Despite setting the fastest time in today’s (Friday) practice for the Clipsal 500, Jamie Whincup is not convinced that he has the fastest car in Adelaide.

Whincup’s TeamVodafone crew put green tyres on his Commodore at the end of today’s final practice and he duly set the fastest time of the day with seconds left in the session.

But Whincup believes many of his rivals haven’t used green tyres yet and he also said he is yet to achieve the ideal set-up of his Commodore.

“I had a really tough session to be honest; it is so hectic around here and it is hard to get a clear lap,” he said.

Whincup found himself flying up the Adelaide circuit’s escape roads a number of times early in practice, but was able to put in a fast lap when it counted.

“We slowly progressed with the car; it started off very tough to drive and I had no confidence in it whatsoever,” Whincup said.

“We made some changes and I got the car much better; unfortunately we got sin-binned for two minutes (for kerb hopping); it was a tough call, but I’m not complaining. There is a rule for turn two and I crossed over it.

“I did the best lap I could have at the end, but I’m pretty sure that a lot of people didn’t put (green) tyres on; I’m sure we are going to see my lap record from last year well and truly smashed tomorrow.”

However, he said it was a culture shock driving on the tight and bumpy Adelaide track after the billiard table smooth tracks in the Middle East.

“Coming from the Middle East where everything is so wide open and smooth, everything here feels so much bumpier and so rough… it almost shocks you a little,” he said.

SP Tools Racing’s Shane van Gisbergen was second fastest, and he too is convinced he has more speed to come from his Stone Brothers Racing Falcon.

“We were struggling with the car to start with… we threw springs at it and got a lot faster; and when we put (green) tyres on it we had a good gain and set a good time. But I got held up on my fast lap… the car is working really well and the guys have done a good job and it’s a great start to the weekend,” he said.

Th Giz believes that getting a clean lap in tomorrow’s short qualifying session will be very difficult around the concrete-lined Adelaide circuit.

“For the short qualifying session it is going to be pretty hectic with all of the cars out there, but you just have to find your own piece of track and switch your headlights on so that everyone knows you are on a fast lap and go for it,” he said.

However, the Kiwi said he loves racing in Adelaide compared to competing on the recent Middle Eastern tour.

“You can get out there and scape your mirror… you can really be aggressive with it… it’s always cool coming here; there is a lot more atmosphere and all of the crowd gets right behind it,” he said.

The Bottle-O Racing’s Paul Dumbrell was third fastest in his Ford Performance Racing-prepared Falcon, but like Whincup, he also put his practice pace down to new tyres.

“There is no doubt that the cars are good; Frosty (FPR’s Mark Winterbottom) has proven that in the last two rounds, so it’s just a matter of getting me up to speed,” he said.

“We ran greens at the end of the session for no other reason than to allow me to learn what the car would do.”

Toll Holden Racing Team’s Garth Tander set the pace in the earlier practice session and for most of the last session, but couldn’t match the times of those on green tyres in the final few laps.

Qualifying for the Clipsal 500 is scheduled for 10.30am tomorrow.