Broc Feeney has notched his eighth career win as Will Brown followed him across the line for a one-two finish for Triple Eight at the Melbourne SuperSprint.
Dominant all Thursday, Feeney started the 19-lap sprint in pole position and charged home to claim victory in the first of four races at Albert Park.
The 21-year-old was bested in the starting-grid battle by Dick Johnson Racing's Anton De Pasquale, who got the jump early to steal top spot, but it didn't take long for Feeney to get back into the lead.
Thanks to De Pasquale running too wide at turn three, Feeney was able to cruise back into first, then held the lead from the first to the last lap of the 100km race.
"As soon as I took off, I looked and he (De Pasquale) was right next to me," Feeney said after the race.
"I just tried to pressure him into turn three and, unfortunately for him but fortunately for me, he ran a little wide.
"It's a work in progress. We certainly haven't had unreal starts all year.
"Mine was OK. I ended up back in the lead, which is the main thing."
While De Pasquale was made to settle for seventh, Brown was second fastest - falling short of Feeney by 2.33 seconds - with Grove Racing's Matt Payne rounding out the podium.
Feeney leapfrogs Brown to lead the championship, with just two points the difference.
"Sometimes you're the winner and sometimes you're the loser," Brown said.
"Broc was really fast. At the end of the day he wants to conserve to make sure that he's fast at the end, and he did a fantastic job.
"I would have done the exact same.
"The race car driver in me wants to have a crack obviously ... (but) I'm not disappointed in any way at all."
Matt Stone Racing's Nick Percat was denied the podium after being slapped with a five-second penalty for making contact with Chaz Mostert.
The Walkinshaw Andretti United racer dropped from third to sixth after Percat forced him into a sandpit.
Percat had finished third before being relegated to sixth after his time penalty, while Mostert placed fourth.
Erebus Motorsport driver Todd Hazelwood was also hit with a five-second penalty for contact against Bryce Fullwood (Brad Jones Racing) and finished ninth.
Tickford Racing's Thomas Randle finished third last after running into the gravel on the second lap.
Fullwood's rookie teammate Jaxon Evans was last, sustaining serious rear damage after a wall collision.
Drivers return to the city circuit for race four at 2.55pm (AEDT) on Friday, with Cam Waters in pole position.
A total of 300 points across four sprint races are on offer in Melbourne this weekend.
The winner can grab a maximum of 80 points, with 75 for first place and an additional five points for the fastest lap.
RACE THREE RESULTS:
1. Broc Feeney (Triple Eight)
2. Will Brown (Triple Eight)
3. Matt Payne (Grove Racing)
4. Chaz Mostert (Walkinshaw Andretti United)
5. Cam Waters (Tickford Racing)
CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS:
1. Broc Feeney (Triple Eight) 359pts
2. Will Brown (Triple Eight) 357pts
3. Chaz Mostert (Walkinshaw Andretti United) 327pts
4. Matt Payne (Grove Racing) 238pts
5. Nick Percat (Matt Stone Racing) 237pts
