Will Power has qualified third fastest in opening qualifying for Round 6 of the Champ Car World Series at the Mont Tremblant circuit in Quebec, Canada today.

Power was one of the pacesetters in today’s proceedings, pushing the #5 Aussie Vineyards Team Australia DP01 to a time good enough for third behind Tristan Gommendy and Sebastien Bourdais at the spectacular circuit.

His team-mate Simon Pagenaud set the seventh fastest time in provisional qualifying, after finishing second fastest in opening practice earlier in the day.

Both Team Australia drivers are confident of improvement for tomorrow, not only because of the additional grip that will be on offer as more track activity occurs. Power and Pagenaud’s best times today were both set on Bridgestone ‘black’ tyres, the harder of the two compounds on offer.

With the use of the softer ‘red’ option tyres tomorrow and the benefit of today’s track time, the Aussie Vineyards-backed team will be aiming at getting both cars at the front of the grid in final qualifying.

WHAT THEY HAD TO SAY …

Will Power – #5 Aussie Vineyards Team Australia DP01

“It's really nice to be here at this circuit,” said Power.

“To be in the top three again, that's really good, but I would have rather been on pole.

“You know, it's definitely going to get quicker tomorrow because this track rubbers up so much. It might even be a little cooler.

“Today for us it doesn't really mean much being third because it’s either the pole today or nothing. We're going to go back, have a look at the data, get the car a little better and go for it tomorrow. But it's good to be up here with an old sparring partner of mine.”

Simon Pagenaud – #15 Aussie Vineyards Team Australia DP01

“On the first set of tyres the car felt alright,” said Pagenaud.

“I just think I should have tried a little bit harder, because the pole was right there, we definitely had the car to do it.

The lap times are so tight, it’s quite impressive that at P7 we are just a tenth and a half off of the leader, so you really have to drive hard in this kind of situation.

“I think we lost a little bit of time at the hairpin with a certain driving style which doesn’t suit that kind of corner, so we will change that for tomorrow and chase for the pole. We will look over the data tonight and go for it tomorrow.”

Derrick Walker – Team Australia Co-Owner

“The boys made some changes to Will’s car before qualifying, which looked like a very positive change,” said Walker.

“When you look at how close everybody is, it’s just a slight difference how one corner can make all the difference between pole and second.

“Overall we are pretty happy with where we are. Simon, he’s doesn’t quite have the balance that he is happy with but around here it doesn’t take very much around here to change it, so we are not overly worried about the car. It’s just a matter of getting it the way he wants it.

“This is a racetrack that needs a fair amount of commitment, so we’ve got to have everything just right and we need to get it just the way he needs it for the next qualifying and I think he will be right there.”

Craig Gore – Team Australia Co-Owner

“A good start to the weekend for the boys today at what looks to be a sensational circuit,” said Gore.

“Will continues to show that he is a consistent contender and is never far from the top of the timesheets. Gommendy has snuck up on Will and Bourdais today, so I’m sure the battle will be on for the pole tomorrow.

“Simon didn’t quite get the lap time he was looking for but he has another chance to continue his brilliant qualifying form tomorrow.”

RESULTS: Qualifying 1
1. #22 Tristan Gommendy 1:16.776
2. #1 Sebastien Bourdais 16.783
3. #5 Will Power 1:16.841
4. #9 Justin Wilson 1:16.843
5. #14 Robert Doornbos 1:16.850
6. #21 Neel Jani 1:16.931
7. #15 Simon Pagenaud 1:16.944
8. #8 Alex Tagliani 1:17.256
9. #2 Graham Rahal 1:17.475
10. #4 Dan Clarke 1:17.481