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Australian driver Will Power has qualified second for tomorrow morning's Honda Grand Prix of St Petersburg, the second race of the newly-unified 2008 IndyCar Series. Power drives the #8 Aussie Vineyards - Team Australia Honda/Dallara/Firestone entry for KV Racing Technology. Fellow Australian Ryan Briscoe will start from fifth in the #6 Penske Racing Honda/Dallara/Firestone machine.
Will Power has put the IndyCar Series paddock on notice by qualifying second for only his second ever IndyCar Series race at the Honda Grand Prix of St Petersburg in Florida today.
Power put the #8 Aussie Vineyards - Team Australia Honda/Dallara/Firestone on the top of the timesheets in the opening two segments of qualifying in an outstanding effort, before clinching a front row starting position for tomorrow’s race in the final shootout for pole, the Firestone Fast Six.
The Australian’s reaction to the feat showed just how determined Power is for success in the newly unified IndyCar Series. Despite only driving a Honda-powered Dallara IndyCar on one previous occasion on a road course in a test at Sebring, Power was disappointed that he did not get pole position, which went to 2004 IndyCar Series Champion Tony Kanaan.
Power was the fastest car in his group in qualifying in the new knockout Peak Motor Oil Pole Qualifying road/street course system and progressed into the next segment of 12 cars. From there the 27-year-old again qualified fastest, moving into the final six-car shootout for the pole – the Firestone Fast Six.
In the final shootout Power was second, only 0.0774 behind Kanaan’s time. Power’s time in the second segment of qualifying would have easily put him on pole, leading to the Toowoomba-born driver feeling slightly frustrated he did not bring home the pole in only his second IndyCar race.
Earlier in the day Power was 14th in final practice, completing 15 laps in the Aussie Vineyards car working on race set-up.
On Sunday (Monday morning Australian time), the 100-lap Honda Grand Prix of St Petersburg will be staged, shown live on ESPN in both the United States and Australia.
WHAT THE TEAM HAD TO SAY …
Will Power - #8 Aussie Vineyards - Team Australia Honda/Dallara/Firestone
“My original goal was just to get into the Firestone Fast Six,” said Power.
“But, now I am a little disappointed that we didn't get the pole considering the time we posted in the previous session. But, overall I'm happy to be on the front row.
“It's very good for Aussie Vineyards and for KV Racing Technology. Most importantly, it's a payback to the team.
“They've been working so hard over the last month - working long hours and they haven't been seeing their families - so I 'm very happy for them.”
Craig Gore - Team Australia
“Will is a little frustrated he did not match his time earlier in qualifying and get the pole, but there is no doubt that this is a simply outstanding effort,” said Gore.
“The amount of time the team has had the car and the seat time that Will has had in a Dallara is only a fraction of the regular IndyCar teams, so to set the fastest time of the day and get the Aussie Vineyards car on the front row shows what Will is capable of.
“Will correctly pointed to the crew at KV Racing Technology as the heroes behind this result. The crew working on the Aussie Vineyards car have been putting in extraordinary hours preparing and learning these cars and they should be extremely proud that their car was the fastest car in the field today.
“Everyone is right behind Will and the Aussie Vineyards car and we cannot wait to see tomorrow’s race.”
RESULTS: Peak Motor Oil Pole Qualifying
1. #11 Tony Kanaan 1:02.5322
2. #8 Will Power 1:02.6096
3. #02 Justin Wilson 1:026426
4. #3 Helio Castroneves 1:02.6426
5. #6 Ryan Briscoe 1:02.7071
6. #17 Ryan Hunter-Reay 1:03.0077
**Firestone Fast Six**
7. #5 Oriol Servia 1:02.7427
8. #10 Dan Wheldon 1:02.7964
9. #06 Graham Rahal 1:02.8122
10. #34 Franck Perera 1:02.8749
2008 IndyCar Series Points Standings
1. #9 Scott Dixon 50
2. #26 Marco Andretti 43
3. #10 Dan Wheldon 35
4. #3 Helio Castroneves 32
5. #20 Ed Carpenter 30
6. #7 Danica Patrick 28
7. #17 Ryan Hunter-Reay 26
8. #11 Tony Kanaan 24
9. #2 AJ Foyt IV 22
10. #4 Vitor Meira 20
25. #8 Will Power 10 RACE SCHEDULE
Local Florida (US Eastern) Times
Warm-Up
Sunday 6 April 2008
8:30am – 9:00am
Race - Honda Grand Prix of St Petersburg
Sunday 6 April 2008
2:45pm - 100 laps
UNITED STATES TV SCHEDULE
Sunday 6 April 2008
ESPN
2:30pm - 5:00pm US Eastern
AUSTRALIAN TIMES
Australian Eastern Daylight Savings/Standard Times
Warm-Up
Sunday 6 April 2008
11:30am – 12:00pm
Race - Honda Grand Prix of St Petersburg
Monday 7 April 2008
4:45am - 100 laps
AUSTRALIAN TV SCHEDULE
Monday 7 April 2008
ESPN
4:30am - 7:00am AEST
ABOUT ST PETERSBURG STREET CIRCUIT
Honda Grand Prix of St Petersburg
Venue: Streets of St Petersburg
Location: St Petersburg, Florida
Type: 1.8 mile/22! E89km temporary street circuit
Distance: 100 laps - 180! miles/2 89.7km
INDYCAR SERIES RECORD BOOK
Defending Race Winner: Helio Castroneves
Defending Polesitter: Helio Castroneves
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