More specifically, it hangs over the top of the team's #12 entry driven by Fabian Coulthard and Tony D'Alberto.

Race stewards have opened an inquiry into the team after Coulthard slowed down under a safety car period on lap 135 while running in third spot.

Front runners McLaughlin and Jamie Whincup put plenty of distance back to the pack, headed by Coutlhard, before they ducked into pit lane.

Coulthard was black flagged on the next lap for a breach of rule D10.2.2.3 (excessive distance between cars under the safety car) but the stewards enquiry will determine whether the DJR driver is in breach of rule D24.1.

That rule prevents team orders, which is defined as 'An instruction to a driver or team member, either verbal or otherwise the effect of which may interfere with a race result'.

Stewards cited the increase in distance between the #12 and #97 van Gisbergen entry plus a TV interview with team managing director Ryan Story as reasons to open the inquiry.

In the interview Story cited overheating as the reason the #12 started to slow down on Conrod Straight.

A post-race hearing was conducted but DJR Team Penske requested further time to gather evidence in defence.

Another hearing will be held by the stewards prior to the next round at the Gold Coast 600, on October 25-27.

Until then the Bathurst 1000 results remain provisional.

But even with the hearing to come there will be no wiping the smiles off Coulthard's winning teammates McLaughlin and Premat.

With the win Premat became the first Bathurst 1000 winner from outside Australia or New Zealand since Sweden's Rickard Rydell won alongside Jim Richards in 1998.

Frenchman Premat put in solid stints against full-time Supercars series drivers Chaz Mostert, Jamie Whincup and Cam Waters to keep the #17 entry towards the front of the field on Sunday.

While he gave up ground to the cohort of full-time drivers he limited the damage and handed the car back to series leader McLaughlin in a strong position.

Premat said it was great to deliver team boss Roger Penske another major motor sport achievement.

"It means a lot to me," he said.

"It's crazy. It's insane. Roger this year the Indianapolis 500 with Simon Pagenaud, a French guy, and the second French guy is winning Bathurst so it's perfect. I think there's something good in the recipe.

"I'm just enjoying winning for DJR Penske, for Shell V-Power and for Dick Johnson who 25 years ago won his last race here.

"In the pits over those last 20 laps it was insane. There was so much emotion. It's been amazing."

McLaughlin and Premat's latest victory together came in the second of 2017's endurance races at the Gold Coast.

Premat has now claimed three endurance race victories in Supercars, having won at the Gold Coast in 2016 with Shane van Gisbergen.