Jamie Whincup narrowly pipped defending series champion Garth Tander by just .26 of a second to win the opening V8 Supercars race at Surfers Paradise.
Mark Winterbottom was third, close behind Tander.
It wasn't a great day for the New Zealand drivers, with the best of them Steven Richards in 11th.
Greg Murphy was on the wrong side of a skirmish and did not finish.
The deciding two 27-lap races are today.