Will Power has earned his sixth top 10 qualifying performance for the season with 10th fastest in qualifying for the PEAK Motor Oil Indy 300 at Chicagoland Speedway in Joliet, Illinois today.
Power, driving the #8 Aussie Vineyards – Team Australia Honda/Dallara/Firestone, an IndyCar rookie who is making his first appearance on the 1.5-mile, D-shaped, Chicagoland oval.
The 27-year-old posted a four-lap average of 214.583mph and will line-up on the outside of the fifth row.
Power was 12th fastest in this morning’s practice with a speed of 215.558mph, followed by ninth fastest in second practice.
In qualifying, Power went out sixth of the 28 drivers who made a qualifying run and had an incredibly consistent effort.
Power, who will be making his 47th career start in US open-wheel competition and just his 11th on an oval, enters tomorrow’s race 14th in the standings with 301 points, 33 points out of 10th and third in the Bombardier Learjet Rookie of the Year race trailing Hideki Mutoh by 33 points.
The driver from Toowoomba, Queensland has earned five top-10 finishes (four on road or street circuits), including two top-five showings (both on street/road circuits, won in Long Beach and fourth in Mid-Ohio) with one victory in 16 races this year. In 10 previous oval starts, Power has one top-10 finish a ninth place showing earlier this year at Iowa.
WHAT THE TEAM HAD TO SAY …
Will Power: #8 Aussie Vineyards - Team Australia Honda/Dallara/Firestone
“The Aussie Vineyards–Team Australia car felt good during qualifying, very consistent and that is always the key for the race,” said Power.
“If you can have a nice consistent car that’s friendly to drive, then you should do well.
“Hopefully the way we set it up in practice today will give us a solid car for the race tomorrow.”
Craig Gore: Aussie Vineyards - Team Australia
“Great job by Will and the Aussie Vineyards crew in Chicago today,” said Gore.
“The team has been working hard at improving the oval package, so it would be great to have a strong showing on the final oval race of the season.”
RESULTS: PEAK Motor Oil Pole Qualifying
1. #6 Ryan Briscoe 215.818mph (four-lap average speed)
2. #9 Scott Dixon 215.553
3. #7 Danica Patrick 215.548
4. #11 Tony Kanaan 215.368
5. #26 Marco Andretti 215.064
6. #10 Dan Wheldon 214.967
7. #12 Tomas Scheckter 214.855
8. #4 Vitor Meira 214.796
9. #25 Marty Roth 214.794
10. #8 Will Power 214.583
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