It seems the motorsport gods are smiling on Supercars veteran Craig Lowndes.
A mistake in qualifying on the streets of Surfers Paradise on Saturday ensured the Bathurst 1000 champion began the opening race of the Gold Coast 600 a lowly 21st.
But the 44-year-old wasn't giving up hope of securing a result.
Lowndes was the only full-time driver to start the 102-lap race, carving his way into the top 10 after the opening 20 laps.
Then, just as Lowndes was getting ready to hand over to co-driver Steven Richards, a crash sparked a safety car meaning the early pit-stop didn't cost them any of the places they'd made up as the rest of the field also headed into pitlane.