Team Australia driver Will Power will be one of the drivers to watch in his distinctive #8 Aussie Vineyards – Team Australia IndyCar in the Honda Indy 200 at the Mid-Ohio Sportscar Course in Lexington, Ohio this weekend.

The 27-year-old Australian continues to comes to grips with oval racing as his Aussie Vineyards crew improve the oval package of the #8 Aussie Vineyards – Team Australia Honda/Dallara/Firestone with every event.

But when it comes to road courses and street circuits, Power is a formidable opponent for established IndyCar drivers and former Champ Car colleagues alike.

At the sweeping and undulating Mid-Ohio layout Power will be keen to impress on debut at the 3.86-kilometre/2.4-mile circuit, sitting within 10 points of 10th place in the standings and within 50 points of the top five.

With four of the last six races in the 2008 IndyCar Series all held on road or street courses – and given Power’s form this year that included a domination of the Champ Car finale in Long Beach – the Aussie Vineyards – Team Australia pilot is certainly a driver to watch at Mid-Ohio.

WHAT THE TEAM HAD TO SAY …

Will Power: #8 Aussie Vineyards - Team Australia Honda/Dallara/Firestone

“I am looking forward to getting back on a road course,” said Power.

“The Aussie Vineyards team has shown it has a good car on the road courses and that we can be competitive.

“At Watkins Glen we had a fast car, we just ran into an electrical problem. Hopefully, we can have some good results on the upcoming road and street circuits, beginning this weekend in Mid-Ohio, and move up some more positions in the points standings.”

Craig Gore: Aussie Vineyards - Team Australia

“Mid-Ohio is a great road course and obviously the sort of circuit that suits Will and the Aussie Vineyards car,” said Gore.

“It’s these tracks that give Aussie Vineyards – Team Australia a chance to jump up in the points and run right at the front.

“Will certainly has what it takes so if luck goes our way this could be a really good race for us.”

2008 IndyCar Series Points Standings - After Race 11
1. #9 Scott Dixon 420
2. #3 Helio Castroneves 357
3. #10 Dan Wheldon 351
4. #11 Tony Kanaan 339
5. #7 Danica Patrick 266
6. #27 Hideki Mutoh 254
7. #26 Marco Andretti 253
8. #6 Ryan Briscoe 243
9. #17 Ryan Hunter-Reay 232
10. #5 Oriol Servia 222
13. #8 Will Power 213

2008 Bombardier Rookie of the Year Standings - After Race 11
1. #27 Hideki Mutoh 254
2. #8 Will Power 213
3. #06 Graham Rahal 201
4. #33 EJ Viso 190
5. #02 Justin Wilson 183
6. #36 Enrique Bernoldi 172
7. #19 Mario Moraes 160
8. #34 Jaime Camara 98
9. #96 Mario Dominguez 74
10. #24 Jay Howard 72

RACE SCHEDULE
Local Ohio (US Eastern) Times
Practice 1
Friday 18 July 2008
10:40am – 12:10pm

Practice 2
Friday 18 July 2008
3:10pm – 4:10pm

Practice
Saturday 19 July 2008
8:45am – 9:45am

PEAK Motor Oil Pole Qualifying
Saturday 19 July 2008
11:45am – 1:45pm

Warm-Up
Sunday 20 July 2008
8:30am – 9:00am

Race – Honda Indy 200
Sunday 20 July 2008
1:30pm US Eastern

UNITED STATES TV SCHEDULE
Sunday 20 July 2008
ABC
1:30pm US Eastern

AUSTRALIAN TIMES
Australian Eastern Standard Times
Practice 1
Saturday 19 July 2008
12:40am – 2:10am

Practice 2
Saturday 19 July 2008
5:10am – 6:10am

Practice
Saturday 19 July 2008
10:45pm – 11:45pm

PEAK Motor Oil Pole Qualifying
Sunday 20 July 2008
1:45am – 3:45am

Warm-Up
Sunday 20 July 2008
10:30pm – 11:00pm

Race – Honda Indy 200
Monday 21 July 2008
3:30am US Eastern

AUSTRALIAN TV SCHEDULE
Monday 21 July 2008
ESPN
3:30am – 6:00am AEST

AUSTRALIAN TV REPLAY
Monday 21 July 2008
ESPN
7:00pm – 9:30pm AEST