SYDNEY — Former NASCAR driver Marcos Ambrose finished 20th and 21st Saturday in his opening two V8 Supercar races in his native Australia since 2005, and after crashing in qualifying for the first race.

Ambrose, who has spent the past nine years racing in the United States, was driving a wild-card entry for Dick Johnson Racing ahead of his fulltime position with DJR Team Penske in 2015.

In qualifying, the Australian slid into the concrete wall at turn five but was not injured.

Team owner Dick Johnson says Ambrose's aim was to "only finish the weekend — and so far so good."

Saturday's races — the second was shortened by rain — are part of the season-ending Sydney 500. Both races Saturday were won by 2014 series champion Jamie Whincup.