Ford driver's second place maintained his championship lead.

Third for Whincup was the struggling champion's first podium finish since Symmons Plains at the end of March.

McLaughlin fended off a train of cars led by Fabian Coulthard and Chaz Mostert for fourth.

The Erebus Mercedes ran long before their pit stops but the tactic backfired. Having been among the lead pack in the first half of the race, Lee Holdsworth and Will Davison ended up only 12th and 18th.