Holden stars Mark Skaife and Todd Kelly emerged victorious in one of the most enthralling Bathurst 1000 races in years on Sunday to extend the Red Lion's dominance of the endurance event to seven years.

Skaife and Kelly survived a bizarre, controversial and emotional race to win Australia's premier motor sport event.

It was Kelly's first Bathurst win, on his 26th birthday, and Skaife's first V8 victory since 2002 and his fifth win here.

Second placegetters Jason Richards and Jamie Whincup, also in a Holden, enjoyed their first podium finish in the V8 series.

Just 12 months ago Whincup was searching for another job until thrown a lifeline by Dodo Racing.

And Ford's Steve Ellery finished third for the third time here, possibly saving his career at Team Betta Electrical, while his co-driver Adam Macrow finished his first race in eight attempts at Mount Panorama, thrusting himself in contention for a fulltime series drive next year.

But as much as the success, this race will be remembered for controversial elements.

Foremost will be the confrontation between defending race champion Greg Murphy and two-times series champ Marcos Ambrose after they collided on lap 144 of 161, while running in the top five.

They climbed from their wrecked cars and gestured and swore in each others' faces, stopping just short of physical contact.

Television replays showed at least two bumps involving the pair as they drove up the mountain but stewards later decided neither had a case to answer.

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