September 26, 2007 – Will Power has completed preparations for the Lexmark Indy 300 in the best possible fashion by setting the fastest time in testing at the Sebring circuit in Florida today.
Power topped the timesheets in his #5 Aussie Vineyards Team Australia DP01 Champ Car around the 1.67-mile (2.69-kilometre) circuit in the final day of testing before the Australian round of the championship on October 18-21.
Power's time was the fastest of the two-day test, eclipsing yesterday's fastest time set by series leader Sebastien Bourdais by over half a second.
The pace of Team Australia was backed-up by Power's rookie team-mate Simon Pagenaud, who was fourth fastest at Sebring today, sending out a warning to the Champ Car field that the Aussie Vineyards squad means business ahead of it's home race on October 18-21.
Queensland native Power scored his first pole position at the Lexmark Indy 300 last season and was in control of the race before he was crashed out of contention by Bourdais.
Since then the Toowoomba-born driver has scored two Champ Car wins and a further three pole positions, rising to the status as one of the leading drivers in the Champ Car World Series.
Power enters this year's Lexmark Indy 300, the penultimate round of the 2007 Champ Car World Series, in fourth position in the points standings after mechanical woes saw him lose vital points over recent rounds.
The 26-year-old's aim is now to go all out for a race win at his home event next month and with the pace exhibited in this final Champ Car test before the Australian leg of the series, the stage is set for Power to complete what he started last year on the streets of Surfers Paradise.
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WHAT THEY HAD TO SAY...
Will Power – "We tried a lot of different things for the test and to be fastest is a great result," said Power. "Our main objective was to try things out for Surfers, because that it is a very important race for us. We definitely found what we were looking for as well as some things that we can work on during the winter. Given that we have had a long break, it was great to get the miles in to help prepare us to give the Australian fans a great show for our home race in a couple of weeks. I feel very confident with the Aussie Vineyards car and I'm ready to bring the team a win in Surfers."
Simon Pagenaud – "I expect a big crowd in Australia rooting for both Will and myself," said Pagenaud. "Our test this week was good and we learned lots of things and that is important. It was also good to show our strength heading into the next event because we both want to do well for Aussie Vineyards. I feel very confident going into Australia for my first time there and I hope to bring the team and all of our fans a good result."
Derrick Walker – "Sebring was definitely one of the best tests that we have had so far this season," said Walker. "We accomplished everything we set out for and found some good things. Today was not a matter of getting the quickest time, but to find improvements on the car and to improve our on track performance with our biggest race of the year coming up. If you look at the how the track conditions changed and a lot of the teams were using their power to pass, the times were all so different and our main focus was to check off the long list that our engineers prepared for us and we did just that."
Craig Gore – "Great work by Will and the entire Team Australia crew in Sebring today," said Power. "Our entire team is focused on finishing what we started at the Lexmark Indy 300 last year and today's pace shows that we are still on track to deliver at our home event. Derrick and the team have our cars working well and Will is on top of his game. Today's pace and results has put Team Australia on the front foot heading into Australia. I cannot wait for our green and gold Aussie Vineyards cars to hit the streets of the Gold Coast next month."
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RESULTS: Sebring Testing – 25 September 2007
1. #5 Will Power 51.51 seconds
2. #22 Tristan Gommendy 51.53
3. #28 Mario Dominguez 51.55
4. #15 Simon Pagenaud 51.71
5. #29 Alex Figge 51.73
6. #3 Paul Tracy 51.79
7. #2 Graham Rahal 51.82
8. #7 David Martinez 51.91
9. #21 Neel Jani 52.04
10. #19 Bruno Junqueira 52.30
Entry List – 2007 Lexmark Indy 300
Round 13 of the Champ Car World Series
#1 Sebastien Bourdais – France (Newman/Haas/Lanigan Racing)
#2 Graham Rahal – USA (Newman/Haas/Lanigan Racing)
#3 Paul Tracy – Canada (Forsythe Championship Racing)
#4 Dan Clarke – England (Minardi Team USA)
#5 Will Power – Australia (Team Australia)
#7 David Martinez – Mexico (Forsythe Championship Racing)
#8 Alex Tagliani – Canada (Rocketsports)
#9 Justin Wilson – England (RuSPORT)
#11 Katherine Legge – England (Dale Coyne Racing)
#14 Robert Doornbos – Netherlands (Minardi Team USA)
#15 Simon Pagenaud – France (Team Australia)
#19 Bruno Junqueira – Brazil (Dale Coyne Racing)
#21 Neel Jani – Switzerland (PKV Racing)
#22 Tristan Gommendy – France (PKV Racing)
#28 Mario Dominguez – Mexico (Pacific Coast Motorsports)
#29 Alex Figge – USA (Pacific Coast Motorsports)
#34 Jan Heylen – Belgium (Conquest Racing)
2007 Champ Car World Series Points Standings
After Round 12 of 14
1. #1 Sebastien Bourdais 301
2. #9 Justin Wilson 243
3. #14 Robert Doornbos 238
4. #5 Will Power 228
5. #2 Graham Rahal 209
6. #7 Oriol Servia 204
7. #21 Neel Jani 203
8. #15 Simon Pagenaud 192
9. #8 Alex Tagliani 191
10. #19 Bruno Junqueira 180
2007 Roshfrans Champ Car Rookie of the Year
After Round 12 of 14
1. #14 Robert Doornbos 238
2. #2 Graham Rahal 209
3. #21 Neel Jani 203
4. #15 Simon Pagenaud 192
5. #22 Tristan Gommendy 140
6. #28 Ryan Dalziel 116
7. #29 Alex Figge 77
8. #42 Matt Halliday 18 |
