Craig Lowndes is happy to roll with the punches at Pukehoke despite the bumpy circuit for the Auckland 500 challenging the V8 Supercars field on Friday.
Lowndes finished third on the practice day, behind Volvo local Scott McLaughlin and fellow title-aspirant Mark Winterbottom, but joined others in enduring a hairy moment or two on the championship's visit to New Zealand.
In perfect racing conditions, Jason Bright found the wall after turn three, with dirt thankfully slowing his impact but dislodging his Commodore's front guard.
Jamie Whincup was one of several to miss turn five and instead take the short cut past turn six, where organisers have erected a tyre chicane.
Whincup crashed into a tyre wall but continued on, while Lowndes lost control of his Commodore halfway through the first session, spinning off the circuit and careering backwards through the grass.
The difficult track linked the three incidents had in common, but Lowndes says he enjoyed the challenge.
"It's the character of the circuit," he said.
"It's great when you've got a car that (rides bumps), when you don't it's been quite ugly, it's a damn hard track to get right."
In the 15 years since the series has visited New Zealand, Lowndes has never won.
He needs to break that duck if he is to exert maximum pressure on series leader Winterbottom, who has a comfortable 258-point lead over second-placed Lowndes.
But on Friday's evidence, McLaughlin will join them in contention for a race win after stealing the show with a late effort, recording 1:03.16.
McLaughlin's effort builds on both his solid series form and strong showings in front of his home crowd.
The 22-year-old won a Sunday pole on the Gold Coast and returns to the scene of his debut win in the sport, in 2013.
He returned two poles and two podiums in 2014 and said he was eager to return to the top this year.
"There's a long way to go yet but it's better than being last, that's for sure," he said.
"I think we've got a good enough car to (challenge) this weekend."
Nissan pair James Moffat and Michael Caruso topped the timing charts in the first practice session but found themselves off the pace in session two, finishing 21st and 22nd.
AUCKLAND 500: BEST PRACTICE TIMES
1 - Scott McLaughlin (Volvo) - 1:03.16
2 - Mark Winterbottom (Ford)
3 - Craig Lowndes (Holden)
4 - Jamie Whincup Holden)
5 - Scott Pye (Ford)
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