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Team Australia Maintains Focus Heading Into Long Beach |
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Tuesday, 17 April 2007 |
Team Australia is determined to maintain focus and drive towards further success as the Aussie Vineyards team heads into the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach in California this weekend.
Team Australia ace Will Power captured his and Team Australia’s first Champ Car victory in Las Vegas last weekend in the opening round of the 2007 Champ Car World Series.
With a race winner’s trophy and the championship lead in his
possession, the 26-year-old from Toowoomba in Queensland, Australia is
more determined than ever to keep the #5 Aussie Vineyards Team
Australia DP01 at the front of the field.
Power has maintained a demanding fitness regime over the off-season and
rather than sit back and enjoy the spoils of victory, the 2006 Champ
Car Rookie of the Year continued training during the week, cycling with
former team-mate Alex Taglaini.
Team Australia scored a podium in Long Beach last season with Tagliani,
giving the team added confidence entering one of the marque events of
the championship.
Power’s young team-mate Simon Pagenaud was unlucky in Las Vegas when
mechanical issues ended his charge, but the Frenchman has an added
advantage heading into Long Beach.
Despite his rookie status in Champ Car, Pagenaud raced at Long Beach in
last year’s Champ Car Atlantic Championship and finished fourth in what
was the first round of his championship-winning season.
WHAT THEY HAD TO SAY …
Will Power – #5 Aussie Vineyards Team Australia DP01
“I feel great and very confident going into Long Beach after our strong weekend,” said Power.
“We will go into this weekend the same as we did in Vegas. Try to get
the best out of the car, qualify in the top five and minimize our
mistakes and get as many points as possible.
“It helps coming to Long Beach because I really like the circuit and I
look forward to coming back to a track that I have been to before. Last
year we did well, but I made some mistakes so I want to get this race
right and get Team Australia on the podium again.”
Simon Pagenaud – #15 Aussie Vineyards Team Australia DP01
“Obviously I got lots of experience in Las Vegas, which will help me
greatly especially since I know the Long Beach track and raced it last
year so it shouldn’t be as difficult,” said Pagenaud.
“We have a good street car and will be ready to be quick again this
weekend. The Long Beach circuit is a fun track and now we will just go
into this weekend with the same mode as we went into Vegas.
“Team Australia has given me a great car so far and I can’t wait to bring them all a great result.”
Derrick Walker – Team Australia Co-Owner
“I would expect the competition to be a lot stronger at Long Beach,” said Walker.
“A lot of the drivers have raced on the Long Beach circuit and the
teams know it very well. Las Vegas was a little bit of a leveller as
far as we all went into the weekend never having raced in Las Vegas.
“However, Long Beach is a little different, but I fully expect our car to be ideally suited to the streets of Long Beach.”
Craig Gore – Team Australia Co-Owner
“It was an amazing start to the season last weekend,” said Gore.
“But as they say, you are only as good as your last race.
“We achieved a lot of firsts last weekend but Las Vegas is just the beginning.
“The feedback and congratulations we have had from right around the
world on Will’s result has been amazing and it makes you proud to be an
Australian.
“This program is about taking Australian drivers, the Aussie Vineyards
brand and the brands of our sponsors to the world and every success
helps accelerate that process.
“Will and Simon have shown in preseason testing and at Las Vegas that they will be fast this season.
“Will has shown that he’s not only a threat to win races but now has to be taken seriously as a championship threat.
“Bring on Long Beach.”
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