Reynolds wins as Lowndes hits drama

David Reynolds secures his second V8 Supercars victory of the 2015 campaign after frightening tyre blow-out denies Craig Lowndes the win at the Pukekohe Raceway.

With championship leader Mark Winterbottom starting in sixth, Lowndes seized the opportunity to take yet more points out of his rival's title lead and immediately jumped ahead of the pole-sitting Reynolds with a bold move around the outside of the Prodrive Ford at turn one.

Unlike the opening race, the second encounter required a certain amount of tyre conservation with the 25-car using the soft rubber as opposed to the harder and more durable compound.

As the race creeped past the halfway mark, Lowndes looked to have things under control but a dramatic left-rear tyre explosion sent the leading Red Bull Holden spearing into the wall and out of the race.

Unsurprisingly, that brought out the safety car with Reynolds taking over the mantle as the leader ahead of reigning champion Jamie Whincup.

Initially acting as his Triple Eight team mates rear gunner, Whincup turned his attentions to minimising the damage for Lowndes by winning the race in his own right.

Whincup continued to press the race leading Prodrive Ford and very nearly inched his way past for the lead but Reynolds defiantly held on for his second win of the season.

Home hero Scott McLaughlin also became a factor in the battle for the lead but had to settle for third ahead of Winterbottom in fourth.

Tekno Autosport's Shane Van Gisbergen completed a fine march back up the order from the midfield to round out the top-five runners ahead of HRT's James Courtney and Tim Slade.

DJR Team Penske's Scott Pye came home eighth while Fabian Coulthard and Garth Tander completed the top-ten in ninth and tenth.