Will Power is confident that he can continue to bridge the gap to defending series champion Sebastien Bourdais at the Generac Grand Prix of Road America this weekend.

Power has collected two race victories already this season in the #5 Aussie Vineyards Team Australia DP01 on the street circuits in Las Vegas and Toronto, Canada.

The Queensland driver is now in search of his first win at a permanent road course and Elkhart Lake offers Power the perfect opportunity, as the fast and challenging Road America road course is known as one of the world’s finest.

Despite missed opportunities for victories at Cleveland and Edmonton, which allowed Bourdais and Dutchman Robert Doornbos to edge away in the championship standings, Power is still confident that he is in title contention.

This weekend’s event will be crucial for the Toowoomba-born driver as he aims to bridge the 24-point gap to leader Bourdais. A maximum of 34 points are available from each Champ Car round if a driver is able to win, as well as claim bonus points for pole in both qualifying sessions and for recording the fastest lap of the race.

Team Australia rookie Simon Pagenaud has fond memories of the Road America circuit as it was the venue where the Frenchman clinched the 2006 Champ Car Atlantic Championship for Team Australia.

Pagenaud has turned in some stirring performances this season in the #15 Aussie Vineyards Team Australia DP01, often beating some of the more established stars of Champ Car. Pagenaud currently sits sixth in the overall championship standings with five top five finishes already this season.

WHAT THEY HAD TO SAY …

Will Power – #5 Aussie Vineyards Team Australia DP01

“The next batch of races is extremely important for the championship, especially Elkhart Lake,” said Power.

“Our goal is to finish every race as competitively as we can and to rack up as many points as we can.

“Road America is one of the best circuits that we drive on and we definitely have an advantage being that we tested there a month go and we were able to get a good handle on the Aussie Vineyards cars so we can rock up on par with everyone this year.

“Last year we finished a lap down due to an incident we had in the first corner, so this year I’m looking to finish the job and bring the boys home a good result.”

Simon Pagenaud – #15 Aussie Vineyards Team Australia DP01

“I love Road America and can’t wait to go back,” said Pagenaud.

“It has to been one of my favourite tracks in the world for a number of reasons. Not only is it a blast to drive on, but it’s a special place for me because we clinched the Atlantic Championship in Wisconsin last year.

“I look forward to going back because we just recently had a successful test there and I believe the Aussie Vineyards car will be very efficient and fast and hopefully we can bring the fans a good show.”

Derrick Walker – Team Australia Co-Owner

“Elkhart Lake is both challenging, different and an interesting event and very key to the championship run for Team Australia,” said Walker.

“We’ve tested there quite well, but the competition has closed up since then so I’m sure it’s going to be like every other race this year, very close.”

Craig Gore – Team Australia Co-Owner

“Both our drivers have experience at this sensational circuit and I think we are in for a good chance of having both our Aussie Vineyards cars up the front,” said Gore.

“Will is obviously keen to score points to close the gap to the Bourdais and Doornbos in the standings. He has had a chunk of poor luck so far, so maybe it is time for luck to fall him way this weekend.

“Simon obviously has fond memories of Road America, as it is the place where he clinched the Atlantic title for Team Australia last season. I think that his form so far this season has proven that his first Champ Car podium is not far away.”

2007 Champ Car World Series Points Standings
After Round 9 of 16
1. #1 Sebastien Bourdais 216
2. #14 Robert Doornbos 206
3. #5 Will Power 192
4. #9 Justin Wilson 175
5. #21 Neel Jani 156
6. #15 Simon Pagenaud 154
7. #3 Oriol Servia 146
8. #2 Graham Rahal 145
9. #8 Alex Tagliani 140
10. #19 Bruno Junqueira 125

2007 Roshfrans Champ Car Rookie of the Year
After Round 9 of 16
1. #14 Robert Doornbos 206
2. #21 Neel Jani 156
3. #15 Simon Pagenaud 154
4. #2 Graham Rahal 145
5. #28 Ryan Dalziel 95
6. #22 Tristan Gommendy 95
7. #29 Alex Figge 57
8. #42 Matt Halliday 18

RACE SCHEDULE
Local Wisconsin (US Central) Times
Practice 1
Friday 10 August 2007
10:15am – 11:30am

Qualifying 1
Friday 10 August 2007
5:30pm – 6:30pm

Practice 2
Saturday 11 August 2007
8:45am – 9:45am

Qualifying 1
Saturday 11 August 2007
2:10pm – 3:10pm

Warm-Up
Sunday 12 August 2007
9:45am – 10:15am

Race
Sunday 12 August 2007
2:00pm – 4:00pm

UNITED STATES TV SCHEDULE
Sunday 12 August 2007
ABC
3:00pm US Eastern

AUSTRALIAN TIMES
Australian Eastern Standard Times
Practice 1
Saturday 11 August 2007
2:15am – 3:30am

Qualifying 1
Saturday 11 August 2007
8:30am – 9:30am

Practice 2
Saturday 11 August 2007
11:45pm – 12:45am

Qualifying 2
Sunday 12 August 2007
5:10am – 6:10am

Warm-Up
Sunday 12 August 2007
12:45am – 1:15am

Race
Sunday 12 August 2007
5:00am – 7:00am

AUSTRALIAN TV SCHEDULE
Tuesday 14 August 2007
Seven
12:30am – 3:00am