It was hailed as the new "Lap of the Gods".
But Supercars series leader Scott McLaughlin claimed his extraordinary qualifying time to secure pole position for Sunday's Bathurst 1000 meant nothing ahead of the Great Race.
Many would argue otherwise after watching the euphoric reaction from the Mount Panorama crowd and his Ford garage on Saturday after McLaughlin's incredible effort.
Defending series champion McLaughlin broke his lap record, a blistering two minutes, 03.37 seconds, to dominate the top-10 shootout.
It quickly earned comparisons with Supercars great and fellow Kiwi Greg Murphy's legendary 2003 "Lap of the Gods" effort which set the early benchmark for Bathurst qualifying heroics.
Incredibly, McLaughlin took 0.11 of a second off his own lap record set on Friday.
And it marked the third time in as many days that he had crushed the record.
But McLaughlin seemed to be the only one unimpressed as he quickly switched his focus to claiming his first Bathurst win.
He was quick to cite the fact no pole sitter had won Bathurst since 2009.
"We've got the best possible position to start but it means nothing for tomorrow because it is 161 laps," McLaughlin said.
"And it's 10 years since someone has won it from pole so we just have to get on with it.
"I am a firm believer in what my mum says: 'it (Bathurst) is like Christmas but not everyone gets a present'.
"I am going to wake up tomorrow like it is Christmas, be excited for it and just get after it like everyone else."
McLaughlin has adopted a "win it or bin it" approach at Bathurst thanks to his 598-point championship lead.
The huge buffer means he can crash out in the next two rounds and still conceivably lead the series.
McLaughlin finished a whopping 0.41 of a second ahead of fellow Ford driver Chaz Mostert in qualifying with Cam Waters third fastest.
Mostert should have been deflated after watching his fastest Bathurst time get blown away, but was quick to remind McLaughlin that anyone could be beaten on Sunday.
"I left nothing on the table ... but Scotty has been impressive all year and smashed us again," he said.
"But this place, anything can happen. I started last on the grid and won this race in 2014.
"I think anyone can beat them (McLaughlin) tomorrow. It is just the way the race goes."
Four-time Bathurst winner Jamie Whincup finished fourth fastest, while fellow Holden driver Shane van Gisbergen was fifth.
Seven-time series champion Whincup is a favourite after teaming up with co-driver, seven-time Bathurst winner Craig Lowndes.
They reunite after winning three-straight Great Races from 2006.
There were no major Supercars incidents but the mountain did claim another scalp.
Peter Vodanovich emerged shaken but unscathed after a horror rollover in race two of support category the Toyota 86 Racing Series.