The Supercars championship has erupted into chaos in the Darwin Triple Crown qualifying, five cars zipping off the track and three others coming to a standstill at turn one of Hidden Valley Raceway.
So chaotic was the opening of the race that even the eventual winner, Anton De Pasquale, was involved in the crash.
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Mark Winterbottom went wide after losing power as Shane van Gisbergen saw an opening and shot into the lead. And as Winterbottom went wide he clipped the 2016 champion, before Scott Pye thudded into the back of De Pasquale. Six cars were left badly busted up.
As the sprint stopped while the safety car was employed, Winterbottom was left seething.
"This sport sh–s me sometimes," Winterbottom was captured saying on the Fox coverage.
Supercars legend Mark Skaife was stunned.
"Shane dives, straight down the inside! Can he hold onto it? He's been hit, Pye's turned him around," Skaife said.
"That is absolute chaos.
"Anton gone, they've all crashed into each other. Wow, what a start!"
De Pasquale scored a third-straight pole position with a record lap in the qualifying session, posting 1:05.2904.
Winterbottom took second and van Gisbergen third.
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