The first race of the Australian V8 Supercars in Adelaide was one to forget for the best-known New Zealand drivers, though the rookie Christchurch-born driver Scott McLaughlin managed a sixth place.
Shane van Gisbergen started on pole at the Clipsal 500 but was swamped at the start and found himself back in ninth on the first lap before bowing out after 62.
Fabian Coulthard led for the first stint of the 78-lap race and was running a strong second before brake pedal trouble led to a pitstop and he finished 19th.
Holden's three-time championship winner Craig Lowndes registered his 90th race win in the season opener, equalling Mark Skaife's all-time mark.
Lowndes finished more than 20 seconds - an Adelaide race record - ahead of Ford Performance Racing's Will Davison while his Holden team-mate Jamie Whincup was third.
The opening round concludes with another 250-kilometre race on the tough street circuit on Sunday.
The race saw all 28 competitors arrive on the grid in brand new vehicles under new Car of the Future specifications, including Nissan and Mercedes for the first time in two decades.
