Team Australia star Will Power will start the Champ Car Grand Prix of Houston from pole position after final qualifying fastest for Round 3 of the Champ Car World Series in Texas today.
Power earned his third pole in five races in Houston in the #5 Aussie Vineyards Team Australia DP01. Power was originally credited with second in today’s final qualifying session but was later promoted to pole position when rival Sebastien Bourdais was penalised for blocking Power in qualifying.
Bourdais’ fastest lap was disallowed as a result, promoting Power to pole and dropping the Frenchman to third. The Australian driver will start from the front row of the grid alongside Justin Wilson for the Houston street race, as Power aims to defend his points lead in the championship standings.
Team Australia rookie Simon Pagenaud will start from seventh in the Aussie Vineyards Team Australia DP01. Pagenaud was the third fastest rookie in qualifying today as the reigning Atlantic champion continues to impress with his speed in only his third Champ Car event.
WHAT THEY HAD TO SAY …
Will Power – #5 Aussie Vineyards Team Australia DP01
“We are very happy, ” said Power.
“Obviously it’s not the best way to get pole, because Sebastien did have the quickest lap, but we were on a hot lap and he blocked us.
“I lost my quickest lap yesterday for blocking Justin Wilson and the rules are the rules.
“I just want to thank the guys because they gave me a great, quick car and now we just need to win another race. ”
Simon Pagenaud – #15 Aussie Vineyards Team Australia DP01
“We had some issues right at the beginning from the warm-up until the end, ” said Pagenaud.
“We had the car to do it for sure. I thought I could do it on the last lap, but unfortunately the red came out.
“The Aussie Vineyards car is right there. Everyone has been doing a great job, my engineer Mike Pawlowski and my whole Team Australia crew.
It will happen for us one day. I think it will be good to start for us tomorrow and have a different strategy and we can show up front for the race and hopefully bring the team home a podium. ”
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