October 20, 2007 – Team Australia Champ Car star Will Power has scored his second-consecutive Lexmark Indy 300 pole position in final qualifying for Round 13 of the Champ Car World Series on the Gold Coast in Queensland, Australia today.

Power gave his team co-owner and countryman Craig Gore the best possible 'get well' present by beating the lap record for the Surfers Paradise street circuit that has stood for five years. Gore is at his Gold Coast home recovering from an inner ear operation earlier this week.

The previous lap record on the Gold Coast was a 1:30.204 set by Brazil's Cristiano da Matta in 2002, eclipsed today by Power's #5 Aussie Vineyards Team Australia DP01, which scorched around the 4.47-kilometre circuit in a time of 1:30.054.

This effort is Power's fourth pole position for the season, following on from poles in Las Vegas, Houston and Edmonton in Canada. Power's scored his debut pole position at last year's Lexmark Indy 300, making today's pole his fifth career Champ Car pole.

Amazingly, Power smashed the time that earned him pole for last year's race, with the Toowoomba driver's new-for-2007 Team Australia DP01 Champ Car well quicker than the 1:31.403 that gave Power pole for last year's event.

The 26-year-old was second fastest by the narrowest of margins in yesterday's opening qualifying but put the rest of the Champ Car field on notice today, over three tenths of a second quicker than second-fastest driver Paul Tracy.

Power went to the top of the qualifying timesheets by beating Oriol Servia's time from yesterday halfway through the 30-minute session on the set of softer 'red' Bridgestone tyres that he also used in yesterday's session.

With just under 10 minutes remaining in the session Power returned to the circuit on a brand new set of the 'red' tyres. The proud Aussie soon brought his home crowd to its feet with a sensational lap that had his car using every millimetre of the demanding street circuit. Power later said that his four flying laps on the new tyres were the hardest four laps of his career to date.

Efforts by Paul Tracy and Sebastien Bourdais to topple the time in the dying stages of final qualifying, bringing a cheer from Power, who at the end of the session was already watching the timing screens with Team Australia co-owner Derrick Walker and the crew on the pit wall.

Soon after the post-qualifying press conference Power was on the phone to Gore, the two agreeing that today's effort is the perfect lead-up to the 'real job' in tomorrow's race.

Power's team-mate Simon Pagenaud also performed admirably on the Gold Coast today, driving the #15 Aussie Vineyards Team Australia DP01 to sixth fastest.

The effort made the Frenchman the fastest rookie and made Team Australia the only team that will have both its cars start tomorrow's Lexmark Indy 300 from the first three rows on the grid.

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WHAT THEY HAD TO SAY...

Will Power – "It was a great job by the team today," said Power. "But we are not getting too excited because it's a long race. That's probably the hardest four laps I've ever done in my life. I pushed super-hard because I knew we had the car to do it. I just had to get the lap together. I was even on a quicker one in the last lap, but (Mario) Dominguez blocked me. I think the key to tomorrow is to get a good start. We have a really good race car and it was very strong in practice early today. We practiced with full fuel loads and everything. So I'm looking forward to tomorrow. We'll just be conservative with our Power-to-Pass. I think if you get out in the lead, you have a really quick car, you don't Power-to-Pass. It's only when someone attacks you, if you have someone slower in front of you or you need to pass someone. It would be nice to lead away and control the race from the front but Champ Car racing is pretty mixed up, especially this year with the way the yellows have fallen. You can have a perfect strategy, but if the yellows don't go your way, you don't get the right fuel strategy, you can end up absolutely nowhere. Because our team and myself are such a big part of this event, I really feel the atmosphere. Out of all the races you do all year, no matter who you ask in the paddock, they all say this is the best race. I mean, it's right on a beach, it's a very difficult circuit for drivers. You ask any of the rookies, they say it's the toughest street circuit they've ever been to. It's unforgiving. It's a great event."

Simon Pagenaud – "Today was a much better today than it was yesterday," said Pagenaud. "I feel like I tried really hard today and I gained time everywhere. It's such a tough track, but my Aussie Vineyards car did really well and my #15 Team Australia crew has been the best. We have been great at saving fuel and I think we can save good fuel during the race and jump on the podium. You can expect a good result from us and I'm quite happy with P6 and it's great to be in front of all the rookies. I want to say hi to Craig and wish he could be here and want to let him know we wish him a quick recovery."

Derrick Walker – "Well it's half the mission accomplished, tomorrow's the big one," said Walker. "I think it's fair to say Will, Simon and the team are as well prepared as they've ever been for any race. I feel very comfortable that we have done what we need to get where we are. Big job tomorrow, but I think we are up to it. If we get some lucky breaks and Power-to-Pass doesn't become too much of a disadvantage for us, then I say we should be running up there with a chance of winning. I haven't seen or spoken to Craig since I've been at the track, but I have to think if he's not crying with joy I would be very surprised. This race is a part of his dream with this program and I'm sure he's lapping it up just as much as I am. I wish him a speedy recovery to come here and get as much out of it as I am right now."

Craig Gore – "We have unfinished business – it ain't done yet," said Gore. "We got the pole last year and did not win the race. This year Derrick and the team have worked tirelessly for this race with just one thought in mine – getting the job done."

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RESULTS: Qualifying (Combined)
1. #5 Will Power 1:30.054 – new lap record
2. #22 Oriol Servia 1:30.693 **
3. #3 Paul Tracy 1:30.426
4. #1 Sebastien Bourdais 1:30.438
5. #9 Justin Wilson 1:30.586
6. #15 Simon Pagenaud (R) 1:31.038
7. #19 Bruno Junqueira 1:31.212
8. #21 Neel Jani (R) 1:31.281
9. #2 Graham Rahal (R) 1:31.347
10. #4 Dan Clarke 1:31.413
** Servia starts from second as a result of setting the fastest time in Friday qualifying

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 229
5. #2 Graham Rahal 209
6. #3 Oriol Servia 204
7. #21 Neel Jani 203
8. #15 Simon Pagenaud 192
9. #19 Bruno Junqueira 191
10. #8 Alex Tagliani 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

ABOUT SURFERS PARADISE
Location: Gold Coast, Australia
Circuit Type: Street Course
First Champ Car Event: 1991
Track Length: 4.47 kilometres
Defending Winner: Nelson Philippe (France)