Team Australia driver Will Power has made his intentions clear on day one of the of 2008 Nikon Indy 300, smashing the opposition in the first two practice sessions of the weekend on the streets of Surfers Paradise in Queensland, Australia today.
The local hero was over a second quicker than the next best car of Helio Castroneves in second practice today, showing that while it is only the opening day of proceedings around the 4.498km/2.795 mile street circuit, Power is in red hot form for his and Team Australia’s home event.
Power drove a set of scintillating laps in front of a huge and parochial Aussie crowd, setting a time of 1min34.8084secs in the #8 Aussie Vineyards – Team Australia IndyCar. Castroneves’ best time was a 1min36.1609secs, a massive gap in the hugely-competitive IndyCar Series field.
In first practice earlier this morning Power was also fastest, two tenths of a second faster than Justin Wilson.
Power is confident that there is more time and improvement to be found in his Aussie Vineyards machine, but was also quick to point out that it is early days and that Sunday is the day that matters most.
Power’s KV Racing Technology team-mate Oriol Servia, who is joining Power in the colours of Aussie Vineyards and Team Australia this weekend, was also right on the pace on the Gold Coast today.
The Spaniard was fourth fastest in the second practice session of the day, a strong recovery after contact with a barrier cut short his run in opening practice, where he was eighth fastest.
Final practice and qualifying will be held tomorrow, before the 18th running of the Nikon Indy 300 is staged on Sunday.
Will Power: #8 Aussie Vineyards - Team Australia Honda/Dallara/Firestone “It was a very good day for the our whole KV Racing Technology team and the Aussie Vineyards - Team Australia car was good right out of the box,” said Power.
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