Supercars champion Shane van Gisbergen has dismissed talk of tension with Jamie Whincup following the Red Bull teammates' dramatic battle in Sydney.
The New Zealander, who secured his second title earlier this month, will be out to make it back-to-back Bathurst 1000 victories this weekend.
Van Gisbergen will again team up with veteran Garth Tander after the pair secured victory in last year's 161-lap race at Mount Panorama.
But the 32-year-old will not be the popular choice among Holden fans as Whincup prepares for his final race as a full-time driver.
Van Gisbergen and Whincup engaged in a tense duel during the third of four back-to-back rounds at Sydney Motorsport Park.
Whincup, who is set to become Triple Eight boss next year, ignored team orders to let van Gisbergen pass and neither driver was able to take the chequered flag.
But van Gisbergen is adamant there is no lingering tension leading into the season-finale and Whincup's Supercars farewell.
"It was a good battle, but we probably should have been focused on winning the race," van Gisbergen said at Bathurst.
"One of us should have a chance to race (winner) Will (Brown) but we sort of took it away from each other.
"It's not a rivalry, we're teammates first and foremost.
"We had some good battles together before I joined the team and then we've worked well together and I've learned a lot off him.
"You can certainly tell why he's a seven-time champ.
"His dedication and focus is matched and it's been pretty cool to be able compare myself to him the last few years."
Van Gisbergen has put together a stunning campaign, winning 14 races to claim another championship five years after his first.
If he can go back-to-back at Bathurst, van Gisbergen will have achieved the third-best season in terms of race wins in history, tied with Whincup and Mark Skaife.
