Holden Racing Team (HRT) walked the walk to back up the talk as Todd Kelly and Mark Skaife grabbed two of the top three spots on the grid for the V8 Supercar pre-season hitout at the Australian Grand Prix.

After a woeful 2004 season, the once all-conquering HRT has spoken of renewed optimism as it tries to become a serious V8 championship player once again.

It backed up the rhetoric with results in qualifying on Thursday - Kelly snaring pole for Friday's first of three races and Skaife third.

Splitting them for second was Ford's star off-season signing Jason Bright in the Ford Performance Racing (FPR) Falcon, with defending V8 champion Marcos Ambrose's Ford fifth fastest.

Friday's 10-lap race, the feature 100km race on Saturday and another short 10-lapper on Sunday at Albert Park don't count for championship points.

But there are bragging rights at stake and no team needs those more than HRT as it strives to catch Ford, Ambrose and his Stone Brothers Racing team as the sport's benchmark.

"The whole team's a lot different than it's ever been - everything's right this year," Kelly said.

"We've got two new cars, the engines are better, and as a team we all know that we've got a real chance.

"We were all thinking that last year and the year before, but behind the scenes we knew we were up for pretty tough years.

"After today, we're in a lot better position to have a real go at it."

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