July 8, 2007 – Australian Will Power has won his second Champ Car event for the season by capturing the Steelback Grand Prix of Toronto at the Exhibition Place street circuit in Toronto, Canada today.

Power drove his #5 Aussie Vineyards Team Australia DP01 Champ Car to a superb victory ahead of Swiss driver Neel Jani and Britain's Justin Wilson. Power's Team Australia team-mate Simon Pagenaud, who hails from France, was an impressive fourth.

The result lifts Power to second in the Champ Car World Series after seven rounds held in the 16-event championship. Robert Doornbos now leads the series standings by a mere two points over Power, while defending series champion Sebastien Bourdais now lies third, one point behind the Australian.

The win comes exactly 100 days before the home event for Power and Team Australia, the Lexmark Indy 300 on the streets of the Gold Coast in Queensland, Australia, on October 18-21.

In a race of changing weather conditions, Power kept his composure and displayed his supreme wet weather driving skills and car control to cut through the field and pull away to claim his second career victory in Champ Car and vault right back into the thick of the championship battle.

Starting from seventh on the grid, Power used his head to get through a frantic opening lap unscathed and then set about chasing down the lead. Once rain began to fall Power was the class of the field, simply too good for Jani and Wilson on the slippery circuit in the closing stages.

Power, 26, was born and raised in Toowoomba, Queensland and now lives in Indianapolis, Indiana, United States during the racing season, where the Team Australia operation is based.

This is the second Champ Car win for Team Australia, which was formed in 2005 by veteran Champ Car team owner Derrick Walker and Australian businessman and Aussie Vineyards boss Craig Gore.

Team Australia continues to lead the Canadian Triple Crown standings, ahead of RSports and Newman/Haas/Lanigan Racing with one round remaining

Pagenaud's drive was also a stellar one, the Champ Car rookie proving one of the fastest cars on the circuit in the dry conditions in the first half of the race.

The reigning Champ Car Atlantic champion led the race at one stage, a great recovery after contact with Alex Tagliani knocked the front wing from the #15 Aussie Vineyards Team Australia DP01 at the first corner.

Round 8 of the Champ Car World Series will be held in two weeks time in Edmonton, Canada on July 20-22.

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WHAT THEY HAD TO SAY...

Will Power – "What a great day, we are officially back in the championship hunt," said Power. "After Friday's qualifying I wasn't too sure about the weekend, but I just have to say thanks to Team Australia. They did an awesome job and worked so hard and they all deserve this win. I also have to say thanks and congratulations to Craig Gore, if it weren't for him I wouldn't be here and he couldn't be here, so this win is for him as well."

Simon Pagenaud – "We had a decent start and through the back straight we had a run on Alex Tagliani, but I thought he saw me going into turn three, but unfortunately closed the door, but I was already there," said Pagenaud. "I tried to back up to avoid him, but I just collected his rear wing with my front wing. From there we did a different strategy, which worked really well, especially if it had stayed dry, because we were leading at one point and I think in dry conditions we could have won the race. I have to thank Team Australia for that, they have worked so hard all weekend. I'm quite happy with the result. It was a crazy race for me, I was back and forth throughout the race and I'm really happy, we were there in the end, I'll take it. I'm really happy for Will he did a great job and now we are taking the lead in the Canadian Triple Crown, so that means that Team Australia is doing an awesome job and I'm looking forward to going to Edmonton to close the deal."

Derrick Walker – "Tremendous team effort all the way around," said Walker. "When the conditions really change a lot, that is when a team rises to the top, when they can deal with change and when they can deal with adversity. Of course from the driver perspective, for us to come in first and fourth here, given everything that happened in the race, I think it's a tribute to the whole team. I'm really happy, it gets us back in the points race. Great Day!"

Craig Gore – "What another amazing day in Team Australia history," said Gore. "Derrick and the team have done an exceptional job so far this season and to already have a couple of wins on the board is fantastic. I get the feeling that it's not over just yet. Will is right back in the championship hunt and there is every chance that our own race on the Gold Coast in October is going to be vital to the series outcome in more ways than one. The phone has not stopped ringing with well wishes and messages of congratulations. Today is an even better day to be an Australian and I am proud as hell about what Team Australia has achieved this year."

PRESS CONFERENCE TRANSCRIPT: Will Power – Team Australia

THE MODERATOR: Our winner today, Will Power. Will, you ran away from the field there in the late stages with the wet. How were you able to get away that quick?

WILL POWER: Yeah, well, it was an interesting race. Yeah, it was great that it rained, but also in the dry we went a lap longer than everyone. We were looking good then. We were looking good either way.

So, you know, I'm very happy for the team. The start was really good for wets. We gained a position there. Obviously these guys came out in front of us because they pitted a lap earlier. This is exactly what we needed points-wise, and also for Sebastien not to finish, that really helps us in the championship. We've got some pretty strong tracks coming up.

THE MODERATOR: Will, with the finish, you and Simon are now leading the Canadian Triple Crown again. After what we saw today it could be anybody's game at Edmonton.

WILL POWER: That's right. Yeah, a lot of mayhem in the race once again. Yeah, stoked to be leading the Triple Crown. Hopefully we can finish it off in Edmonton with both of us on the podium 1, 2. That would be perfect.

THE MODERATOR: We'll open it up to questions.

Q. Will at what point did you realize it was survival of the fastest?

WILL POWER: Yeah, very early on you'd see people crashing. Once it all settled down it was just all about fuel saving, and we did that really well.

But, yeah, our first pit stop, came out, started sprinkling. Almost a lap or two too early unfortunately, but not too unfortunately. Then when it was wet, I just drove like hell. I just wanted to get to the front. I knew that there was going to be a bit of mayhem throughout the race.

But, you know, once I got to the front, every restart, I just tried to put as big a gap in the first couple of corners and drive mistake-free.

Q. Will, this weekend has been miserable for you, driving into the runoff areas several times in practice, what attributed to that?

WILL POWER: Well, it all started in first qualifying when we had an electrical problem in the car. Then I went out, which I probably shouldn't have on cold tires and got a penalty for holding people up.

So, you know, we were like a session behind all weekend. In Champ Car that really costs you because you've got to be following the conditions all the time.

So, yeah, it was a very tough weekend. I have to say I was very frustrated on Saturday night. I was really down about the results here.

But, you know, we had a good strategy going into the race. Whether it was wet or dry, we knew we were going to save fuel and try and move up a bit. Turns out it was a very good weekend for us.


Q. The big story of the weekend was blocking, Tony Cotman made some changes in the drivers meeting in reference to rules and blocking penalties. Were there problems today?

WILL POWER: Yeah, I got blocked by Bruno Junqueira. It's probably a bit of payback for first qualifying (laughter). But I also got a penalty for that, so it's a double whammy, yeah.

That's life. That's racing. Drivers always pay you back in some way.

Q. Will on the first lap did you get together with Simon?

WILL POWER: No. I think he might have hit Tag. I saw it as I was going around the outside, I saw his front wing slide in front of me. I was thinking, Is that my front wing? I didn't touch anyone (laughter).

Q. How hard was it to build a rhythm with all the caution periods?

WILL POWER: Yeah, it's always frustrating when you build a big lead, like four or five seconds. You know, you see there's only six laps to go and suddenly yellow. You're like, Oh, my God. This is never going to end.

But I just really focused on the restarts. If I could get a gap and be comfortable, you don't force yourself into an error. You don't have to do something unnecessary to pull away.

Got a big gap and then just drove really as hard as I could without making mistakes.

Q. Will on the restarts you seemed to pick up a lot of positions, were you that much better on the restarts than the others?

WILL POWER: No, I was on it. Like when I was sitting behind Sebastien, I knew he was kind tentative in the wet and I attacked it. The first corner got him. The next restart, I think I got Neel. Next restart, I got Ryan.

Yeah, it's just about being aggressive at the right time without hitting anyone.

Q. Will, I hear there is a drought in Australia. Do you think they will reschedule the Champ Car race so that the area can get some rain sooner, since it seems to rain every time you are in town?

WILL POWER: That's right. Every year we go to Surfers, it rains. Massive drought. They need to go to Toowoomba, my hometown. It's really bad up there. Yeah, the rain follows us everywhere we go.

RESULTS: Steelback Grand Prix of Toronto - Round 7 of the 2007 Champ Car World Series
1. #5 Will Power 73 laps
2. #21 Neel Jani
3. #9 Justin Wilson
4. #15 Simon Pagenaud
5. #19 Bruno Junqueira
6. #14 Robert Doornbos 72 laps
7. #19 Bruno Junqueira
8. #8 Alex Tagliani 71 laps
9. #1 Sebastien Bourdais 67 laps
10. #7 Oriol Servia 56 laps

RESULTS: Qualifying
1. #1 Sebastien Bourdais 58.288
2. #9 Justin Wilson 58.299
3. #7 Oriol Servia 58.661
4. #15 Simon Pagenaud 58.664
5. #19 Bruno Junqueira 58.675
6. #8 Alex Tagliani 58.779
7. #5 Will Power 58.790
8. #34 Jan Heylen 58.816
9. #21 Neel Jani 58.834
10. #3 Paul Tracy 58.882

2007 Champ Car World Series Points Standings
After Round 7 of 16
1. #14 Robert Doornbos 164
2. #5 Will Power 162
3. #1 Sebastien Bourdais 161
4. #9 Justin Wilson 138
5. #8 Alex Tagliani 127
6. #15 Simon Pagenaud 120
7. #21 Neel Jani 116
8. #3 Oriol Servia 102
9. #2 Graham Rahal 101
10. #19 Bruno Junqueira 91

2007 Roshfrans Champ Car Rookie of the Year
After Round 7 of 16
1. #14 Robert Doornbos 164
2. #15 Simon Pagenaud 120
3. #21 Neel Jani 116
4. #2 Graham Rahal 101
5. #28 Ryan Dalziel 86
6. #22 Tristan Gommendy 80
7. #29 Alex Figge 42
8. #42 Matt Halliday 18

Champ Car Canadian Triple Crown – After Round 2 of 3
1. Team Australia 3.0
2. Rsports 6.0
3. Newman/Haas/Lanigan Racing 7.25
4. Minardi Team USA 8.25
5. PKV Racing 8.75
6. Pacific Coast Motorsports 11.75
7. Forsythe Championship Racing 12.0
8. Dale Coyne Racing 12.25
9. Conquest Racing 14.5
scores are average finishing positions

SO FAR THIS YEAR – WILL POWER RESULTS
R1 Las Vegas, USA: Start 1st / Finish 1st
R2 Long Beach, USA: Start 2nd / Finish 3rd
R3 Houston, USA: Start 2nd / Finish 11th
R4 Portland, USA: Start 7th / Finish 4th
R5 Cleveland, USA: Start 3rd / Finish 10th
R6 Mont Tremblant, Canada: Start 2nd / Finish 3rd
R7 Toronto, Canada: Start 7th / Finish 1st

WILL POWER: CURRENT CHAMP CAR RECORD – AS OF 9 JULY 2007
2006 Championship: sixth (winner of Rookie of the Year title)
Total Starts: 23
Top 10 Finishes: 16
Poles: 3 (Australia, 2006; Las Vegas 2007, Houston 2007)
Podiums: 5 (3rd Mexico, 2006; 1st Las Vegas 2007; 3rd Long Beach 2007; 3rd Mont Tremblant 2007, Ist Toronto 2007)
Wins: 2 (Las Vegas 2007; Toronto 2007)

ABOUT TORONTO STREET CIRCUIT
Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Circuit Type: Temporary Street Circuit
First Champ Car Event: 1986
Track Length: 1.755 miles (2.824 kilometres)